________________
BIRTH, MARRIAGE, AND EXILE OF RĀMA AND LAKSMAŅA 183 take mendicancy?" He said, "That is my thought." Udaya said again in a joke, "If that is your intention, then do not hesitate now. I will be your companion in this." The prince said, "Do not abandon this agree: ment of yours, like the ocean its shore," and he said, "Certainly not."
The prince got down from his vehicle like delusion and climbed Mt. Vasanta, accompanied by Udayasundara and others. Then the son of Ibhavāhana said to Vajrabāhu : "Master, do not become a mendicant today. Shame on me joking. It was a joke on our part. What fault is there in its transgression ? For a joke is generally not true, like auspicious songs.189 You will be a companion even in all misfortunes. Do not destroy our families' hopes suddenly in this way. Now there is this auspicious ribbon 140 on your wrist. How can you abandon suddenly the pleasures that are the fruit of this marriage? How will Manoramă, deceived by the taste of worldly happiness, live, abandoned like grass by you, lord ?"
Prince Vajrabāhu said to Udayasundara: "Fair fruit of the tree of human birth is a characteristic of good conduct. Even your joke became the highest good for us, just as rain-water in Svāti 141 becomes pearls in pearloysters. If your sister is well-bred, she will take mendicancy; if not, good luck to her. But enough of pleasures for me. Give your approval of the vow for me and do you follow us. Surely the keeping of an agreement is the family-religion of ksatriyas."
After enlightening. Udaya in this way, Vajrabāhu approached the sage Guņasāgara, an ocean of the jewels of virtues. Vajrabāhu became a mendicant at his feet, and also Udaya, Manoramā, and twenty-five princes.
When King Vijaya heard that Vajrabahu had become a mendicant, he became disgusted with existence at the
189 18. Such as are sung at weddings. Cf. 1. 2.786. 140 20. The wedding-ribbon. 141 23. See I, n. 107.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
