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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> - 109<br />

Book IX [The Deputation to the Prince]<br />

1. Then the two, the counsell<strong>or</strong> and the family priest, beaten <strong>by</strong> the<br />

king with his scourge <strong>of</strong> tears, went with every eff<strong>or</strong>t to that f<strong>or</strong>est in<br />

the hurry <strong>of</strong> affection, like two noble h<strong>or</strong>ses goaded.<br />

2. Having come at last full <strong>of</strong> weariness to that hermitage,<br />

accompanied <strong>by</strong> a fitting train, – they dismissed their royal pomp and<br />

with sober gestures entered the abode <strong>of</strong> Bhārgava.<br />

3. Having saluted that Brāhman with due respect, and having been<br />

honoured <strong>by</strong> him with due reverence in return, having seated<br />

themselves, plunging at once into the subject, they addressed<br />

Bhārgava, who was likewise seated, concerning their errand.<br />

4. ‘Let your honour know us to be respectively imperfect pr<strong>of</strong>icients<br />

in preserving the sacred learning and in retaining the state-counsels, –<br />

in the service <strong>of</strong> the monarch <strong>of</strong> the Ikṣvāku race, pure in his valour<br />

and pure and wide in his gl<strong>or</strong>y.<br />

5. ‘His son, who is like Jayanta, while he himself is like Indra, has<br />

come here, it is said, desirous to escape from the fear <strong>of</strong> old age and<br />

death, – know that we two are come here on account <strong>of</strong> him.’<br />

6. He answered them, ‘That prince <strong>of</strong> the long arms did indeed come<br />

here, but not as one unawakened; "this dharma only brings us back<br />

again," – recognising this, he went <strong>of</strong>f f<strong>or</strong>thwith towards Arāḍa,<br />

seeking liberation.’

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