Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 126
19. Him, distinguished by his beauty of form and perfect tranquillity
as the very creation of Religion herself, – filled with astonishment
and affectionate regard the king of men approached, as Indra the selfexistent
(Brahman).
20. He, the chief of the courteous, having courteously drawn nigh to
him, inquired as to the equilibrium of his bodily humours; and the
other with equal gentleness assured the king of his health of mind and
freedom from all ailments.
21. Then the king sat down on the clean surface of the rock, dark blue
like an elephant’s ear; and being seated, with the other’s assent, he
thus spoke, desiring to know his state of mind:
22. ‘I have a strong friendship with thy family, come down by
inheritance and well proved; since from this a desire to speak to thee,
my son, has arisen in me, therefore listen to my words of affection.
23. ‘When I consider thy widespread race, beginning with the sun, thy
fresh youth, and thy conspicuous beauty, – whence comes this resolve
of thine so out of all harmony with the rest, set wholly on a
mendicant’s life, not on a kingdom
24. ‘Thy limbs are worthy of red sandal-wood perfumes, – they do not
deserve the rough contact of red cloth; this hand is fit to protect
subjects, it deserves not to hold food given by another.