Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 33
50. He of holy deeds shone forth gloriously, in the splendour of
royalty and the splendour of penances, conspicuous by his family and
his own conduct and wisdom, and desirous to diffuse brightness like
the sun.
51. Having offered worship, he whose own glory was secure muttered
repetitions of Vedic texts to Svayambhū for the safety of his son, and
performed various ceremonies hard to be accomplished, like the god
Ka in the first aeon wishing to create living beings.
52. He laid aside weapons and pondered the Śāstra, he practised
perfect calm and underwent various observances, like a hermit he
refused all objects of sense, he viewed all his kingdoms like a father.
53. He endured the kingdom for the sake of his son, his son for his
family, his family for fame, fame for heaven, heaven for the soul, –
he only desired the soul’s continuance for the sake of duty.
54. Thus did he practise the various observances as followed by the
pious and established from revelation, he asking himself, ‘now that he
has seen the face of his son, how may my son be stopped from going
to the forest ’
55. The prudent kings of the earth, who wish to guard their
prosperity, watch over their sons in the world; but this king, though
loving religion, kept his son from religion and set him free towards
all objects of pleasure.