Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 20
thou hast prophesied a transcendent future, – wherefore, on seeing
him, do tears come to thee, O reverend one
69. ‘Is the prince, O holy man, destined to a long life Surely he
cannot be born for my sorrow. I have with difficulty obtained a
handful of water, surely it is not death which comes to drink it.
70. ‘Tell me, is the hoard of my fame free from destruction Is this
chief prize of my family secure Shall I ever depart happily to
another life, – I who keep one eye ever awake, even when my son is
asleep
71. ‘Surely this young shoot of my family is not born barren, destined
only to wither! Speak quickly, my lord, I cannot wait; thou well
knowest the love of near kindred for a son.’
72. Knowing the king to be thus agitated through his fear of some
impending evil, the sage thus addressed him: ‘Let not thy mind, O
monarch, be disturbed, – all that I have said is certainly true.
73. ‘I have no feeling of fear as to his being subject to change, but I
am distressed for mine own disappointment. It is my time to depart,
and this child is now born, – he who knows that mystery hard to
attain, the means of destroying birth.
74. Having forsaken his kingdom, indifferent to all worldly objects,
and having attained the highest truth by strenuous efforts, he will