Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

48
DHAMMAPADA.
hearing, he arrives at the perfection of sacred know-
ledge, and is able to discriminate and explain the
secrets of Truth ; and thus he governs himself with-
out transgression ; receiving the Law, he extols that
which is right, and so obtains release from all
(moral) disease, he dissipates all the causes of sorrow
and pain, he excludes all possibility of misfortune
or calamity, he is always successful in finding a
ground for peace and comfort : such are the conse-
quences following in the life of one who ' hears
much' (the ^r&vaka):"
On hearing this sermon, the sick man was convinced of
the Truth and became a disciple.
• 4. In times gone by, there was to the south of ESjagriha a
great mountain, distant &om the city about 200 li. Through
this mountaiQ there was a pass deep and lonely, through
which the road to South India lay. Five hundred robbers
had taken up their abode'in this defile, who used to murder
and spoil aU travellers that passed that way. The king
had vainly sent to capture them, but they always escaped.
Buddha, residing in the neighbourhood, and considering
the case of these men, that they understood not the nature
of their conduct, and that although he had come into the
world to teach men, yet their eyes had not seen him, nor
their ears heard the tidings of his Law, he resolved to go
to them. Consequently he transformed himself into a man
richly dight, on a weli-caparisoned steed, with his sword
and bow, with bags of silver and gold on his saddle-bow^'
and precious stones studding his horse's bravery.
On entering the defile loud neighed his steed. On
hearing the sound the 500 robbers started up, and spying
the traveller, exclaimed, " Never have we had such prospect
!
of booty ; let us up, and capture him " So they proceeded
to sutround the traveller, with a view to prevent his escape
;