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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> - 53<br />

60. ‘But he verily is like one bereft <strong>of</strong> sense, who, beholding another<br />

aged <strong>or</strong> sick <strong>or</strong> dead, remains self-possessed and not afflicted.<br />

61. ‘(So) even when a tree is deprived <strong>of</strong> its flowers and fruits, <strong>or</strong> if it<br />

is cut down and falls, no other tree s<strong>or</strong>rows.’<br />

62. Seeing him thus abs<strong>or</strong>bed in contemplation, with his desires<br />

estranged from all w<strong>or</strong>ldly objects, Udāyin, well skilled in the rules <strong>of</strong><br />

policy, with kindly feelings addressed him:<br />

63. ‘Since I was appointed <strong>by</strong> the king as a fitting friend f<strong>or</strong> thee,<br />

theref<strong>or</strong>e I have a wish to speak to thee in this friendliness <strong>of</strong> my<br />

heart.<br />

64. ‘To hinder from what is disadvantageous, to urge to what is<br />

advantageous – and not to f<strong>or</strong>sake in misf<strong>or</strong>tune, – these are the three<br />

marks <strong>of</strong> a friend.<br />

65. ‘If I, after having promised my friendship, were not to heed when<br />

thou turnest away from the great end <strong>of</strong> man, there would be no<br />

friendship in me.<br />

66. ‘Theref<strong>or</strong>e I speak as thy friend, – such rudeness as this to women<br />

is not befitting f<strong>or</strong> one young in years and graceful in person.<br />

67. ‘It is right to woo a woman even <strong>by</strong> guile, this is useful both f<strong>or</strong><br />

getting rid <strong>of</strong> shame and f<strong>or</strong> one’s own enjoyment.

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