The Buddha-Carita

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Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha
madviyogaü prati cchaüda saütàpastyajyatàmayam |
nànàbhàvo hi niyataü pÔthagjàtiùu dehiùu || 6.43
43. `Abandon this distress, Chaüda, regarding thy separation from me, Þ change is
inevitable in corporeal beings who are subject to different births.
svajanaü yadyapi snehànna tyajeyaü mumukùayà |
mÔtyuranyonyamavaèànasmàn saütyàjayiùyati || 6.44
44. `Even if I through affection were not to abandon my kindred in my desire for
liberation, death would still make us helplessly abandon one another.
mahatyà tÔùõayà duþkhairgarbheõàsmi yayà dhÔtaþ |
tasyà niùphalayatnàyàþ kvàhaü màtuþ kva sà mama || 6.45
45. `She, my mother, by whom I was borne in the womb with great thirst and pains, Þ
where am I now with regard to her, all her efforts fruitless, and where is she with
regard to me?
vàsavÔkùe samàgamya vigacchaüti yathàüóajàþ |
niyataü viprayogàütastathà bhåtasamàgamaþ || 6.46
46. `As birds go to their roosting-tree and then depart, so the meeting of beings
inevitably ends in separation.
sametya ca yathà bhåyo vyapayàüti valàhakàþ |
saüyogo viprayogaèca tathà me pràõinàü mataþ || 6.47
47. `As clouds, having come together, depart asunder again, such I consider the meeting
and parting of living things.
yasmàdyàti ca loko 'yaü vipralabhya parasparam |
mamatvaü na kùamaü tasmàtsvapnabhåte samàgame || 6.48
48. `And since this world goes away, each one of us deceiving the other, Þ it is not
right to think anything thine own in a time of union which is a dream.
sahajena viyujyaüte parõaràgeõa pàdapàþ |
anyenànyasya vièleùaþ kiü punarna bhaviùyati || 6.49
49. `Since the trees are parted from the innate colour of their leaves, why should there
not still more be the parting of two things which are alien to each other?
tadevaü sati saütàpaü mà kàrùãþ saumya gamyatàm |
laübate yadi tu sneho gatvàpi punaràvraja || 6.50
50. `Therefore, since it is so, grieve not, my good friend, but go; or if thy love lingers,
then go and afterwards return.
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Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha
bråyàècàsmàsvanàkùepaü janaü kapilavastuni |
tyajyatàü tadgataþ snehaþ èråyatàü càsya niècayaþ || 6.51
51. `Say, without reproaching us, to the people in Kapilavastu, ßLet your love for him
be given up, and hear his resolve.
kùiprameùyati và kÔtvà jaràmÔtyukùayaü kila |
akÔtàrtho niràlaübo nidhanaü yàsyatãti và || 6.52
52. ßEither he will quickly come back, having destroyed old age and death; or else he
will himself perish, having failed in his purpose and lost hold of every support."'
iti tasya vacaþ èrutvà kaüthakasturagottamaþ |
jihvayà lilihe pàdau vàùpamuùõaü mumoca ca || 6.53
53. Having heard his words, Kaüthaka, the noblest of steeds, licked his feet with his
tongue and dropped hot tears.
jàlinà svastikàükena vakramadhyena pàõinà |
àmamarèa kumàrastaü babhàùe ca vayasyavat || 6.54
54. With his hand whose fingers were united with a membrane and which was marked
with the auspicious svastika, and with its middle part curved, 1 the prince stroked him
and addressed him like a friend:
muüca kaüthaka mà vàùpaü darèiteyaü sadaèvatà |
mÔùyatàü saphalaþ èãghraü èramaste 'yaü bhaviùyati || 6.55
55. `Shed not tears, Kaüthaka, this thy perfect equine nature has been proved, Þ bear
with it, this thy labour will soon have its fruit.'
maõitsaruü chaüdakahastasaüsthaü tataþ sa dhãro nièitaü gÔhãtvà |
koèàdasiü kàücanabhakticitraü vilàdivàèãviùamudbabarha || 6.56
56. Then seizing the sharp jewelled sword which was in Chaüdaka's hand, he
resolutely drew out from the sheath the blade decked with golden ornaments, like a
serpent from its hole.
niùkàsya taü cotpalapattranãlaü ciccheda citraü mukuñaü sakeèam |
vikãryamàõàüèukamaütarãkùe cikùepa cainaü sarasãva haüsam || 6.57
57. Having drawn it forth, dark blue like a blue lotus petal, he cut his decorated tiara
and his hair, and he tossed it with its scattered muslin into the air as a grey goose into
a lake.
1 Professor Keilhorn suggests cakra-madhyena, `with a wheel in its centre', cf. VIII, 55.
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