The Social Organisation in North-East India in Buddha's Time c9.32

c9.32

In another case, the signs of the heavens show the king the transitoriness of his worldly pomp. In the Gandhara Jataka (III. 364) the minister informs the king that the moon is seized by Rahu.¹ The king looks at the moon and reflects, "This moon is soiled by accidental dirt, and rendered lustreless; my filth is this kingly pomp; it is not, however, proper that I should become lustreless like this which is seized by Rahu. Therefore I will, like the disc of the moon in a clear sky, renounce my kingdom and lead the life of a hermit. What do I care for other people's opinion? Released from my family and my followers, I will consult only myself and move about from place to place; this is proper for me." With the words, "Act according to your wishes," he gives the reins of Government to the ministers.