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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> - 199<br />

105. ‘He wanders about now, greedy, <strong>of</strong> impure soul, unstable and<br />

with his senses under no firm control, devoted to inquiries regarding<br />

the frying-pan.<br />

106. ‘We will not ask after his health, n<strong>or</strong> rise to meet him, n<strong>or</strong><br />

address him, n<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer him a welcome, n<strong>or</strong> a seat, n<strong>or</strong> bid him enter<br />

into our dwelling.’<br />

107. Having understood their agreement, with a smiling countenance,<br />

spreading light all around, <strong>Buddha</strong> advanced gradually nearer, holding<br />

his staff and his begging-pot.<br />

108. F<strong>or</strong>getful <strong>of</strong> their agreement, the five friends, under his<br />

constraining majesty, rose up like birds in their cages when sc<strong>or</strong>ched<br />

<strong>by</strong> fire.<br />

109. Having taken his begging-bowl and staff, they gave him an<br />

arghya, and water f<strong>or</strong> washing his feet and rinsing his mouth; and<br />

bowing reverentially they said to him, ‘Honoured Sir, health to thee.’<br />

110. ‘Health in every respect is ours, – that wisdom has been attained<br />

which is so hard to be won,’ – so saying, the holy one thus spoke to<br />

the five w<strong>or</strong>thy associates:<br />

111. ‘But address me not as "w<strong>or</strong>thy Sir," know that I am a Jina, – I<br />

have come to give the first wheel <strong>of</strong> the Law to you. Receive<br />

initiation from me, – ye shall obtain the place <strong>of</strong> Nirvāṇa.’

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