Texts from the Buddhist canon : commonly known as Dhammapada

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SECTION XIV.
THE "WISE MAN (PANDITAVAGGO).
I. There was in old time a Bralimacliarin just twenty years
of age, who, being possessed of brilliant talent, fooUshly
thought that he could be instructed in no art or accom-
plishment common in the world. Taking his travels,
therefore, he came to a country where he saw a fletcher
making his arrows and shaping his bow ; on seeing which
he was convinced of his ignorance in this respect ; and so
also in another country, seeing a man building a ship, he
was equally convinced; and so again when in another
place he saw a man making a royal palace. Having
learnt all these arts, and passed successively through six-
teen countries, he came back to his own place, and boast-
fully asked, " Who is there in the world more acquainted
with the arts than myself ?
"
Buddha perceiving his capacity for conversion, changed
himself into a Shaman, and coming where he resided, with
his robes ordeiiy arranged, and his begging-dish in his
hands, stood before him. " And who are you ? " said the
Brahmachlrin. " I am a man able to govern his body,"
replied the Shaman. " And what is that ? " inquired the
other, on which the Shaman uttered these verses :
"The fletcher carves and adjusts the horn of
"which his bo-w is made ; the pilot manages his. ship
the architect hewg his beams ;
the "wise man governs
his body (himself). For as, by way of simile, the
solid rock is unshaken by the "wind, so the wise
man, grave of thought, quails not "whether praised or
;