me, and thy mother, and the penances I have achieved, as also thy own self, from grave sins.  Be thou really a Chirakaraka today!  Ordinarily, in consequence of thy great wisdom thou takest a long time for reflection before achieving any act.  Let not thy conduct be otherwise today!  Be thou a true Chirakaraka today.  Thy mother had expected thy advent for a long time.  For a long time did she bear thee in her womb.  O Chirakaraka, let thy habit of reflecting long before acting be productive of beneficial results today.  Perhaps, my son Chirakaraka is delaying today (to achieve my bidding) in view of the sorrow it would cause me (to see him execute that bidding).  Perhaps, he is sleeping over that bidding, bearing it in his heart (without any intention of executing it promptly).  Perhaps, he is delaying, in view of the grief it would cause both him and me, reflecting upon the circumstances of the case.’  Indulging in such repentance, O king, the great Rishi Gautama then beheld his son Chirakarin sitting near him.  Beholding his sire come back to their abode, the son Chirakarin, overwhelmed with grief, cast away the weapon (he had taken up) and bowing his head began to pacify Gautama.  Observing his son prostrated before him with bent head, and beholding also his wife almost petrified with shame, the Rishi became filled with great joy.  From that time the highsouled Rishi, dwelling in that lone hermitage, did not live separately from his spouse or his heedful son.  Having uttered the command that his wife should be slain he had gone away from his retreat for accomplishing some purpose of his own.  Since that time his son had stood in an humble attitude, weapon in hand, for executing that command on his mother.  Beholding that his son prostrated at his feet, the sire thought that, struck with fear, he was asking for pardon for the offence he had committed in taking up a weapon (for killing his own mother).  The sire praised his son for a long time, and smelt his head for a long time, and for a long time held him in a close embrace, and blessed him, uttering the words, ‘Do thou live long!’ Then, filled with joy and contented with what had occurred, Gautama, O thou of great wisdom, addressed his son and said these words, ’Blessed be thou, O Chirakaraka!  Do thou always reflect long before acting.  By thy delay in accomplishing my bidding thou hast today made me happy for ever.’  That learned and best of Rishis then uttered these verses upon the subject of the merits of such cool men as reflect for a long time before setting their hands to any action.  If the matter is the death of a friend, one should accomplish it after a long while.  If it is the abandonment of a project already begun, one should abandon it after a long while.  A friendship that is formed after a long examination lasts for a long time.  In giving way to wrath, to haughtiness, to pride, to disputes, to sinful acts, and in accomplishing all disagreeable tasks he that delays long deserves applause.  When the offence