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III, 10. BIMBASARA RÅGA INVITES THE PRINCE.
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teous form, fit for perfumes and anointings, why clothed with coarse Kasaya garments; 807
The hand which ought to grasp the reins of empire, instead thereof, taking its little stint of food; if indeed (the king continued) you were not of royal descent, and would receive as an offering the transfer of this land, 808
Then would I divide with you my empire?; saying this, he scarcely hoped to excite his feelings, who had left his home and family, to be a hermit. Then forthwith the king proceeded thus : 809
'Give just weight I pray you to my truthful words, desire for power is kin to nobleness, and so is just pride of fame or family or wealth or personal appearance; 810
'No longer having any wish to subdue the proud, or to bend (others) down and so get thanks from men, it were better, then, to give to the strong and warlike martial arms to wear, for them to follow war and by their power to get supremacy; 811
'But when by one's own power a kingdom falls to hand, who would not then accept the reins of empire ? The wise man knows the time to take religion, wealth, and worldly pleasure. 812
'But if he obtains notthe three (or, threefold profit), then in the end he abates his earnest efforts, and reverencing religion, he lets go material wealth. Wealth is the one desires of worldly men ; 813
The absence of covetousness in Bimbasara has passed into a proverb or a typical instance in Buddhist literature. (Compare Asvaghosha's Sermons, passim.)
? If he desires not to possess the three, that is, wealth, pleasure, religion.
• Wealth affects (makes) all men of the world.
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