Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

58
DHAMMAPADA.
listening to his words of lov^, they also were converted].
And then he added these lines
" There are eleven advantages whicli attend the
man who practises mercifulness, and is tender to
all that lives ; his body is always in health (happy)
he is blessed with peaceful sleep, and when engaged
in study he is also composed ;
:
he has no evil dreams,
he is protected by Heaven (Devas), and loved by
men ; he is unmolested by poisonous things, and
escapes the violence of war ; he is unharmed by fire
or water ; he is successful wherever he lives, and
when dead goes to the heaven of Brahma. These
are the eleven."
Having uttered these words, both men and women were
admitted into the company of his disciples, and obtained
rest.
2. There was, in times gone by, a certain mighty king,
called Ho-meh (love-darhness), who ruled in a certain district
where no tidings of Buddha or his merciful doctrine had
yet been heard ;
but the religious practices were the usual
ones of sacrifice and prayer to the gods for protection.
Now it happened that the king's mother being sick, .the
physicians having vainly tried their medicines, all the
wise men were called to consult as to the best means of
restoring her to health. After several years, during which
she did not improve, the Queen mother sent for 200
celebrated Brahmans, and desired them to exercise their
supernatural arts in discovering from the sun, moon, and
stars a way of recovery. These Brahmans replied: "It is
useless so to do, as the heavenly signs are in opposition
and not favourable." On the King asking them what
should be done, they replied, "Outside the city there
should be selected a convenient place, level and plane.
;