Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

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39
SECTION II.
INCITING TO WISDOM.I
I. This section consisting of twenty-nine verses,2 is de-
signed to excite listless mendicants to renewed exertion
in the path of Duty. The iirst four g^thas were spoken by
Buddha in the Jetavana at ^ravastl. On this occasion a
careless disciple had left the company of his hearers
whilst he was preaching on the necessity of exertion in
casting off the hindrances and trammels that prevent
advance in a religious life. Having retired to the interior
of his cell, he indulged himself in sleep and effeminacy
—not knowing that after seven days he would die.
Whereupon Buddha addressed hliin thus
" Alas ! arise thou ! * why sleeping there ? a com-
panion of the spider, and the creeping insect.
Hidden from sight, practising impurity, miserably
deceived v^ith regard to the character of the body (or
Life), even as one who dreads the amputation of a
diseased limb, his heart heavy, and his affliction
great, seeks forgetfulness in sleep, but nevertheless
cannot escape the recollection of his coming
calamity—such is your case. But the man who
strives after true wisdom,* feels no such sorrow,
always reflecting on religion, he forgets himself
1 Chinese "kian Moh.'' We ob- ' That is in Cod. iL
serve that in Cod. iii. the title of this
second chapter is
^ There is some similarity here with
'
' Desire " or " Lust § i68 and the Southem copy.
(Tanh4), and its verses agree with 212, * Literally '" understands the charss.
of the F^li. aoter (outline) of virtue."
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