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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> - 135<br />

30. ‘What man <strong>of</strong> self-control could find satisfaction in those<br />

pleasures, which are like the enjoyments in a dream, – which are<br />

gained <strong>by</strong> their recipients after manifold pilgrimages and labours, and<br />

then perish in a moment?<br />

31. ‘What man <strong>of</strong> self-control could find satisfaction in those<br />

pleasures which are like a spear, sw<strong>or</strong>d, <strong>or</strong> club, – f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong><br />

which the Kurus, the V<br />

Daṇḍakas suffered destruction?<br />

32. ‘What man <strong>of</strong> self-control could find satisfaction in those<br />

pleasures which dissolve friendships and f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> which the two<br />

Asuras Sunda and Upasunda perished, victims engaged in mutual<br />

enmity?<br />

33. ‘None, however their intellect is blinded with pleasure, give<br />

themselves up, as in compassion, to ravenous beasts; so what man <strong>of</strong><br />

self-control could find satisfaction in those pleasures which are<br />

disastrous and constant enemies?<br />

34. ‘He whose intellect is blinded with pleasure does pitiable things; he<br />

incurs calamities, such as death, bonds, and the like; the wretch, who<br />

is the miserable slave <strong>of</strong> hope f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> pleasure, well deserves<br />

the pain <strong>of</strong> death even in the w<strong>or</strong>ld <strong>of</strong> the living.<br />

35. ‘Deer are lured to their destruction <strong>by</strong> songs, insects f<strong>or</strong> the sake<br />

<strong>of</strong> the brightness fly into the fire, the fish greedy f<strong>or</strong> the flesh

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