I 



EOYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 93 



Give therefore your consent. They replied, We consent, but 

 those who make him a priest must let him come and see his 

 parents. Upon this his friends returned to him, and informed 

 him that his parents had consented, but that those who make 

 him a priest must permit him to go and see them occasionally. 



Upon this Rattapala arose, and having refreshed himself 

 went to Bagawa, and having worshipped him, sat down and 

 said, I have obtained, my Lord, the consent of my parents to 

 forsake family life and become a houseless priest. Bagawa, 

 make me a priest. Accordingly Rattapala became a priest to 

 reside near Budhu, and was admitted into full orders. About 

 half a month after that Bagawa had admitted Rattapala into 

 full orders, having resided as long as he thought proper at 

 Tullakotitang, he left to proceed to Sawatti, where he at length 

 arrived and resided in Jetawaney, in the garden of Anatapin- 

 dika. Then Rattapala residing in solitude, with the mind 

 free from perturbation, diligent, persevering and weaned from 

 attachments to existing objects, attending to the objects for 

 which he heartily embraced the houseless state of a priest, in a 

 short time attained to the completion of that exalted course of 

 holiness, having in the present state of being by his own wisdom 

 ascertained and experienced it : his births were exhausted, his 

 course of holiness completed, the necessary work was done, and 

 he knew that nothing more was requisite for his purpose (of 

 ceasing to exist,) and Rattapala became one of the Rahats. 



Afterwards Rattapala went to Bagawa, and having wor- 

 shipped him and sat down, said, I desire my Lord to see to my 

 parents, if Bagawa will grant permission. Upon this Bagawa 

 investigated the state of Rattapala's mind, and perceived that 

 he was not disposed to abandon the precepts and return to lay 

 life ; he therefore said, Whatever you have now to attend tOj 

 Rattapala, consider the time. 



