Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

40 DHAMMAPADA.
possessed of right apprehension of Truth he in-
creases in wisdom daily, he becomes a light in the
world ; however born/ his happiness is a thousand
fold "greater, and in the end he shall escape every
evil mode of existence."
Hearing these verses the mendicant arose and came
before Buddha, and prostrated himself in his presence ; on
which the World-honoured asked him if he knew his former
states of existence ; the mendicant confessed that owing to
the indulgence of his carnal desires, he was unable to
penetrate such mysteries—on which the teacher explained
how in the time of a former Buddha he had been a dis-
ciple, but had given way to self-indulgence and sleep—on
account of which he had been born for many thousand
years, as an insect, and in other similar forms—but now
his evil Karma exhausted, he had again been born as a
man and become a mendicant. On hearing this the
Shaman, struck with remorse, repented of his sin and
became a Eahat.
2. Formerly, when Buddha was residing at Sr§,vastl, in
the Jetavana, whilst preaching for the benefit of the four
orders of his followers, there was a young Bhikshu, who
being overcome by foolish thoughts, was unable to restrain
his desires. Grieved at this, he resolved to dismember
himself, and for that purpose he went to the house of his
Patron (dinapati), and having procured a knife he pro-
ceeded to his ceU, and sitting on his couch he began, to
reflect on the evil which resulted from the pow6r of
gratifying desire. Buddha knowing his thoughts, and
perceiving him to be deceived by ignorance of the true
cause of his conduct, an Hi-restrained mind, proceeded to
his cell, and inquired what he was going to do. On this
the Bhikshu explained that as he was unable to check
1 Or, " whatever is born, its happiness is a thousandfold greater," i.e. in
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consequence of Ais virtue,