Vol. 11 · pages 176–180

157 CONVERSION OF THE HIGH AND THE HOLY II Ratthapala’s wives aforetime, to deck themselves out in all the finery their husband liked to see them in. 38. When night had passed, the father, having ordered an excellent meal to be got ready in his house, told his son when it was ready. Early that forenoon, the reverend Ratthapala, duly robed and bowl in hand, came and took the seat set for him. 39. Hereupon, ordering the heap of treasure to be unveiled, the father said: ‘This is your mother’s fortune, that is your father’s and that came from your grandfather. You have the wherewithal both to enjoy yourself and to do good works. 40. ‘Come, my son ; abandon your training; revert to the lower life of the layman; enjoy your substance and do good works.’ 41. ‘If you will take my advice, householder, you will cart away all this heaped-up treasure and sink it in the middle of the Ganges. And why ? Because thence you will only derive sorrow and lamentation, ills, pain of mind, pain of body and tribulation.’ 42. Clinging to his feet, the reverend Ratthapala’s whilom wives asked like what were the nymphs divine for whose sake he was leading the higher life. 43. “For the sake of no nymphs at all, sisters,” said he. 44. At hearing themselves called sisters, the ladies all fainted and fell to the ground. 45. Said Ratthapala to his father: “If food is to be given, householder, give it; trouble me not.” 46. “The food is ready, my son ; begin,” said the father as he served that excellent meal without stint till his son had his fill. 47. After taking food he departed to the deer-park of the Kuru king, where he sat down under a tree during the noontide heat. 48. Now the king had given directions to his huntsman to tidy up the park against his coming to see it ; and the obedient huntsman was engaged on his task when he saw Ratthapala seated under a tree during the noontide heat, and reported to the king that the park was in order but that under a tree there

158 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES II was seated Ratthapala, the young gentleman of whom His Majesty had often heard tell. 49. “Never mind about the park today,” said the king; “I will pay a call on His Reverence.” Ordering, therefore, all the repast which had been prepared to be made ready, he mounted a chariot and drove forth in procession in royal state out of the city to see Ratthapala. 50. Riding as far as the ground was passable for his chariot and proceeding thence on foot with his princely train, the king came at last upon the reverend Ratthapala, whom, after exchange of courteous greetings, the king—still standing—invited to be seated on a clump of flowers. 51. “Nay, sire; sit you there, I have got a seat.” 52. Seating himself on the seat indicated to him, the king said: ‘There are four kinds of losses, Ratthapala, which impel men to cut off hair and beard, don the yellow robes, and go forth from home to homelessness—namely, (i) old age, (ii) failing health, (iii) impoverishment, and (iv) death of kinsfolk. 53. “Take a man who, being aged and old, far advanced in life, stricken in years, and at the close of life, recognizes his position, and realizes the difficulty either of acquiring new wealth or of doing well with what he has got; so he decides to take to homelessness. This is known as the loss which old age entails. But here are you in the prime of youth and early manhood, with a wealth of coal-black hair untouched by grey, and in all the beauty of your prime;—not yours is the loss old age entails. What have you known or seen or heard to make you take to homelessness ? 54. “Or take a man who, being in ill-health or pain, or gravely ill, recognizes his position and realizes the difficulty either of acquiring new wealth or doing well with what he has already; so he decides to take to homelessness. This is known as the loss which failing health entails. But here are you neither ill nor ailing, with a good digestion maintained by humours neither too hot nor too cold ; not yours is the loss which failing health entails. What have you

159 CONVERSION OF THE HIGH AND THE HOLY II known or seen or heard to make you take to homelessness ? 55. “Or take a man who, after being rich and wealthy and of great substance, and after gradually losing it, recognizes his position and realizes the difficulty either of acquiring new wealth or of doing well with what he has got; so he decides to become a pilgrim. This is known as the loss which impoverishment entails. But the revered Ratthapala is the son of leading family in this very Thullakotthita, and there is none of this loss of wealth for the revered Ratthapala. What has the good Ratthapala known or seen or heard that he has gone forth from home into homelessness ? And what, good Ratthapala, is loss of relations ? As to this, good Ratthapala, someone has many friends and acquaintances, kith and kin, but gradually these relations of his diminish. He reflects thus: ‘Formerly I had many friends and acquaintances, kith and kin, but gradually these relations of mine have diminished, so it is not easy for me to acquire wealth etc....’ So he that is followed by this loss of relations, having cut off hair and beard, having donned saffron garments, goes forth from home into homelessness. This is known as the loss which kinsfolk’s death entails. But here are you with a host of friends and relations; not yours is the loss which kinsfolk’s death entails. What have you known or seen or heard to make you take to homelessness?” 56. “I have gone forth,” replied Ratthapala, sire, from home to homelessness because I have known, seen, and heard the following four propositions enunciated by the All-Englightened Lord who knows and sees : “(i) The world is in continual flux and change.

160 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES II “(ii) The world has no protector or preserver. “(iii) We own nothing; we must leave everything . behind. “(iv) The world lacks and hankers, being enslaved to craving.” 57. “It is wonderful, it is marvellous,” said the king, “how right in this the Lord was !”

PART IV Call from Home 1. Suddhodana and the Last Look. 2. Meeting Yeshodhara and Rahula. 3. Reception by the Sakyas. 4. Last attempt to make Him a Householder. 5. The Buddha’s answer. 6. The Minister’s reply. 7. The Buddha’s Determination.