He cannot, however, be found here. I am wandering everywhere for
finding him out.'
"Rishabha continued, 'After the king had said these words, the ascetic
Tanu hung down his head. He remained perfectly silent, without uttering a
single word in answer. In former days that Brahmana had not been much
honoured by the king. In disappointment, O monarch, he had for that
reason practised austere penances for a longtime, resolving in his mind
that he should never accept anything in gift from either kings or members
of any other order. And he said to himself, 'Hope agitates every man of
foolish understanding. I shall drive away hope from my mind.' Even such
had been his determination. Viradyumna once more questioned that foremost
of ascetics in these words:
"The king said, 'What is the measure of the thinness of Hope? What on
earth is exceedingly difficult of acquisition? Tell me this, O holy one,
for thou art well conversant with morality and profit."
"Rishabha continued, 'Himself recollecting all the past incidents (about
his own disregard at the hands of the king) and calling them back to the
recollection of the king also, that holy Brahmana of emaciated body
addressed the king and said the following words:
"The sage said, 'There is nothing, O king, that equals Hope in
slenderness. I had solicited many kings and found that nothing is so
difficult of acquisition as an image that Hope sets before the mind.'
"The king said, 'At thy words, O Brahmana, I understand what is slender
and what is not so.
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