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Not even by propitiating the gods is it possible." 69. "Go away, do not obstruct my giving!" he said. Then the ministers said, "If this determination is unavoidable, let each of us be the offering to the ogre day by day." Then the king commanded, "While I am alive, I will not know such things." "Quickly bring a knife here!" Then all the people gathered there, hearing that news, enamored of his virtues, trembling with sorrow, and extremely angry with the barrier placed there, spoke separately in various ways: 70. "This ogre deserves to have his head cut off!" some said. "His great body, like a black cloud, deserves to be emptied of hundreds of arrows!" said others. "It is fitting to make him the target of many throwing weapons!" said others. "He should be pierced with a stake like a plantain tree!" said another. "Let him be wrapped in oiled cloth, set ablaze with a great fire, and burned!" Some say, "He is being led to be killed," "The king knows all about this." "Seize this evil man alive," "Wrap him in ropes like a ball of sweets," "And throw him into the dungeon!" As others spoke in various ways, The yaksha, hearing the cruel execution, Stood motionless, thirsting, His eyes closed, his body like a mat. Then the king said, "Come, friend rakshasa! You who have done me a great service! 71. "Your mind is set on giving gifts and alms, Yet you desire blood and flesh; May this union be for our good, though hard to attain, May our desires be fulfilled for both of us." Having said this, "Accept with favor the living flesh and blood offered from my body," he said to the rakshasa, and stretched out his right arm towards the barber for the cutting of flesh. 72. Then the yaksha covered both ears, "May peace prevail, may evil be averted, may misfortune be turned away, may the king be well! What calamity has befallen me through my great evil deeds? I desire life, but it is like desiring poison! Like one surrounded by a forest fire after escaping the sun! If such a thought arises in me towards the great king, may a thunderbolt fall upon my head! May the guardians of the world also cut off my head! I will not commit such a crime!" he did not accept. 73. Then the king said, "Then, yaksha, what do you want me to do?" Then the rakshasa, frightened and distressed by the execution of the people and the king's command, said, "Lord! I desire nothing else, but from now on, I wish to receive offerings and sacrifices in every village, worthy of a king's meal." Then the king, "Let the inhabitants of the kingdom do so," had a drum beaten in the city and throughout the kingdom, advising abstinence from intoxicants, and dismissed the yaksha. Thus ends the sixth chapter, "The Subduing of the Night-Prowler." Then once, through the negligence of the gods who control the rains, a drought arose. 74. The sun was scorching with the heat of summer, The wind was fierce, heated by the heat; The earth was like an old woman, without coolness. And then, They drank everywhere, all the water. 75. Like a garden refreshed by a skilled gardener, Or a field green with newly sprouted rice; The forest path, scorched by intense heat, Appeared tearful, filled with verdant shoots. 76. Even in the rainy season, the sky, Scorched by the sun's fierce heat, Adorned with white clouds, Shone like a soothing balm. 77. Thus, when the sandy and muddy remnants in riverbeds, ponds, and ditches had dried up due to the great heat of summer, when the crops in the fields had withered, when the land was cracked in many places, and when the birds and beasts were exhausted for lack of water, the king, hearing of this plight, his heart moved with compassion, undertook the eight precepts, went to the great Cetiya courtyard, and, firmly resolving, "Until the deity, spreading those streams of water everywhere, drenches the entire island of Lanka and pours down rain, and until a great flood sweeps me away, even if I die, I will not rise," he lay down on a stone slab there. 78. At that moment, by the power of the king's righteousness, and by the influence of the gods, nāgas, and yakkhas, who were calmed by his virtues, rain clouds arose from all directions, so that: 79. Stretching far and wide to the limits of the directions, Spreading darkness with their peaks, Like shadows of mountains, were the black clouds. 80. The clouds, with deep and steady thunder, Began to rain in every place; The peacocks, with raised crests, Held themselves as if adorned with excellent jewels. 81. Like strings of pearls, the raindrops hung, The dust settled; A pleasant fragrance pervaded the earth, Carried by the wind from the clouds. 82. Lightning flashes, like molten gold, Shone repeatedly, delighting the eyes; Accompanied by the thunderous music of the clouds, The lightning danced, as it were. 83. Red like copper with anger, Resounding with the joy of victory, As if seeking out the enemy of summer, The great floods spread everywhere then. 84. When such rain was falling, the king, thinking, "A great flood will rise and sweep me away," did not rise. Then... The floodwaters from the cemetery's drainpipes Filled the entire interior, And floated the king. Then he arose, Held a great festival for the shrine, And returned to the royal palace. 85. Then, knowing that the king Was ruling without force or weapons, Some unrestrained men, Acting as thieves, Committed village looting and such. Hearing this, the king Had the thieves captured alive, Threw them in prison, Secretly gave them jewels and silver, Admonished them not to do such things, Let them escape, Brought corpses from the charnel ground at night, Heated them with fire, As if torturing the thieves, And had them thrown outside the city. Having thus removed the fear of thieves, He once thought: 86. "What is the use of this royal splendor? It would be fitting To give this kingdom, Complete with treasures, people, harem, ministers, and vehicles, As a gift to someone, Enter the forest, Undertake morality, And develop both bodily and mental seclusion." Thus, he generated a desire for renunciation. At that time, Goṭhābhaya also conceived such an evil thought: "This king is righteous, Skilled in good conduct, And his lifespan increases With the ten meritorious deeds performed daily, And his oppressive karmas are dispelled. Therefore, he will live for a long time. When will I obtain the kingdom at his death? Even after obtaining the kingdom, How will I, an old man, Experience the sensual pleasures That are enjoyed by young men? I will quickly drive him away from here And establish myself on the throne." Thinking this, he took much valuable wealth, Exited through the northern gate, Gathered the former thieves, Took an army, Came and seized the city gate. Hearing that news, the king thought: "This has been brought to me By some divine power, I think, As I had resolved To give the kingdom to someone And renounce it. Ministers, even without our permission, Are ready to fight. If so, because of me, Great suffering will befall the great multitude On both sides." "What good is a kingdom to me? Let the kingdom be given to him!" Saying this, without informing anyone, Taking only his water strainer, And dressed in inconspicuous clothes, He left by the south gate, Going towards the Malayadesa. 87. For those with minds always content, It is possible to live anywhere; Where, indeed, are there no fruits, roots, and water? 88. Thinking thus, gradually going, He entered a great forest named Hatthavanagalla, Teeming with various trees, With dense branches adorned with coral-like flowers and fruits, Tall and short, Jackfruit, mango, wood apple, timbaru, jambu, vibhitaka, amalaka, Bharita, katiritaka, sala, sarala, vakula, punnaga, nagakandamba, Asoka, nipa, champaka, bhintala, tala, and others, Crowded with diverse groups of animals and flocks of birds, Frequented by powerful deities, Delightful like the Nandana Grove, Pleasant with easily available roots, fruits, and water, A delightful place for enjoyment. Seeing that great forest, Thinking, "This is fit to be my hermitage," Making it his abode, With a mind concentrated through the attainment of bodily and mental seclusion, Engaging in the practice of loving-kindness, His body plumped by the joy born of a forest-dwelling life, He dwelt there. Thus ends the seventh chapter, on the Renunciation. 89. Gothabhaya, having attained the kingdom, After a few days, thinking, "Because of my harshness, the people, Having taken it into their minds, Might strive to bring Sanghabodhi And have him rule the kingdom," Becoming anxious, Intending that he should be killed, He had a drum beaten in the city, saying, "Whoever brings the head of King Sanghabodhi Will receive a thousand as a reward." Then a certain poor man from the Malayadesa, Taking rice wrapped in leaves for his journey, Going along a forest path, At mealtime, seeing King Sanghabodhi Sitting near a pond, His heart pleased by his demeanor, Invited him to eat the rice. The king did not accept it. He then... I am of low birth, born of a mean family, not living by killing beings, not a fisherman or hunter. But you are born in a family worthy of enjoying the best castes. Is it proper for you, virtuous and righteous, to eat my food? Thus he repeatedly begged. Then the king: Shelter with shade, a bed, clothes, and bark; A seat with leaf-plates, the trees provide for me. Thus, possessed of abundant wealth, I have no desire for another's property. No blame attaches to me for mentioning your birth, etc. Saying this, he refused. Then that man, prostrating himself on the ground, persistently begged. Then, unable to prevent his persistence, having respectfully and courteously partaken of the offered food and the water strained with his own strainer, his meal completed by washing his hands and mouth, thinking, "What return can I make for the kindness done to me?" he faced him and asked, "What is the news in Anuradhapura?