Part 8: Meeting with a sūri

One day like the spring-season in person, like Madhusakha (Kāma) in person, he went to a pleasure-garden to play according to Ms fancy. He saw there a sūri who had halted, Vinayanandana by name, surpassing Anaṅga in beauty and tranquillity. As he looked at him, his eyes, heart, and other parts of the body expanded, as it were, like those of one who has drunk nectar. Then he thought: “Like the preservation of fidelity to a wife in the presence of a courtesan, like the guarding of a deposit in the vicinity of robbers, like taking care of cream near kittens, like producing tranquillity in one’s self in the neighborhood of a female demon, such indeed, is the keeping of vows in good fortune, the cause of intoxication, on the part of him who has unparalleled beauty and is young. Cold must be endured in winter; the burning of the sun in the hot season; hurricanes with rain in the rainy season, but no love in youth. So today by good fortune he, bestowing satisfaction like a guru, mother, or father, was seen because of merit resulting from good acts.” After these reflections, the prince quickly approached and did homage to Muni Vinayanandana with joy in his heart. The muni rejoiced him there by the blessing ‘Dharmalābha,’ which resembles rain-water for the sprouting of the shoot of happiness. Again, the prince bowed to the mum and spoke: “You cause surprise by observing the vows even though very young. Since you are averse to worldly things even at this age, then we know for certain their evil results like the bad ripening of kimpākas.^[1] Moreover, I think there is nothing at all of value in this saṃsāra. So people like you strive to abandon it. Therefore, instruct me in regard to the means of crossing saṃsāra. Lead me by your path, like a caravan-leader a traveler. You have been found, O great mum, by me who came here for pleasure, like a ruby by one searching for a stone in mountain-soil.”