z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 03.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 154
154 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES
“No, Sir.”
“I do not admit those who have not their parents’ consent.”
II
“That consent, Sir, I will take steps to obtain,” said the young man, who rising up and taking a reverential leave of the Lord, went off to his parents, told them his thoughts and asked their consent to his becoming a Bhikku.
The parents made answer as follows : “Dear Ratthapala, you are our only son, very dear to us and beloved ; you live in comfort and have been brought up in comfort, with no experience at all of discomfort. Go away ; eat, drink, enjoy yourself, and do good works in all happiness. We refuse our consent.
“Your death would leave us desolate, with no pleasure left in life ; why, while we have you still, should we consent to your going forth from home to homelessness as a Bhikku”.
A second and yet a third time did Ratthapala repeat his request, only to be met by the same refusal from his parents.
Failing thus to get his parents’ consent, the young man flung himself down on the bare ground, declaring that he would either die there or become a Bhikku.
His parents entreated him to get up while repeating their objections to his becoming a Bhikku, but the young man said not a word. A second and a third time they entreated him but still he said not a word.
So the parents sought out Ratthapala’s companions to whom they told all this and besought them to urge, as from themselves, what his parents had said to him.
Thrice his companions appealed to him, but still he said not a word. So his companions came to the parents with this report : “There on the bare ground he lies, declaring that he will either die there or become a Bhikku. If you refuse your consent, he will never get up alive. But, if you give your consent, you will see him when he has become a Bhikku. Should