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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> - 92<br />

50. Then having heard the prince’s discourse, gracious and <strong>of</strong> deep<br />

meaning, gentle, strong, and full <strong>of</strong> dignity, the ascetics paid him<br />

especial honour.<br />

51. But a certain Brāhman who was lying there in the ashes, tall and<br />

wearing his hair in a tuft, and clothed in the bark <strong>of</strong> trees, with<br />

reddish eyes and a thin long nose, and carrying a pot with water in<br />

his hand, thus lifted his voice:<br />

52. ‘O sage, brave indeed is thy purpose, who, young as thou art, hast<br />

seen the evils <strong>of</strong> birth; he who, having pondered th<strong>or</strong>oughly heaven<br />

and liberation, makes up his mind f<strong>or</strong> liberation, – he is indeed brave!<br />

53. ‘By all those various sacrifices, penances and vows the slaves <strong>of</strong><br />

passion desire to go to heaven; but the strong, having battled with<br />

passion as with an enemy, desire to obtain liberation.<br />

54. ‘If this is thy settled purpose, go quickly to Viṁdhyakoṣṭha; the<br />

Muni Arāḍa lives there who has gained an insight into absolute bliss.<br />

55. ‘From him thou wilt hear the path to truth, and if thou hast a<br />

desire f<strong>or</strong> it, thou wilt embrace it; but as I f<strong>or</strong>esee, this purpose <strong>of</strong><br />

thine will go on further, after having rejected his the<strong>or</strong>y.<br />

56. ‘With the nose <strong>of</strong> a well-fed h<strong>or</strong>se, large long eyes, a red lower<br />

lip, white sharp teeth, and a thin red tongue, – this face <strong>of</strong> thine will<br />

drink up the entire ocean <strong>of</strong> what is to be known.

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