(Part
One) 23.
The Story of Princess Yasodhara
When
the Buddha had taken his evening meal that day, all
who knew him as Prince Siddhartha, except Princess
Yasodhara, came to talk to him. All of them were surprised
but happy to see their prince dressed like a monk.
Yasodhara
stayed in her room thinking, "Prince Siddhartha
is now the Enlightened One — the Buddha. He now
belongs to the line of Buddhas. Is it right for me
to go to him? He does not and cannot need me. I think
it is better to wait and see."
After
a while the Buddha asked, " Where is Yasodhara?"
"She
is in her room," said his father."I shall
go there," said the Buddha and, giving his bowl
to the king, he went to her room. As he entered he said
to the king, "Let her pay me respect as she likes.
Say nothing."
As
soon as the Buddha entered the room, even before he
took his seat, Yasodhara rushed to him. She fell to
the floor, held his ankles, placed her head at his
feet and cried and cried until his toes were wet with
her tears. The Buddha kept quiet and nobody stopped
her until she was tired of crying. King Suddhodana
then said, "Lord, when my daughter-in-law heard
that you were wearing yellow robes she also robed
herself in yellow. When she heard you were taking
one meal a day she did the same. When she heard that
you had given up lofty couches, she lay on a low couch
and when she heard that you had given up garland and
scents she too gave them up. So virtuous is my daughter-in-law."
The
Buddha nodded and said, "Not only in this last
birth, O
king, but in a previous birth too, Yasodhara
was devoted and faithful to me."
