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CALL FROM HOME
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And when they had gone some distance they sent their retinue back and crossed over into the neighbouring district, and took off their fine things and wrapped them in their robes, and made a bundle of them, and said to Upali the barber : “Do you now, good Upali, turn back to Kapilavatsu. These things will be sufficient for you to live upon. We will go and join the Blessed One.” And so they went ahead.
They went on and Upali parted company for the purpose of going back home.
§ 4. Last attempt to make Him a Householder
Suddhodana wept bitterly at the thought of his son going away never to be seen again.
Then Suddhodana spoke to his counsellor and his family priest and asked them if they could go and persuade his son to stay back and join the family.
The family priest accompanied by the counsellor, in obedience to the wishes of the king, went and overtook him on the way.
They paid him honour as was fitting, and having obtained his permission, sat down near him.
The family priest addressed the Lord as he sat at the foot of the tree.
“O prince, consider for a moment the feelings of the king with his eyes raining tears with the arrow of thy Separation plunged into his heart. He has asked you to come back home. It is then only that he can die peacefully.
“I know that thy resolve is fixed upon religion, and I am convinced that this purpose of thine is unchanging ; but I am consumed with a flame of anguish like fire at thy going into this homeless state.
“Come, thou who lovest duty,—abandon this purpose for the sake of duty.
“Enjoy for a while the sovereignty of the earth, —thou shalt go to the forest at the time provided by the sastras,—do not show disregard for thy unhappy
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