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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.

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<strong>Buddha</strong>-<strong>carita</strong>, <strong>or</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong> - 9<br />

Book I [The Birth <strong>of</strong> the Holy One]<br />

1. That Arhat is here saluted, who has no counterpart, – who, as<br />

bestowing the supreme happiness, surpasses (Brahman) the Creat<strong>or</strong>, –<br />

who, as driving away darkness, vanquishes the sun, – and, as<br />

dispelling all burning heat, surpasses the beautiful moon.<br />

2. There was a city, the dwelling-place <strong>of</strong> the great saint Kapila,<br />

having its sides surrounded <strong>by</strong> the beauty <strong>of</strong> a l<strong>of</strong>ty broad table-land<br />

as <strong>by</strong> a line <strong>of</strong> clouds, and itself, with its high-soaring palaces,<br />

immersed in the sky.<br />

3. By its pure and l<strong>of</strong>ty system <strong>of</strong> government it, as it were, stole the<br />

splendour <strong>of</strong> the clouds <strong>of</strong> Mount Kailāsa, and while it b<strong>or</strong>e the clouds<br />

which came to it through a mistake, it fulfilled the imagination which<br />

had led them thither.<br />

4. In that city, shining with the splendour <strong>of</strong> gems, darkness like<br />

poverty could find no place; prosperity shone resplendently, as with a<br />

smile, from the joy <strong>of</strong> dwelling with such surpassingly excellent<br />

citizens.<br />

5. With its festive arbours, its arched gateways and pinnacles, it was<br />

radiant with jewels in every dwelling; and unable to find any other<br />

rival in the w<strong>or</strong>ld, it could only feel emulation with its own houses.<br />

6. There the sun, even although he had retired, was unable to sc<strong>or</strong>n<br />

the moon-like faces <strong>of</strong> its women which put the lotuses to shame, and

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