CEYLON BRANCH — ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY^ 



99 



at the usual time was ordained priest. Soon afterwards he 

 retired to a forest near Wijji, having engaged to submit to 

 the four rules following :— 1, To reside in a forest : 2, To eat 

 nothing but what he procured by begging : 3, To wear as 

 clothing only such things as had been thrown away by others : 

 and 4, In begging to go to every door, whatever might be 

 the nature of the house, or the treatment he might receive. 

 About that time, a great famine was experienced in Wijji, 

 and he determined to visit his native place, where his wants 

 could be more easily supplied. His arrival being made 

 known to his family, they endeavoured to withdraw him 

 from Ids ascetic life, and for that purpose requested him to 

 receive his alms on the morrow at their house, to which he 

 assented. Before day-break his mother collected the family 

 treasures, and formed two heaps of gold so high, that a tall 

 man could not see another man on the opposite side, and then 

 covered them over. She afterwards called her daughter-in- 

 law, who remained in the house after her husband Sudinna 

 had left them to enter the priesthood, and directed her to 

 dress herself in those ornaments which formerly pleased 

 Sudinna. In the morning Sudinna went to his father's house, 

 and sat down on the seat prepared for him, when his father, 

 uncovering the two heaps of gold, said, Sudinna, this is your 

 paternal wealth, and this your maternal. Return, Sudinna, 

 to your family, enjoy wealth and perform virtuous actions. 

 He replied, Father I cannot, I will not, for I love this life of 

 purity ; and then recommended his father to cast all his wealth 

 into the river, as it only produced fear, distress, and wretched- 

 ness. His wife joined her solicitations, and on being repulsed, 

 fainted at his feet. After he had eaten, his mother came to 

 him, and urged him to remain with them, but he was inflexi- 

 ble. Finding her efforts useless, she said, Sudinna our family 

 is exceedingly rich, and our property extensive. Let me 

 not remain childless, but grant me a child of your own 



