Uttarajjhayana 197.1.11_5

197.1.11_5

homi nāho bhayantāṇaṃ | bhoge bhuṃjāhi saṃjayā /
mittanāīparivuḍo | māṇussaṃ khu sudullahaṃ ||11||

'I am the protector of religious men; O monk; enjoy pleasures together with your friends and relations; for it is a rare chance to be born as a human being.' (11)
"You yourself are without a protector, Srênika, ruler of Magadha; and as you are without a protector, how can you protect anybody else?" (12)
When the saint had addressed this unprecedented speech to the king, who was greatly moved and astonished, and struck with astonishment, (he answered): (13)
'I have horses, elephants, and subjects, a town and a seraglio, power and command: enjoy human pleasures. (14)
'In possession of so great means, which permit the owner to enjoy all pleasures, how could he be without protection? Reverend sir, you speak untruth.' (15)
"O king, you do not know the meaning and origin of (the word) 'without protection,' nor how one comes to be without protection or with protection, O ruler of men. (16)
"Hear, O great king, with an undistracted mind in what way a man can be said to be 'without protection,' and with what purpose I have said all this. (17)
"There is a town Kausâmbî by name, which is among towns what Indra is (among the gods); there lived my father, who possessed great wealth. (18)
"In my childhood, O great king, I caught a very bad eye-disease and a severe burning fever in all my limbs, O ruler of men. (19)
"My eyes ached as if a cruel enemy thrust a sharp tool in the hollow of my body. (20)