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> - 75<br />
8. ‘I am pleased with this noble action <strong>of</strong> thine; this feeling is seen<br />
towards me, even though I am regardless <strong>of</strong> conferring rewards.<br />
9. ‘Who would not be favourably disposed to one who stands to him<br />
as bringing him reward? but even one’s own people commonly<br />
become mere strangers in a reverse <strong>of</strong> f<strong>or</strong>tune.<br />
10. ‘The son is maintained f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> the family, the father is<br />
honoured f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> our own (future) supp<strong>or</strong>t; the w<strong>or</strong>ld shows<br />
kindness f<strong>or</strong> the sake <strong>of</strong> hope; there is no such a thing as unselfishness<br />
without a motive.<br />
11. ‘Why speak many w<strong>or</strong>ds? in sh<strong>or</strong>t, thou hast done me a very great<br />
kindness; take now my h<strong>or</strong>se and return, I have attained the desired<br />
wood.’<br />
12. Thus having spoken, the mighty hero in his desire to show perfect<br />
gentleness unloosed his <strong>or</strong>naments and gave them to the other, who<br />
was deeply grieved.<br />
13. Having taken a brilliant jewel whose effect illumined his diadem,<br />
he stood, uttering these w<strong>or</strong>ds, like the mountain Mandara with the<br />
sun resting on it:<br />
14. ‘By thee with this jewel, O Chaṁda, having <strong>of</strong>fered him repeated<br />
obeisance, the king, with his loving confidence still unshaken, must be<br />
enjoined to stay his grief.
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