Buddhacarita by Ven Asvaghosa - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Buddha-carita, or Life of Buddha - 144
8. ‘But this is to me indeed a marvel that thou art come hither in life’s
fresh prime, set in the open field of the world’s enjoyments, ere thou
hast as yet tasted of their happiness.
9. ‘Verily thou art a worthy vessel to receive this highest religion;
having mastered it with full knowledge, cross at once over the sea of
misery.
10. ‘Though the doctrine is generally efficient only after a time, when
the student has been thoroughly tested, thou art easy for me to
examine from thy depth of character and determination.’
11. The prince, having heard these words of Arāḍa, was filled with
great pleasure and thus made reply:
12. ‘This extreme kindliness which thou showest to me, calmly
passionless as thou art, makes me, imperfect as I am, seem even
already to have attained perfection.
13. ‘I feel at the sight of thee like one longing to see who finds a
light, – like one wishing to journey, a guide, – or like one wishing to
cross, a boat.
14. ‘Wilt thou therefore deign to tell me that secret, if thou thinkest it
should be told, whereby thy servant may be delivered from old age,
death, and disease.’
15. Arāḍa, thus impelled by the noble nature of the prince, declared in
a concise form the tenets of his doctrine: