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> - 227<br />
last reached the wood Nigrodha, illuminating the district <strong>by</strong> his gl<strong>or</strong>y,<br />
shaking the earth and putting an end to misery.<br />
19. He again stirred up his followers in the doctrine <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Buddha</strong>,<br />
and then went on with the crowds <strong>of</strong> inhabitants gathered round him,<br />
instructing his shaven mendicant-followers, as they begged alms,<br />
while the gods brought his precepts to their minds. He f<strong>or</strong>bade the<br />
mendicants to enter the city and went to Rājageha himself with his<br />
own followers; and then the king who dwells apart from all doubt, the<br />
Jina, who knows at once all the hist<strong>or</strong>y <strong>of</strong> every Bhikṣu, instructed the<br />
ascetic (Udāyin) in proclaiming wisdom to others.<br />
20. In acc<strong>or</strong>dance with the Jina’s command that prince <strong>of</strong> ascetics,<br />
Udāyin, went to the city <strong>of</strong> Kapila; there he, the l<strong>or</strong>d <strong>of</strong> all possess<strong>or</strong>s<br />
<strong>of</strong> supernatural powers, instructed the king as he stood in the<br />
assembly in the boon <strong>of</strong> the eight hundred powers; and coming down<br />
from heaven he uttered to the king and his court a discourse on the<br />
four sublime truths, and the king, with his mind enlightened, having<br />
w<strong>or</strong>shipped him, held intercourse with him, attended <strong>by</strong> his courtiers,<br />
<strong>of</strong>fering every f<strong>or</strong>m <strong>of</strong> homage.<br />
21. The monarch, rejoiced at the sight <strong>of</strong> the Jina, praised his feet,<br />
w<strong>or</strong>shipping them with eight hundred presents; and the Sugata<br />
departed, and made manifest in the sky in his one person a f<strong>or</strong>m<br />
comprehending the universe; first as fire, then ambrosia, then the king<br />
<strong>of</strong> beasts, an elephant, the king <strong>of</strong> h<strong>or</strong>ses, the king <strong>of</strong> peacocks, the
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