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.
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> - 198<br />
98. When he arrived at the city Sārathi, the citizens volunteered to be<br />
charioteers in his service; thence he came to the Ganges, and he bade<br />
the ferryman cross.<br />
99. ‘Good man, convey me across the Ganges, may the seven blessings<br />
be thine.’ ‘I carry no one across unless he pays the fee.’<br />
100. ‘I have nothing, what shall I give?’ So saying he went through the<br />
sky like the king <strong>of</strong> birds; and from that time Bimbisāra abolished the<br />
ferry-fee f<strong>or</strong> all ascetics.<br />
101. Then having entered Vārāṇasī, the Jina, illumining the city with<br />
his light, filled the minds <strong>of</strong> all the inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Kāśī with excessive<br />
interest.<br />
102. In the Saṅkhamedhīya garden, the king <strong>of</strong> righteousness,<br />
abs<strong>or</strong>bed in meditation, passed the night, gladdening like the moon all<br />
those who were astonished at his appearance.<br />
103. The next day at the end <strong>of</strong> the second watch, having gone his<br />
begging round collecting alms, he, the unequalled one, like Hari,<br />
proceeded to the Deer Park.<br />
104. The five disciples united in a w<strong>or</strong>thy society, when they beheld<br />
him, said to one another, ‘This is Gautama who has come hither, the<br />
ascetic who has abandoned his self-control.
Change language