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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> - 164<br />

27. Such were the troops <strong>of</strong> demons who encircled the root <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Bodhi tree on every side, eager to seize it and to destroy it, awaiting<br />

the command <strong>of</strong> their l<strong>or</strong>d.<br />

28. Beholding in the first half <strong>of</strong> the night that battle <strong>of</strong> Māra and the<br />

bull <strong>of</strong> the Śākya race, the heavens did not shine and the earth shook<br />

and the (ten) regions <strong>of</strong> space flashed flame and roared.<br />

29. A wind <strong>of</strong> intense violence blew in all directions, the stars did not<br />

shine, the moon gave no light, and a deeper darkness <strong>of</strong> night spread<br />

around, and all the oceans were agitated.<br />

30. The mountain deities and the Nāgas who honoured the Law,<br />

indignant at the attack on the saint, rolling their eyes in anger against<br />

Māra, heaved deep sighs and opened their mouths wide.<br />

31. But the god-sages, the Śuddhādhivāsas, being as it were abs<strong>or</strong>bed<br />

in the perfect accomplishment <strong>of</strong> the good Law, felt only a pity f<strong>or</strong><br />

Māra in their minds and through their absolute passionlessness were<br />

unruffled <strong>by</strong> anger.<br />

32. When they saw the foot <strong>of</strong> the Bodhi tree crowded with that host<br />

<strong>of</strong> Māra, intent on doing harm, – the sky was filled with the cry<br />

raised <strong>by</strong> all the virtuous beings who desired the w<strong>or</strong>ld’s liberation.<br />

33. But the great sage having beheld that army <strong>of</strong> Māra thus engaged<br />

in an attack on the knower <strong>of</strong> the Law, remained untroubled and<br />

suffered no perturbation, like a lion seated in the midst <strong>of</strong> oxen.

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