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

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Buddha</strong>-<strong>carita</strong>, <strong>or</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong> - 110<br />

7. Then they two, having understood the true state <strong>of</strong> things, bade that<br />

Brāhman at once farewell, and wearied though they were, went on as<br />

if they were unwearied, thither whither the prince was gone.<br />

8. As they were going, they saw him bereft <strong>of</strong> all <strong>or</strong>naments, but still<br />

radiant with his beauty, sitting like a king in the road at the foot <strong>of</strong> a<br />

tree, like the sun under the canopy <strong>of</strong> a cloud.<br />

9. Leaving his chariot, the family priest then went up to the prince<br />

with the counsell<strong>or</strong>, as the saint Aurvaśeya went with Vāmadeva,<br />

wishing to see Rāma when he dwelt in the f<strong>or</strong>est.<br />

10. They paid him honour as was fitting, as Śukra and Aṅgiras<br />

honoured Indra in heaven; and he in return paid due honour to them,<br />

as Indra in heaven to Śukra and Aṅgiras.<br />

11. Then they, having obtained his permission, sat down near him<br />

who was the banner <strong>of</strong> the Śākya race; and they shone in his<br />

proximity like the two stars <strong>of</strong> the asterism Punarvasū in conjunction<br />

with the moon.<br />

12. The family priest addressed the prince who shone brightly as he<br />

seated in heaven under the heavenly tree pārijāta:<br />

13. ‘O prince, consider f<strong>or</strong> a moment what the king with his eyes<br />

raining tears said to thee, as he lay fainting on the ground with the<br />

arrow <strong>of</strong> thy s<strong>or</strong>row plunged into his heart.

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!