26.03.2016 Views

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.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>Buddha</strong>-<strong>carita</strong>, <strong>or</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong> - 188<br />

23. Then the three, with despondent faces, having retired together on<br />

one side, consulted with one another and came f<strong>or</strong>ward wearing the<br />

appearance <strong>of</strong> youthful beauty.<br />

24. Folding their hands in reverence they thus addressed the<br />

Tathāgata, ‘O holy one, receive us as religious mendicants, we are<br />

come to thy one refuge.<br />

25. ‘Having heard the fame <strong>of</strong> thy achievements, we, the daughters <strong>of</strong><br />

Namuci, have come from the golden city, abandoning the life <strong>of</strong> a<br />

household.<br />

26. ‘We are desirous <strong>of</strong> repressing the teaching <strong>of</strong> our five hundred<br />

brothers, – we would be freed from a master, as thou thyself art freed<br />

from all passions.’<br />

27. Having his mind continually guided <strong>by</strong> the conduct which leads to<br />

Nirvāṇa, and setting himself to remember the (f<strong>or</strong>mer) <strong>Buddha</strong>s, he<br />

kept his eyes closed, abs<strong>or</strong>bed in meditation.<br />

28. Then again, having resolved on their new plan in concert, these<br />

enchantresses, assuming an older aspect, approached once m<strong>or</strong>e to<br />

delude him.<br />

29. ‘We have come here after wandering under the dismal avatāra <strong>of</strong><br />

slaves’, – thou art the avatāra <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong>, – do thou establish us,<br />

mature, in the true <strong>Buddha</strong> doctrine.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!