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> - 201<br />

muhūrta called the Vict<strong>or</strong>ious, in the night, – he took his stand on the<br />

throne.<br />

118. The five w<strong>or</strong>thy disciples stood in front, with joyful minds,<br />

paying their homage, and the son <strong>of</strong> Śuddhodana perf<strong>or</strong>med that act<br />

<strong>of</strong> meditation which is called the Arouser <strong>of</strong> all w<strong>or</strong>lds;<br />

Brahman and the other gods came surrounded <strong>by</strong> their attendants,<br />

summoned each from his own w<strong>or</strong>ld; and Maitrīya with the deities <strong>of</strong><br />

the Tuṣita heaven came f<strong>or</strong> the turning <strong>of</strong> the wheel <strong>of</strong> the Law.<br />

119. So too when the multitude <strong>of</strong> the sons <strong>of</strong> the Jinas and the Suras<br />

gathered together from the ten directions <strong>of</strong> space, there came also<br />

the noble chief <strong>of</strong> the sons <strong>of</strong> the Jinas, named Dharmacakra, carrying<br />

the wheel <strong>of</strong> the Law; With head reverentially bowed, having placed<br />

it, a mass <strong>of</strong> gold and jewels, bef<strong>or</strong>e the <strong>Buddha</strong> and having<br />

w<strong>or</strong>shipped him, he thus besought him, ‘O thou l<strong>or</strong>d <strong>of</strong> saints, turn the<br />

wheel <strong>of</strong> the Law as it has been done <strong>by</strong> (f<strong>or</strong>mer) Sugatas.’

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!