पान:बाणभट्ट.pdf/४८

( २१ ) हे समजतांच हर्षानें सर्व दुःख एकीकडे ठेवून क्रोधानें आपले शत्रु व your kingdem and the deeds of your illustrious father. Great will your merit be in such a case. We pray you reject not our prayer." own The prince replied, "The government of a country is a responsible office and ever attended with difficulties. The duties of a prince require previous consideration. As for myself, I am indeed of small eminence; but as my father and brothere are no more, I reject the heritage of the crown that can bring on benefit to the people. I must att- end to the opinion of the world and forget my insufficiency. Now, therefore, on the banks of the Ganges their is a statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva which has evidenced many spiritual wonders. I will go to it and ask advice (request a response )." Forthwith, coming to the spot where the figure of the Bodhisattva was, he remain- ed before it fasting and praying. The Bodhisattva recognis. ing his sincere intention (heart), appeared in a bodily form and inquired, "What do you seek that you are so earnest in your supplication?" The prince answered, "I have suffered under a load of affliction. My dear father, indeed, is dead, who was full of kindness; and my brother humane and gentle as he was, has been odiously murdered. In the presence of these calamities I humble myself as one of little virtue; nevertheless, the people would exalt me to the royal dignity, to fill the high place of my illustrious father. Yet I am, indeed, but ignorant and foolish. In my trouble I ask the holy direction ( of the Bodhisattve ). " The Bodhisattve replied, " In your former existence you lived in this forest as a hermit (a forest mendicant), and by your earnest diligence and unremitting attention you inherited a power of religious merit which resulted in your birth as a king's son. The king of the country Karnasuvarna, has overturned the law of Buddha. Now when you succeed to royal estate, you should in the same proportion exercise