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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.

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