Part 4: Princes obtain permission to leave home

One day the princes, powerful, declared to Cakrin Sagara who was at home: “The god, Lord of Māgadha, the ornament of the eastern quarter, and the Lord of Varadāman, the sole tilaka of the southern quarter, and the Lord of Prabhāsa, having the glory of the crown of the western quarter, and the chief-rivers, the Gaṅgā and Sindhu, like arms of the earth, and the Prince of Mt. Vaitāḍhya, the pericarp of the lotus Bharata, and Kṛtamāla, just like a field-guardian of Tamisrā, and the Prince of Himācala, the pillar of the earth on the boundary of Bharata, and the Lord of Khaṇḍaprapātā, haughty Nāṭyamāla, and the nine treasure-divinities, Naisarpa, etc.—these gods were conquered like men by our father.

This land of six divisions, like six sets of enemies, was conquered by our father, whose prestige is unlimited, by himself alone. You have left nothing suitable for strength of arm to be done, by doing which we can say ‘We are your sons.’ Since this entire earth has been conquered by the father, let our sonship be by wandering at our own free will. So with the father’s favor we wish to wander at will like forest-elephants over the earth like the palace-courtyard.”

He granted their affectionate request. Among the great the request of another is not in vain, to say nothing of that of sons. Then they bowed to their father and went to their own houses, and had drums beaten announcing an auspicious procession.