DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45392#0045
The Great Renunciation
he said, “Good Kanthaka, do thou save me this night,
to the end that I may become a Buddha by thy help and
may save the worlds of men and gods.” Kanthaka
neighed again, but the sound of his voice was heard by
none.
So the Bodhisatta rode forth, followed by Channa:
the Yakkhas bore up the feet of Kanthaka so that they
made no sound, and when they came to the guarded gates
the angel standing thereby caused them to open silently.
At that moment Mara the Fiend appeared in the air, and
tempted the Bodhisatta, exclaiming: “ Go not forth, my
lord! for within seven days from this the Wheel of
Sovereignty will appear, and will make you ruler of the
four continents and the myriad islands. Go not forth I ”
The Bodhisatta replied : “ Mara I well I know that this
is sooth. But I do not seek the sovereignty of the world.
I would become a Buddha, to make tens of thousands of
worlds rejoice.” And so the tempter left him, but
resolved to follow him ever like a shadow, to lay hold of
the occasion, if ever a thought of anger or desire should
arise in the Bodhisatta’s heart. It was on the full-moon
day of Asadha when the prince departed from the city.
His progress was accompanied by pomp and glory, for
the gods and angels bore myriads of torches before and
behind him, and a rain of beautiful flowers was cast down
from the heaven of Indra, so that the very flanks of
Kanthaka were covered. In this way the Bodhisatta
advanced a great distance, until they reached and passed
over the river Anoma. When they were come to the
other side, the Bodhisatta alighted upon the sandy shore
and said to Channa: “ Good Channa, the time has come
when thou must return, and take with thee all my jewels
together with Kanthaka, for I am about to become a
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he said, “Good Kanthaka, do thou save me this night,
to the end that I may become a Buddha by thy help and
may save the worlds of men and gods.” Kanthaka
neighed again, but the sound of his voice was heard by
none.
So the Bodhisatta rode forth, followed by Channa:
the Yakkhas bore up the feet of Kanthaka so that they
made no sound, and when they came to the guarded gates
the angel standing thereby caused them to open silently.
At that moment Mara the Fiend appeared in the air, and
tempted the Bodhisatta, exclaiming: “ Go not forth, my
lord! for within seven days from this the Wheel of
Sovereignty will appear, and will make you ruler of the
four continents and the myriad islands. Go not forth I ”
The Bodhisatta replied : “ Mara I well I know that this
is sooth. But I do not seek the sovereignty of the world.
I would become a Buddha, to make tens of thousands of
worlds rejoice.” And so the tempter left him, but
resolved to follow him ever like a shadow, to lay hold of
the occasion, if ever a thought of anger or desire should
arise in the Bodhisatta’s heart. It was on the full-moon
day of Asadha when the prince departed from the city.
His progress was accompanied by pomp and glory, for
the gods and angels bore myriads of torches before and
behind him, and a rain of beautiful flowers was cast down
from the heaven of Indra, so that the very flanks of
Kanthaka were covered. In this way the Bodhisatta
advanced a great distance, until they reached and passed
over the river Anoma. When they were come to the
other side, the Bodhisatta alighted upon the sandy shore
and said to Channa: “ Good Channa, the time has come
when thou must return, and take with thee all my jewels
together with Kanthaka, for I am about to become a
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