Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 113
heed of her, who ceaselessly grieves like a fond cow that has lost her
calf
27. ‘Surely thou wilt succour thy wife by the sight of thee, who now
mourns widowed yet with her lord still alive, – like a swan separated
from her mate or a female elephant deserted in the forest by her
companion.
28. ‘Thy only son, a child little deserving such woe, distressed with
sorrow, and [.. .. .. .. ..] – O deliver Rāhula from the grief of his
kindred like the full moon from the contact of Rāhu!
29. ‘Burned with the fire of anguish within him, to which thy absence
adds fresh fuel, – a fire whose smoke is sighs and its flame despair, –
he wanders for a sight of thee through the women’s apartments and
the whole city.’
30. The Bodhisattva, – whose perfection was absolute, – having heard
the words of the family priest, reflected for a moment, knowing all
the virtues of the virtuous, and then thus uttered his gentle reply:
31. ‘I well know the paternal tenderness of the king, especially that
which he has displayed towards me; yet knowing this as I do, still
alarmed at sickness, old age, and death, I am inevitably forced to
leave my kindred.
32. ‘Who would not wish to see his dear kindred, if but this separation
from beloved ones did not exist but since even after it has been once,