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> - 143<br />
Book XII [Visit to Arāḍa]<br />
1. Then the moon <strong>of</strong> the Ikṣvāku race turned towards the hermitage<br />
<strong>of</strong> the sage Arāḍa <strong>of</strong> tranquil life, – as it were, doing honour to it <strong>by</strong><br />
his beauty.<br />
2. He drew near, on being addressed in a loud voice ‘Welcome’ <strong>by</strong> the<br />
kinsman <strong>of</strong> Kālāma, as he saw him from afar.<br />
3. They, having mutually asked after each other’s health as was<br />
fitting, sat down in a clean place on two pure wooden seats.<br />
4. The best <strong>of</strong> sages, having seen the prince seated, and as it were<br />
drinking in the sight <strong>of</strong> him with eyes opened wide in reverence, thus<br />
addressed him:<br />
5. ‘I know, gentle youth, how thou hast come f<strong>or</strong>th from thy home,<br />
having severed the bond <strong>of</strong> affection, as a wild elephant its c<strong>or</strong>d.<br />
6. ‘In every way thy mind is stedfast and wise, who hast come here<br />
after abandoning royal luxury like a creeper-plant with poisonous<br />
fruit.<br />
7. ‘It is no marvel that kings have retired to the f<strong>or</strong>est who have<br />
grown old in years, having given up their gl<strong>or</strong>y to their children, like<br />
a garland left behind after being used.
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