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CEYLON BRANCH 



Budha, which having known and seen and heard I have for- 

 saken my home and become houseless. 



Defenceless are the inhabitants of the world and unpro- 

 tected: This* great King, is the second doctrine declared by 

 Bagawa, the knowing and perceiving, the pure, the perfect 

 Budha, which having known and seen and heard I have for" 

 saken my home and become houseless. 



The inhabitants of the world have nothing which is their 

 own, but forsaking all must go away. This, great King, is the 

 third doctrine. The inhabitants of the world are ever wanting, 

 unsatisfied, the slaves of desire. This, great King, is the fourth 

 doctrine. These are the four doctrines declared by Bagawa 

 which having known and seen and heard* I have forsaken home 

 and become houseless. 



You have said, Rattapala, that the inhabitants of the world 

 as taken away, and are of short continuance: how is this to be 

 understood? What think you, great King, when you were 

 twenty or twenty^five years of age, were you skilful in the 

 management of elephants, horses and chariots, expert in the 

 bow and sword exercises, firm of foot, and strong of hand, a 

 bold warrior ? When, Battapala, I was twenty or twenty-five 

 years of age, I was skilful in managing elephants, horses and 

 chariots, skilled in the bow and sword, firm of foot and strong 

 of hand, and brave in war. At one time, Rattapala, I was of 

 surpassing power, and saw no equal in strength. How think 

 you, great King, are you now firm of foot and strong of hand, 

 able to contend in war ? Not so, Rattapala, I am now decrepid, 

 aged, old, far advanced in life, and arrived at its close. I am 

 eighty years old : sometimes when I intend to put my foot in 

 one place, I put it in a different one. On account of this, 

 therefore, great King, it is said by Bagawa, that the inhabi- 

 tants of the world are carried away and are of short continu- 



