Mike Cross: Aśvaghoṣa's Gold

Saundarananda - 368
yasmād dharmasya cotpattau śraddhā kāraṇam uttamam /
mayoktā kāryatas tasmāt tatra tatra tathā tathā // 12.40 //
Since in the arising of dharma confidence is the primary cause, / Therefore I have named it
after its effects in this case like this, in that case like that. // 12.40 //
śraddhāṅkuram imaṁ tasmāt saṁvardhayitum arhasi /
tad-vṛddhau vardhate dharmo mūla-vṛddhau yathā drumaḥ // 12.41 //
This shoot of confidence, therefore, you should nurture; / When it grows dharma grows, as a
tree grows with the growth of its root. // 12.41 //
vyākulaṁ darśanaṁ yasya durbalo yasya niścayaḥ /
tasya pāriplavā śraddhā na hi kṛtyāya vartate // 12.42 //
When a person’s seeing is disordered, when a person’s sense of purpose is weak: / The
confidence of that person is unsteady, for he is not veering in the direction he should. // 12.42
//
yāvat tattvaṁ na bhavati hi dṛṣṭaṁ śrutaṁ vā
tāvac chraddhā na bhavati bala-sthā sthirā vā /
dṛṣṭe tattve niyama-paribhūtendriyasya
śraddhā-vṛkṣo bhavati sa-phalaś cāśrayaś ca // 12.43 //
So long as the real truth is not seen or heard, confidence does not become strong or firm; / But
when, through restraint, the power of the senses is subjugated and the real truth is realised, the
tree of confidence bears fruit and weight.” // 12.43 //
saundaranande mahākāvye pratyavamarśo nāma dvādaśaḥ sargaḥ // 12 //
The 12th Canto in the epic poem Handsome Nanda, titled “Gaining a Foothold.”