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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> - 17<br />

the grandson <strong>of</strong> Śūra (Kriṣṇa) Śūra and his peers were powerless to<br />

accomplish.<br />

51. ‘Theref<strong>or</strong>e it is not age n<strong>or</strong> years which are the criterion; different<br />

persons win pre-eminence in the w<strong>or</strong>ld at different places; those<br />

mighty exploits w<strong>or</strong>thy <strong>of</strong> kings and sages, when left undone <strong>by</strong> the<br />

ancest<strong>or</strong>s, have been done <strong>by</strong> the sons.’<br />

52. The king, being thus consoled and congratulated <strong>by</strong> those welltrusted<br />

Brāhmans, dismissed from his mind all unwelcome suspicion<br />

and rose to a still higher degree <strong>of</strong> joy;<br />

53. And well-pleased he gave to those most excellent <strong>of</strong> the twice-b<strong>or</strong>n<br />

rich treasures with all due honour, – ‘May he become the ruler <strong>of</strong> the<br />

earth acc<strong>or</strong>ding to your w<strong>or</strong>ds, and may he retire to the woods when<br />

he attains old age.’<br />

54. Then having learned <strong>by</strong> signs and through the power <strong>of</strong> his<br />

penances this birth <strong>of</strong> him who was to destroy all birth, the great seer<br />

Asita in his thirst f<strong>or</strong> the excellent Law came to the palace <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Śākya king.<br />

55. Him shining with the gl<strong>or</strong>y <strong>of</strong> sacred knowledge and ascetic<br />

observances, the king’s own priest, – himself a special student among<br />

the students <strong>of</strong> sacred knowledge, – introduced into the royal palace<br />

with all due reverence and respect.

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