über das Ramayana. 61 
(on her son). The King, still refusing her the boon and refleeting: „that 
women were ungrateful and envious, and that either by means of forged 
writings (kütapanna)!) or by means of a dishonest bribe (Aütalanca), the 
Queen might procure the death of his sons“, caused them to be summoned 
(to his presence), communicated the same (his misgivings) to them, and 
said: „Children, some calamity might befall you ıf you live here; go 
(therefore) to a foreign country or to the woods; return at the time of 
my funeral obsequies (dhumakdle), and assume the sovereignty to which 
you are lineally entitled“. So saying he sent for astrologers (mmittaka) 
and inquired of them how long he would live; and having learnt, that 
he would live a further period of 12 years, said: „Sons, return after 12 
years from hence, and ascend the throne“. The princes, saying: „Well“, 
saluted the King and went down the mansion weeping. Sitd-devi (hearing 
this) said: „I too will go with my brothers“, saluted the King and proceeded 
with them weeping?). 
These three persons, accompanied with a large retinue left the (city), 
and, diısm'ssing them (after they had gone some distance), gradually reached 
Himavanta, and build a dwelling in a locality which had the advantage of 
© on them 
oO 
water and herbs and abounded with various fruits; and lıvin 
they dwelt there. Pandit [siec!] Lakkhana and his sister Sita supplicated 
Räma and obtained his consent (to the following proposal): „you stand 
to us in the position of a father, therefore tarry you here, we shall fetch 
herbs and fruits and maintain you“. 
From thence Adma was altogether at home and the others nourished 
him with herbs and fruits. Whilst they were thus dwelling, king Dasaratha, 
owing to the grief for his sons, died (a premature death) in the nınth year 
(after the departure of his sons). His Queen after the rites of cremation, 
said: „Give the kingdom (chatta) to my own son, prince Bharata*. The 
ministers, saying: „those who are entitled to the kingdom are in the forest“ 
did not comply. (Whereupon) prince Bharata (resolving): „I will bring 
1!) vgl. hiezu Ind. Streifen 2, 337—9. Zu den daselbst angeführten Stellen über Briefe 
u. dgl. sind aus Buddhaghosa’s Comm. zum Dhammapada noch zahlreiche Belege hinzu- 
zufügen, s. bei Fausböll p. 217. 221. 235. 240. 245. 265—8. 417. 
?) weit entsprechender der Darstellung des Rdmdyana ist in dieser Beziehung das 
Benehmen der Mdädri-devi im Vessantara-Jätaka s. Hardy Manual p. 117. 
