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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> - 213<br />

80. ‘The fount <strong>of</strong> an ambrosia which quenches the sc<strong>or</strong>ching <strong>of</strong> the<br />

flame <strong>of</strong> all pain, and the powerful luminary which dries up the great<br />

ocean <strong>of</strong> all pain,<br />

81. ‘He who brings all virtue and all true wealth, the possess<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

perfect excellence and all good qualities, the guide on the road <strong>of</strong><br />

wisdom, he who shows the way to Nirvāṇa,<br />

82. ‘The Tathāgata, without stain, without attachment, without<br />

uncertainty. This is the compendious declaration in the turning <strong>of</strong> the<br />

wheel <strong>of</strong> the Law.<br />

83. ‘A concise manifestation <strong>of</strong> a Tathāgata’s qualities is now declared<br />

<strong>by</strong> me; f<strong>or</strong> a <strong>Buddha</strong>’s knowledge is endless, unlimited like the ether;<br />

84. ‘A narrat<strong>or</strong> might spend a Kalpa, but the virtues <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Buddha</strong><br />

would not come to an end, thus <strong>by</strong> me has the multitude <strong>of</strong> the virtues<br />

<strong>of</strong> the <strong>Buddha</strong> been described.<br />

85. ‘Having heard this and welcomed it with joy go on ever in<br />

happiness; this, Sirs, is the Mahāyāna, the instrument <strong>of</strong> the Law <strong>of</strong><br />

the perfect <strong>Buddha</strong>, which is the establisher <strong>of</strong> the welfare <strong>of</strong> all<br />

beings, set f<strong>or</strong>th <strong>by</strong> all the <strong>Buddha</strong>s.<br />

86. ‘In <strong>or</strong>der that this methodical arrangement <strong>of</strong> the Law may be<br />

always spread abroad, do you yourselves always proclaim it and hand<br />

it on.

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