Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 21.djvu/158

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110
SADDHARMA-PUNDARÎKA.
iv.

a word known from classic Sanskrit and not wanting in Buddhistic Sanskrit, as appears from Lalita-vistara, p. 39.

13. In course of time he in his rovings reaches the town where his father is living, and comes to his father s mansion to beg for food and raiment

14. And the wealthy, rich man happens to sit at the door on a throne under a canopy expanded in the sky and surrounded with many hundreds of living beings.

15. His trustees stand round him, some of them counting money and bullion, some writing bills, some lending money on interest

16. The poor man, seeing the splendid mansion of the householder, thinks within himself: Where am I here? This man must be a king or a grandee.

17. Let me not incur some injury and be caught to do forced labour. With these reflections he hurried away inquiring after the road to the street of the poor.

18. The rich man on the throne is glad to see his own son, and despatches messengers with the order to fetch that poor man.

19. The messengers immediately seize the man, but he is no sooner caught than he faints away (as he thinks): These are certainly executioners who have approached me; what do I want clothing or food?

20. On seeing it, the rich, sagacious man (thinks): This ignorant and stupid person is of low disposition and will have no faith in my magnificence[1] nor believe that I am his father.

21. Under those circumstances he orders persons


  1. Or, have no liking for my magnificence; the term used in the text, sraddadhâti, admitting of both interpretations.