Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 115
drags the world into all its various times; but all time suits a bliss
which is really worthy of praise.
39. ‘That the king should wish to surrender to me his kingdorn, – this
is a noble thought, well worthy of a father; but it would be as
improper for me to accept it, as for a sick man through greed to
accept unwholesome food.
40. ‘How can it be right for the wise man to enter royalty, the home
of illusion, where are found anxiety, passion, and weariness, and the
violation of all right through another’s service
41. ‘The golden palace seems to me to be on fire; the daintiest viands
seem mixed with poison; infested with crocodiles [is the tranquil
lotus-bed].’
42. And thus kingship is neither pleasure nor dharma, so that the kings
of old, when age came on with it’s unavoidable suffering, felt disgust
and, giving up their kingdoms, betook themselves to the forest.
43. For it is better to eat herbs in the forest, embracing the highest
contentmentas if one were concealing a jewel, than tio live with the
dangers to which sovereignty is exposed, as if with loathsome black
snakes.
44. For it is praiseworthy for kings to leave their kingdoms and enter
the forest in the desire for dharma, but it is not fitting to break one’s
vow and forsaking the forest to go to one’s home.