10 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON;. [VoL, II. , PART. IL 



" The King Sivi, possessing super-human power, sitting in his 

 magnificent palace, and meditating on the various kinds of alms, 

 does not perceive one that he has not given. 



" I will ascertain what his thoughts are ; wait here a moment 

 until I know his mind." 



Having assumed the form of a trembling, hoary-headed, 

 wrinkled, decayed, and emaciated blind man, he approached 

 the king. 



He having assumed this form, elevating his left and his right 

 arms, with clasped hands raised to his head, he spake these 

 words : 



" Great and just sovereign, the author of your kingdom's 

 prosperity, the fame of your almsgiving has ascended up to 

 gods and men; I have a petition. 



" I am become blind of both eyes : give me one of your eyes, 

 and retain the other for your own use." 



When I had heard these words, with a mind excited by joyful 

 emotions, I thus addressed the trembling supplicant i 



" Thou who hast come soliciting the gift of an eye hast come 

 knowing my thoughts while I was in the palace. 



" My desires are accomplished, my wish is fulfilled, I shall 

 this day give a supplicant such alms as I never gave before. 



"Come here, Siwaka : arise, be not unskilful, be not negligent- 

 pluck out both my eyes and give to the beggar." 



My obedient slave Siwaka being thus addressed, plucked out 

 my eyes like the kernels of a palm tree, and gave them to the 

 beggar. 



In purposing to give, in giving, and after having given the 

 alms, I had no other design than that of becoming a Buddha. 



Not that I had an aversion to my two eyes : my body was 

 not disagreeable to me: but my desire was to become a Buddha, 

 and therefore I gave my eyes. 



End of the story of King Sivi, 



