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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> - 157<br />

105. And having bathed, thin as he was, slowly came up the bank <strong>of</strong><br />

the Nairañjanā, supp<strong>or</strong>ted as <strong>by</strong> a hand <strong>by</strong> the trees on the sh<strong>or</strong>e,<br />

which bent down the ends <strong>of</strong> their branches in ad<strong>or</strong>ation.<br />

106. Now at that time Nandabalā, the daughter <strong>of</strong> the leader <strong>of</strong> the<br />

herdsmen, impelled <strong>by</strong> the gods, with a sudden joy risen in her heart,<br />

had just come near,<br />

107. Her arm gay with a white shell, and wearing a dark blue woollen<br />

cloth, like the river Yamunā, with its dark blue water and its wreath<br />

<strong>of</strong> foam.<br />

108. She, having her joy increased <strong>by</strong> her faith, with her lotus-like<br />

eyes opened wide, bowed down bef<strong>or</strong>e him and persuaded him to take<br />

some milk.<br />

109. By partaking that food having made her obtain the full reward <strong>of</strong><br />

her birth, he himself became capable <strong>of</strong> gaining the highest<br />

knowledge, all his six senses being now satisfied,<br />

110. The seer, having his body now fully robust, together with his<br />

gl<strong>or</strong>ious fame, one beauty and one majesty being equally spread in<br />

both, shone like the ocean and the moon.<br />

111. Thinking that he had returned to the w<strong>or</strong>ld the five mendicants<br />

left him, as the five elements leave the wise soul when it is liberated.<br />

112. Accompanied only <strong>by</strong> his own resolve, having fixed his mind on<br />

the attainment <strong>of</strong> perfect knowledge, he went to the root <strong>of</strong> an

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