Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada
Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada
Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada
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i6o DHAMMAPADA.<br />
in, he took his bow and purposed to shoot her through<br />
<strong>the</strong> body. But lo! <strong>the</strong> arro-w he discharged returned<br />
again towards <strong>the</strong> King, and did her no harm ; and so<br />
again and again. On this <strong>the</strong> King; filled with <strong>as</strong>tonishment<br />
(fear), said to her, "By what power of magic have<br />
you been able to bring this about ? " To which she re-<br />
plied, " I have but taken refuge in <strong>the</strong> three gems, and<br />
<strong>the</strong> whole day have been engaged in religious observances<br />
(f<strong>as</strong>ts), and on this account <strong>the</strong> Lord (World-honoured)<br />
h<strong>as</strong> protected me." On this <strong>the</strong> King exclaimed, " Won-<br />
derful !<br />
" and, dismissing <strong>the</strong> second Queen, he sent her<br />
back to her parents, and re-established <strong>the</strong> first in undisputed<br />
authority. Then, with <strong>the</strong> Queen's attendants, he<br />
went to <strong>the</strong> place where Buddha w<strong>as</strong>, and after due salu-<br />
tations, he explained to him what had happened, on which<br />
Buddha (after a short discourse) repeated <strong>the</strong>se lines :<br />
"If Heaven were to rain down <strong>the</strong> seven precious<br />
substances, yet would not <strong>the</strong> covetous man<br />
be satisfied ;<br />
—<br />
his ple<strong>as</strong>ure would be little, his sorrow<br />
rnuch. The wise man, possessed of virtue, although<br />
he possessed <strong>the</strong> ple<strong>as</strong>ures of Heaven, would wisely<br />
let <strong>the</strong>m go, and covet <strong>the</strong>m not. He who finds his<br />
happiness in removing thoughts of lustful enjoy-<br />
ment, this man is <strong>the</strong> disciple of Buddha."<br />
Then Buddha fur<strong>the</strong>r explained to <strong>the</strong> King <strong>the</strong> inevi-<br />
table result of a wicked life, that it would redound ten<br />
thousand times inore miserably on <strong>the</strong> guilty man, whilst<br />
<strong>the</strong> reward pf religion and self-denial would be certainly<br />
<strong>the</strong> enjoyment of heaven. Having so spoken, <strong>the</strong> King<br />
and <strong>the</strong> Queen's attendants, and <strong>the</strong> rest, received perfect<br />
rele<strong>as</strong>e, and became partakers in <strong>the</strong> Paths.