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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> - 221<br />

Book XVII [The Progress to Lumbinī] <strong>of</strong> The<br />

<strong>Buddha</strong>-<br />

1. When the heavenly beings with Brahman at their head and the<br />

Bodhisattvas intent on self-m<strong>or</strong>tification heard this gl<strong>or</strong>ification <strong>of</strong><br />

the Law uttered <strong>by</strong> the lion <strong>of</strong> the Śākyas, they were desirous to hear<br />

again this which is so difficult to find, and they went to the city and<br />

w<strong>or</strong>shipped him, propitiating his favour; in the dark f<strong>or</strong>tnight <strong>of</strong> the<br />

month Aṣaḍha on the lunar day sacred to Agni, with the moon in the<br />

constellation called Karṇa (?) and on an auspicious day, – he,<br />

remembering the <strong>Buddha</strong> w<strong>or</strong>lds and being desirous to save all<br />

creatures, set <strong>of</strong>f on his journey, longing f<strong>or</strong> disciples with his father<br />

at their head.<br />

2. The associated Brāhmans, accompanied <strong>by</strong> the inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Kāśī<br />

who had gone to the Deer Park, and the mendicants to the number <strong>of</strong><br />

thirty, were rendered resplendent <strong>by</strong> the chief <strong>of</strong> saints; Kāśikā the<br />

harlot <strong>of</strong> Kāśī went to the heaven <strong>of</strong> the gods, after she had<br />

w<strong>or</strong>shipped the Jina and attached her sons to the service <strong>of</strong> the<br />

gl<strong>or</strong>ious one; the conquer<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong> the w<strong>or</strong>ld then made thirty rejoicing<br />

<strong>of</strong>ficiating priests <strong>of</strong> Kāśī his disciples, initiating them in the course<br />

<strong>of</strong> perfect wisdom; and the son <strong>of</strong> Maitrāyaṇī and Maitra, the<br />

precept<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong> hosts <strong>of</strong> the twice-b<strong>or</strong>n, named Pūrṇa, obtained true<br />

wisdom from the chief <strong>of</strong> saints and became a noble mendicant.

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