Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

42
DHAMMAPADA.
first when I had scarcely yet entered on this part of the
Mountain, I was for a moment filled with fear—but then
a wild elephant coming to the place were I was, and lying
down close to me under a Tree, went to sleep, as though
he were perfectly rejoiced to get away from the rest
of the herd, and be at peace (and so I was re-assured)."
Then Buddha, knowing perfectly the circumstances of the
case, said, " That elephant was but one of a herd of five
hundred, who from fear that he might be captured with
the rest, found his joy in separation, and a solitary life
how much more, then, should you seek foi; happiness in
leaving your home, and practising in solitude the rules of
an ascetic life ?" and then he added these verses
" Perceiving that the ignorant herd can never
attain true Wisdom/ the wise man prefers in soli-
tude to guard himself in virtuous conduct, not asso-
ciating with the foolish ; rejoicing in the practice
of moral duties (sila), and pursuing such conduct as
becomes this mode of life, there is no need of a
companion or associate in such practice—solitary
in virtue, without sorrow, a man rejoices as the
wild elephant (escaped from the herd)."
On hearing these words the Bhikshu obtained rest, and
the " Evil Spirits " also, who listened and understood them,
were so awed that they vowed never again to molest soH-
- tajy ascetics, and then Buddha and the mendicant returned
to their place.
4. On a certa,in occasion when Buddha was residing in the
Jetavana at Sr§,vasti, preaching for the good of Devas and
men, two new disciples from Eijagriha desired to go to
the place where he was to see him. Between the two
coimtries there was an uninhabited and inhospitable desert.
Parched with the heat and utterly exhausted, they came
1 The expression " Slien yau " is used in a Bud dMst sense for "B5dhi."
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