ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 36.20

36.20

after you go forth, counselor, we shall do the same.’

“ ‘If you know the time is right,’ said Govinda, ‘may you do so.’

“Thereupon the brahmin Mahā­govinda turned his attention from the company of the six kings of the warrior class, and regarded the seven great, high brahmins. He then turned his attention from the seven great, high brahmins, and regarded forty women with whom he was acquainted. He then turned his attention from the forty women with whom he was acquainted, and regarded five hundred young brahmins.

“He then turned his attention from the five hundred young brahmins, and regarded all the myriad carriage drivers, mahouts, equestrians, charioteers, infantry, archers, aides-de-camp, and dependents;²²⁹ the fearsome, the heroic, and the oppressed;²³⁰ and all the many princes, and asked, ‘If I decide to shave my head and face, don the colorful religious robes, and with nothing short of perfect faith go forth from home to live as a mendicant, will you do the same?’

“They replied, ‘After you go forth, counselor, we shall do the same.’

“ ‘If you know the time is right,’ said Govinda, ‘may you do so.’

“So the brahmin Mahā­govinda gave up all household affairs, gave gifts and made merit, gave much to the poor, shaved his head and face, donned the colorful religious robes, and with nothing short of perfect faith went forth from home to live as a mendicant. After he went forth, he went to live in the forest, fashioning a hut of branches and leaves, and while staying there he generated the four meditative states and five superknowledges, becoming a person of great miracles and great power. After Govinda went forth, King Reṇu and his suite of hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of attendants shaved their heads and faces, donned the colorful religious robes, and with nothing short of perfect faith