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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> - 111<br />

14. “I know that thy resolve is fixed upon religion, and I am<br />

convinced that this purpose <strong>of</strong> thine is unchanging; but I am consumed<br />

with a flame <strong>of</strong> anguish like fire at thy flying to the woods at an<br />

inopp<strong>or</strong>tune time.<br />

15. “Come, thou who lovest duty, f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> what is my heart’s<br />

desire, – abandon this purpose f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> duty; this huge swollen<br />

stream <strong>of</strong> s<strong>or</strong>row sweeps me away as a river’s t<strong>or</strong>rent its bank.<br />

16. “That effect which is wrought in the clouds, water, the dry grass,<br />

and the mountains <strong>by</strong> the wind, the sun, the fire, and the thunderbolt,<br />

– that same effect this grief produces in us <strong>by</strong> its tearing in pieces, its<br />

drying up, its burning, and its cleaving.<br />

17. “Enjoy theref<strong>or</strong>e f<strong>or</strong> a while the sovereignty <strong>of</strong> the earth, – thou<br />

shalt go to the f<strong>or</strong>est at the time provided <strong>by</strong> the śāstras, – do not<br />

show disregard f<strong>or</strong> thy unhappy kindred, – compassion f<strong>or</strong> all<br />

creatures is the true religion.<br />

18. “Religion is not wrought out only in the f<strong>or</strong>ests, the salvation <strong>of</strong><br />

ascetics can be accomplished even in a city; thought and eff<strong>or</strong>t are the<br />

true means; the f<strong>or</strong>est and the badge are only a coward’s signs.<br />

19. “Liberation has been attained even <strong>by</strong> householders, Indras among<br />

men, who w<strong>or</strong>e diadems, and carried strings <strong>of</strong> pearls suspended on<br />

their shoulders, whose garlands were entangled with bracelets, and<br />

who lay cradled in the lap <strong>of</strong> F<strong>or</strong>tune.

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