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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> - 95<br />

7. Then those two, – who were as it were silently f<strong>or</strong>bidden <strong>by</strong> the sad<br />

inhabitants who were wandering in that direction, their brightness<br />

gone and their eyes dim with tears, – slowly entered the city which<br />

seemed all bathed in gloom.<br />

8. Having heard that they had returned with their limbs all relaxed,<br />

coming back without the pride <strong>of</strong> the Śākya race, the men <strong>of</strong> the city<br />

shed tears in the road, as when in old days the chariot <strong>of</strong> the son <strong>of</strong><br />

Daśaratha came back.<br />

9. Full <strong>of</strong> wrath, the people followed Chaṁdaka in the road, crying<br />

behind him with tears, ‘Where is the king’s son, the gl<strong>or</strong>y <strong>of</strong> his race<br />

and kingdom? he has been stolen away <strong>by</strong> thee.’<br />

10. Then he said to those faithful ones, I have not left the king’s son;<br />

but <strong>by</strong> him in the uninhabited f<strong>or</strong>est I weeping and the dress <strong>of</strong> a<br />

householder were abandoned together.’<br />

11. Having heard these w<strong>or</strong>ds <strong>of</strong> his those crowds adopted a most<br />

difficult resolve; they did not wipe away the tears which fell from<br />

their eyes, and they blamed their own (evil) hearts on account <strong>of</strong> the<br />

consequences <strong>of</strong> their actions;<br />

12. Then they said, ‘Let us go this very day into that f<strong>or</strong>est, whither<br />

he is gone, whose gait is like the king <strong>of</strong> elephants; without him we<br />

have no wish to live, like the senses when the souls depart.

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