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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> - 187<br />

16. ‘Else, in bitter repentance, thou wilt remember me hereafter, when<br />

thou art fallen.’ – But he listened not to her w<strong>or</strong>ds, closing his eyes in<br />

deep meditation like one who is sleepy.<br />

17. Then Thirst, shameless like one distriessed with thirst, thus<br />

addressed him who was free from all thirst: ‘Fie, fie, thou hast<br />

abandoned thy family duties, thou hast fallen from all social<br />

obligations;<br />

18. ‘Without power no asceticism, sacrifice, <strong>or</strong> vow can be<br />

accomplished, – those great śiṣis Brahman and the rest, because they<br />

were endowed with power, enjoy their present triumph.<br />

19. ‘Know me to be the power called Thirst, and w<strong>or</strong>ship thirst<br />

acc<strong>or</strong>dingly; else I will clasp thee with all my might and fling away<br />

thy life.’<br />

20. Motionless as one almost dead, he continued in meditation,<br />

remembering the f<strong>or</strong>mer <strong>Buddha</strong>s; then Delight next tried to win him<br />

who was indeed hard to be won <strong>by</strong> evil deeds.<br />

21. ‘O holy one, I am Delight <strong>by</strong> name, fostering all practicable<br />

delights, – theref<strong>or</strong>e making me the female mendicant’s tutelary<br />

power, bring delight within thy reach.’<br />

22. But whether flattered <strong>or</strong> threatened, whether she uttered curses <strong>or</strong><br />

blessings, he remained abs<strong>or</strong>bed in meditation, perfectly tranquil like<br />

one who has entered Nirvāṇa.

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