26.03.2016 Views

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha by Ven. Aśvaghoṣa

An English translation of this famous life of the Buddha, one of the great pieces of Sanskrit literature, with additions to help complete the text.

An English translation of this famous life of the Buddha, one of the great pieces of Sanskrit literature, with additions to help complete the text.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Buddha</strong>-<strong>carita</strong>, <strong>or</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong> - 106<br />

75. ‘After having done many dear exploits f<strong>or</strong> me in battle, one great<br />

deed <strong>of</strong> cruelty, O Kaṁthaka, hast thou done, – f<strong>or</strong> <strong>by</strong> thee that dear<br />

son <strong>of</strong> mine, dear f<strong>or</strong> his every virtue, has been tossed down in the<br />

wood, dear as he was, like a w<strong>or</strong>thless thing.<br />

76. ‘Theref<strong>or</strong>e either lead me to-day where he is, <strong>or</strong> go quickly and<br />

bring him back again; without him there is no life left to me, as to<br />

one plunged in sickness without the true medicine.<br />

77. ‘When Suvarṇaniṣṭhīvin was carried away <strong>by</strong> death, it seemed<br />

-<br />

loving son is gone, fear to set my soul free, like any coward?<br />

78. ‘How should not the mind <strong>of</strong> Manu himself be distracted, when<br />

parted from his dear virtuous son, – (Manu) the son <strong>of</strong> Vivasvat, who<br />

knew the higher and the lower, the mighty l<strong>or</strong>d <strong>of</strong> creatures, the<br />

institut<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong> the ten chieftains.<br />

79. ‘I envy the monarch, that friend <strong>of</strong> Indra, the wise son <strong>of</strong> king<br />

Aja, who, when his son went into the f<strong>or</strong>est, went himself to heaven,<br />

and dragged out no miserable life here with vain tears.<br />

80. ‘Describe to me, O beloved one, the court <strong>of</strong> that hermitage,<br />

whither thou hast carried him who is as my funeral oblation <strong>of</strong> water;<br />

these my vital airs are all ready to depart, and are eager f<strong>or</strong> it,<br />

longing to drink it.’

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!