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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> - 69<br />

61. Another, with fully-developed limbs, her mouth wide open, her<br />

saliva dropping, and her person exposed, lay as though sprawling in<br />

intoxication, – she spoke not, but b<strong>or</strong>e every limb dist<strong>or</strong>ted.<br />

62. Thus that company <strong>of</strong> women, lying in different attitudes,<br />

acc<strong>or</strong>ding to their disposition and family, b<strong>or</strong>e the aspect <strong>of</strong> a lake<br />

whose lotuses were bent down and broken <strong>by</strong> the wind.<br />

63. Then having seen these young women thus lying dist<strong>or</strong>ted and<br />

with uncontrolled gestures, however excellent their f<strong>or</strong>ms and<br />

graceful their appearance, – the king’s son felt moved with sc<strong>or</strong>n.<br />

64. ‘Such is the nature <strong>of</strong> women, impure and monstrous in the w<strong>or</strong>ld<br />

<strong>of</strong> living beings; but deceived <strong>by</strong> dress and <strong>or</strong>naments a man becomes<br />

infatuated <strong>by</strong> a woman’s attractions.<br />

65. ‘If a man would but consider the natural state <strong>of</strong> women and this<br />

change produced in them <strong>by</strong> sleep, assuredly he would not cherish his<br />

folly; but he is smitten from a right will and so succumbs to passion.’<br />

66. Thus to him having recognised that difference there arose a desire<br />

to escape in the night; and then the gods, knowing his purpose, caused<br />

the do<strong>or</strong> <strong>of</strong> the palace to fly open.<br />

67. Then he went down from the ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> the palace, sc<strong>or</strong>ning those<br />

women who lay thus dist<strong>or</strong>ted; and having descended, undauntedly he<br />

went out first into the courtyard.

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