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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> - 124<br />

7. In the men and the women on the highway, even though they were<br />

intent on other business, that conduct alone with the pr<strong>of</strong>oundest<br />

reverence seemed proper which is enjoined <strong>by</strong> the rules <strong>of</strong> royal<br />

homage; but his eyes never looked upon them.<br />

8. His brows, his f<strong>or</strong>ehead, his mouth, <strong>or</strong> his eyes, – his body, his<br />

hands, his feet, <strong>or</strong> his gait, – whatever part <strong>of</strong> him any one beheld,<br />

that at once riveted his eyes.<br />

9. Having beheld him with the beautiful circle <strong>of</strong> hair between his<br />

brows and with long eyes, with his radiant body and his hands<br />

showing a graceful membrane between the fingers, – so w<strong>or</strong>thy <strong>of</strong><br />

ruling the earth and yet wearing a mendicant’s dress, – the Goddess <strong>of</strong><br />

10. Then Śreṇya, the l<strong>or</strong>d <strong>of</strong> the court <strong>of</strong> the Magadhas, beheld from<br />

the outside <strong>of</strong> his palace the immense concourse <strong>of</strong> people, and asked<br />

the reason <strong>of</strong> it; and thus did a man recount it to him:<br />

11. ‘He who was thus f<strong>or</strong>etold <strong>by</strong> the Brāhmans, "he will either attain<br />

supreme wisdom <strong>or</strong> the empire <strong>of</strong> the earth," – it is he, the son <strong>of</strong> the<br />

king <strong>of</strong> the Śākyas, who is the ascetic whom the people are gazing at.’<br />

12. The king, having heard this and perceived its meaning with his<br />

mind, thus at once spoke to that man: ‘Let it be known whither he is<br />

going;’ and the man, receiving the command, followed the prince.

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