Uttarajjhayana 197.1.78

197.1.78

jayā migassa āyaṃko | mahāraṇṇammi jāyaī /
accantaṃ rukkhamūlammi | ko -aṃ tāhe tigicchaī ||78||

'In every kind of existence I have undergone suffering which was not interrupted by a moment's reprieve.' (74)
To him his parents said: "Son, a man is free to enter the order, but it causes misery to a Sramana that he may not remedy any ailings." (75)
He answered: 'O father and mother, it is even thus as you have plainly told; but who takes care of beasts and birds in the woods? (76)
'As a wild animal by itself roams about in the woods, thus I shall practise the Law by controlling myself and doing penance. (77)
'When in a large forest a wild animal falls very sick at the foot of a tree, who is there to cure it? (78)
'Or who will give it medicine? or who will inquire after its health? or who will get food and drink for it, and feed it? (79)
'When it is in perfect health, it will roam about in woods and on (the shores of) lakes in search of food and drink. (80)
'When it has eaten and drunk in woods and lakes, it will walk about and go to rest according to the habits of wild animals. (81)
'In the same way a pious monk goes to many places and walks about just as the animals, but afterwards he goes to the upper regions. (82)
'As a wild animal goes by itself to many places, lives in many places, and always gets its food; thus a monk on his begging-tour should not despise nor blame (the food he gets). (83)
'I shall imitate this life of animals.' "Well, my son, as you please." With his parents' permission he gave up all his property. (84)