THE TIES OF LIFE

  WHEN Siddhartha had grown to youth, his father desired to see him

married, and he sent to all his kinsfolk, commanding them to bring

their princesses that the prince might select one of them as his wife.

  But the kinsfolk replied and said: "The prince is young and

delicate; nor has he learned any of the sciences. He would not be able

to maintain our daughter, and should there be war he would be unable

to cope with the enemy."

  The prince was not boisterous, but pensive in his nature. He loved

to stay under the great jambu-tree in the garden of his father, and,

observing the ways of the world, gave himself up to meditation. And

the prince said to his father: "Invite our kinsfolk that they may

see me and put my strength to the test." And his father did as his son

bade him.

  When the kinsfolk came, and the people of the city Kapilavatthu

had assembled to test the prowess and scholarship of the prince, he

proved himself manly in all the exercises both of the body and of

the mind, and there was no rival among the youths and men of India who

could surpass him in any test, bodily or mental. He replied to all the

questions of the sages; but when he questioned them, even the wisest

among them were silenced.

  Then Siddhattha chose himself a wife. He selected his cousin

Yasodhara, the gentle daughter of the king of Koli. In their wedlock

was born a son whom they named Rahula which means "fetter" or "tie,"

and King Suddhodana, glad that an heir was born to his son, said: "The

prince having begotten a son, will love him as I love the prince. This

will be a strong tie to bind Siddhattha's heart to the interests of

the world, and the kingdom of the Sakyas will remain under the scepter

of my descendants."

  With no selfish aim, but regarding his child and the people at

large, Siddhattha, the prince, attended to his religious duties,

bathing his body in the holy Ganges and cleansing his heart in the

waters of the law. Even as men desire to give happiness to their

children, so did he long to give peace to the world.