Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

THE DISCIPLE, OR " SRAVAKA." 47
3. There was in former days a certain nobleman, called
Su-ta (Sudatta ?), residing at Sr^vastt, who had become a
disciple of Buddha, and entered on the iBrst path. He had
a friend called " Hau-shi " (Sudana ?), who was not a be-
liever. On this latter falling sick, and finding no help in
any one for whose advice he sent, his friend Sudatta
resolved to send for Buddha, and ask him to visit his
friend. In compliance with thb request Buddha came, and,
with his body gloriou,s as the sun, entered the house of
Sudana, and sat down. [He then preached a sermon on
the moral diseases to which men are liable, and afterwards
added these Hues]
:
" The office of the Sun is to give light ; the office
of a Father, to be kind and compassionate ; the office
of a Euler is to restrain and govern ; the office of a
Man of Reason (religious man) is to listen to in-
struction ; a physician concerns himself with pro-
longing the life of men ; a warrior desires victory ;
and so Eeligion (the Law) resides in the possession
of wisdom. A happy walk through life is the glad-
iiess of the world ; a friend is for consultation ; the
choice of a companion is for the occasion which
requires him; to 'behold the beauty of women is
the joy of the chamber ; the proof of wisdom is in
speaking ; to be a Euler one must be able to dis-
criminate rightly; to dispel doubt and^ error, one
must exercise the light of supreme wisdom (B6dhi)
to search out the foundation of rest and quiet, one
must be able faithfully to hold (observe) the
Treasures of the Law (the Scriptures). He who
hears is able to be of advantage to the present
world, his wife, children, and friends, and in the
next world to arrive at perfect happiness. Still
;