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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> - 80<br />

47. ‘As clouds, having come together, depart asunder again, such I<br />

consider the meeting and parting <strong>of</strong> living things.<br />

48. ‘And since this w<strong>or</strong>ld goes away, each one <strong>of</strong> us deceiving the<br />

other, – it is not right to think anything thine own in a time <strong>of</strong> union<br />

which is a dream.<br />

49. ‘Since the trees are parted from the innate colour <strong>of</strong> their leaves,<br />

why should there not still m<strong>or</strong>e be the parting <strong>of</strong> two things which are<br />

alien to each other?<br />

50. ‘Theref<strong>or</strong>e, since it is so, grieve not, my good friend, but go; <strong>or</strong> if<br />

thy love lingers, then go and afterwards return.<br />

51. ‘Say, without reproaching us, to the people in Kapilavastu, “Let<br />

your love f<strong>or</strong> him be given up, and hear his resolve.<br />

52. “Either he will quickly come back, having destroyed old age and<br />

death; <strong>or</strong> else he will himself perish, having failed in his purpose and<br />

lost hold <strong>of</strong> every supp<strong>or</strong>t."’<br />

53. Having heard his w<strong>or</strong>ds, Kaṁthaka, the noblest <strong>of</strong> steeds, licked<br />

his feet with his tongue and dropped hot tears.<br />

54. With his hand whose fingers were united with a membrane and<br />

which was marked with the auspicious svastika, and with its middle<br />

part curved, the prince stroked him and addressed him like a friend:

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