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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> - 162<br />

cakravāka birds, tenderly attached as they are and well deserving the<br />

name <strong>of</strong> lovers.’<br />

14. But when, even though thus addressed, the Śākya saint unheeding<br />

did not change his posture, then Māra discharged his arrow at him,<br />

setting in front <strong>of</strong> him his daughters and his sons.<br />

15. But even when that arrow was shot he gave no heed and swerved<br />

not from his firmness; and Māra, beholding him thus, sank down, and<br />

slowly thus spoke, full <strong>of</strong> thought:<br />

16. ‘He does not even notice that arrow <strong>by</strong> which the god Śambhu was<br />

pierced with love f<strong>or</strong> the daughter <strong>of</strong> the mountain and shaken in his<br />

vow; can he be destitute <strong>of</strong> all feeling? is not this that very arrow?<br />

17. ‘He is not w<strong>or</strong>thy <strong>of</strong> my flower-shaft, n<strong>or</strong> my arrow "gladdener,"<br />

n<strong>or</strong> the sending <strong>of</strong> my daughter Rati (to tempt him); he deserves the<br />

alarms and rebukes and blows from all the gathered hosts <strong>of</strong> the<br />

demons.’<br />

18. Then Māra called to mind his own army, wishing to w<strong>or</strong>k the<br />

overthrow <strong>of</strong> the Śākya saint; and his followers swarmed round,<br />

wearing different f<strong>or</strong>ms and carrying arrows, trees, darts, clubs, and<br />

sw<strong>or</strong>ds in their hands;<br />

19. Having the faces <strong>of</strong> boars, fishes, h<strong>or</strong>ses, asses, and camels, <strong>of</strong><br />

tigers, bears, lions, and elephants, – one-eyed, many-faced, threeheaded,<br />

– with protuberant bellies and speckled bellies;

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