Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 141
passion, – still it would not be seemly to follow the rule of sacrifice,
where the highest reward is described as attained only by slaughter.
67. ‘Even that happiness which comes to a man, while he stays in this
world, through the injury of another, is hateful to the wise
compassionate heart; how much more if it be something beyond our
sight in another life
68. ‘I am not to be lured into a course of action for future reward, –
my mind does not delight, O king, in future births; these actions are
uncertain and wavering in their direction, like plants beaten by the
rain from a cloud.
69. ‘I have come here with a wish to see next the seer Arāḍa who
proclaims liberation; I start this very day, – happiness be to thee, O
king; forgive my words which may seem harsh through their absolute
freedom from passion.
70. ‘Now therefore do thou guard (the world) like Indra in heaven;
guard it continually like the sun by thy excellencies; guard its best
happiness here; guard the earth; guard life by the noble; guard the
sons of the good; guard thy royal powers, O king; and guard thine
own religion.
71. ‘As in the midst of a sudden catastrophe arising from the flame of
(fire), the enemy of cold, a bird, to deliver its body, betakes itself to
the enemy of fire (water), – so do thou, when occasion calls, betake