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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> - 126<br />

19. Him, distinguished <strong>by</strong> his beauty <strong>of</strong> f<strong>or</strong>m and perfect tranquillity<br />

as the very creation <strong>of</strong> Religion herself, – filled with astonishment<br />

and affectionate regard the king <strong>of</strong> men approached, as Indra the selfexistent<br />

(Brahman).<br />

20. He, the chief <strong>of</strong> the courteous, having courteously drawn nigh to<br />

him, inquired as to the equilibrium <strong>of</strong> his bodily humours; and the<br />

other with equal gentleness assured the king <strong>of</strong> his health <strong>of</strong> mind and<br />

freedom from all ailments.<br />

21. Then the king sat down on the clean surface <strong>of</strong> the rock, dark blue<br />

like an elephant’s ear; and being seated, with the other’s assent, he<br />

thus spoke, desiring to know his state <strong>of</strong> mind:<br />

22. ‘I have a strong friendship with thy family, come down <strong>by</strong><br />

inheritance and well proved; since from this a desire to speak to thee,<br />

my son, has arisen in me, theref<strong>or</strong>e listen to my w<strong>or</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> affection.<br />

23. ‘When I consider thy widespread race, beginning with the sun, thy<br />

fresh youth, and thy conspicuous beauty, – whence comes this resolve<br />

<strong>of</strong> thine so out <strong>of</strong> all harmony with the rest, set wholly on a<br />

mendicant’s life, not on a kingdom?<br />

24. ‘Thy limbs are w<strong>or</strong>thy <strong>of</strong> red sandal-wood perfumes, – they do not<br />

deserve the rough contact <strong>of</strong> red cloth; this hand is fit to protect<br />

subjects, it deserves not to hold food given <strong>by</strong> another.

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