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> - 71<br />
he were desirous to plunge into the middle <strong>of</strong> an army:<br />
75. ‘Oftentimes have evil enemies been overthrown <strong>by</strong> the king when<br />
mounted on thee; do thou, O best <strong>of</strong> steeds, so exert thyself that I too<br />
may obtain the highest imm<strong>or</strong>tality.<br />
76. ‘Companions are easy to be found in battle <strong>or</strong> in the happiness<br />
obtained <strong>by</strong> winning w<strong>or</strong>ldly objects <strong>or</strong> in attaining wealth; but<br />
companions are hard f<strong>or</strong> a man to find who has fallen into misf<strong>or</strong>tune<br />
<strong>or</strong> when he flies f<strong>or</strong> refuge to Dharma.<br />
77. ‘And yet all those who in this w<strong>or</strong>ld are companions, whether in<br />
sinful custom <strong>or</strong> in seeking f<strong>or</strong> Dharma, – as my inner soul now<br />
recognises, – they too are verily sharers in the common aim.<br />
78. ‘Since then, when I attain this righteous end, my escape from<br />
hence will be f<strong>or</strong> the good <strong>of</strong> the w<strong>or</strong>ld, – O best <strong>of</strong> steeds, <strong>by</strong> thy<br />
speed and energy, strive f<strong>or</strong> thine own good and the good <strong>of</strong> the<br />
w<strong>or</strong>ld.’<br />
79. Thus having exh<strong>or</strong>ted the best <strong>of</strong> steeds like a friend to his duty,<br />
he, the best <strong>of</strong> men, longing to go to the f<strong>or</strong>est, wearing a noble f<strong>or</strong>m,<br />
in brightness like fire, mounted the white h<strong>or</strong>se as the sun an<br />
autumnal cloud.<br />
80. Then that good steed, avoiding all noises which would sound<br />
startling in the dead <strong>of</strong> night and awaken the household, – all sound
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