z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 03.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 136
136 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
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on finding that their son had disappeared. The father started in search. Yashas’s father passed by the same spot where the Lord and Yashas in the Bhikku’s garb were seated, and in passing, he asked the Blessed One : “Pray, have you seen Yashas, my son ?”
The Lord replied : “Come in, Sir, you will find your son.” He went in and sat near his son but he knew him not.
The Lord explained to him how Yashas met him and how on hearing him he became a Bhikku. The father then recognized his son and was happy his son had chosen the right path.
“My son, Yashas,” said the father, “your mother is absorbed in lamentations and grief. Return home and restore your mother to life.”
Then Yashas looked at the Blessed One, and the Blessed One said to Yashas’s father, “Is that your wish that Yashas should return to the world and enjoy the pleasures of a worldly life as he did before ?”
And Yasha’s father replied : “If Yashas, my son, finds it a gain to stay with you, let him stay.” Yashas preferred to remain a Bhikku.
Before departing Yashas’s father said : “May the Blessed One, O Lord, consent to take his meal at my home with the members of my family.”
The Blessed One, having donned his robes, took his alms bowl and went with Yashas to the house of his father.
When they arrived there, they met the mother and also the former wife of Yashas. After the meal the Blessed One preached to the members of the family his doctrine. They became very happy and promised to take refuge in it.
Now there were four friends of Yashas belonging to the wealthy family of Benares. Their names were Vimala, Subahu, Punyajit and Gavampati.
When Yashas’s friends learned that Yashas had taken refuge in the Buddha and his Dhamma they felt that what is good for Yashas must be good for them.
So they went to Yashas and asked him to