The Buddha-Carita or The Life of Buddha by Ven. Aśvaghoṣa
A Sanskrit and English line by line (interlinear) version of one of the most important and influential biographies of the Buddha (together with extensive annotation). A Sanskrit and English line by line (interlinear) version of one of the most important and influential biographies of the Buddha (together with extensive annotation).
Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha - 125 Book X: [Śreṇyābhigamano] [Śreṇya’s Visit] sa rājavatsaḥ pthupīnavakṣāstau havyamatrādhiktau vihāya | uttīrya gagā pracalattaragā śrīmadgha rājagha jagāma || 10.1 1. The prince, he of the broad and lusty chest, having thus dismissed the minister and the priest, crossed the Ganges with its speeding waves and went to Rājagha with its beautiful palaces. śailaiḥ sugupta ca vibhūṣita ca dhta ca pūta ca śivaistapodaiḥ | pacācalāka nagara prapede śātaḥ svayabhūriva nākapṣṭham || 10.2 2. He reached the city distinguished by the five hills, well guarded and adorned with mountains, and supported and hallowed by auspicious sacred places, 1 — like Brahman 2 in a holy calm going to the uppermost heaven. gābhīryamojaśca niśāmya tasya vapuśca dīpta puruṣānatītya | visismiye tatra janastadānī sthāṇuvratasyeva vṣadhvajasya || 10.3 3. Having heard of his majesty and strength, and his splendid beauty, surpassing all other men, the people of that region were all astonished as at him who has a bull for his sign and is immovable in his vow. 3 ta prekṣya yo ’nyena yayau sa tasthau yaścātra tasthau pathi so ’nvagacchat | druta yayau ya sadaya sadhīra yaḥ kaścidāste sma sa cotpapāta || 10.4 4. On seeing him, he who was going elsewhere stood still, and he who was standing there followed him in the way; he who was walking gently and gravely ran quickly, and he who was sitting at once sprang up. kaścittamānarca janaḥ karābhyā satktya kaścicchirasā vavade | snigdhena kaścidvacasābhyanadannaiva jagāmāpratipūjya kaścit || 10.5 5. Some people reverenced him with their hands, others in worship saluted him with their heads, some addressed him with affectionate words, — not one went on without paying him homage. ta jihriyuḥ prekṣya vicitraveṣāḥ prakīrṇavācaḥ pathi maunamīyuḥ | dharmasya sākṣādiva sanikarṣānna kaścidanyāyamatirbabhūva || 10.6 6. Those who were wearing gay-coloured dresses were ashamed when they saw him, those who were talking on random subjects fell to silence on the road; no one indulged in an improper thought, as at the presence of Religion herself embodied. 1 Tapoda is the name of a tīrtha in Magadha. 2 Svayabhū. 3 Śiva.
Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha - 126 anyakriyāṇāmapi rājamārge strīṇā nṇā vā bahumānapūrvam | tadeva kalpa naradevasūtra nirīkṣamāṇā na tu tasya dṣṭiḥ || 10.7 7. In the men and the women on the highway, even though they were intent on other business, that conduct alone with the profoundest reverence seemed proper which is enjoined by the rules of royal homage; but his eyes never looked upon them. bhruvau lalāṭa mukhamīkṣaṇa vā vapuḥ karau vā caraṇau gati vā | yadeva yastasya dadarśa tatra tadeva tasyānubabadha cakṣuḥ || 10.8 8. His brows, his forehead, his mouth, or his eyes, — his body, his hands, his feet, or his gait, — whatever part of him any one beheld, that at once riveted his eyes. dṣṭvā śubhorṇabhruvamāyatākṣa jvalaccharīra śubhajālahastam | ta bhikṣuveśa kṣitipālanārha sacukṣubhe rājaghasya lakṣmīḥ || 10.9 9. Having beheld him with the beautiful circle of hair between his brows 1 and with long eyes, with his radiant body and his hands showing a graceful membrane between the fingers, — so worthy of ruling the earth and yet wearing a mendicant’s dress, — the Goddess of Rājagha was herself perturbed. śreṇyo ’tha bhartā magadhājirasya vāhyādvimānādvipula janaugham | dadarśa papraccha ca tasya hetu tatastamasmai puruṣaḥ śaśasa || 10.10 10. Then Śreṇya, 2 the lord of the court of the Magadhas, beheld from the outside of his palace the immense concourse of people, and asked the reason of it; and thus did a man recount it to him: jñāna para vā pthivīśriya vā viprairya ukto ’dhigamiṣyatīti | sa eva śākyādhipatestanūjo nirīkṣyate pravrajito janena || 10.11 11. ‘He who was thus foretold by the Brāhmans, "he will either attain supreme wisdom or the empire of the earth," — it is he, the son of the king of the Śākyas, who is the ascetic whom the people are gazing at.’ tataḥ śrutārtho manasā gatārtho rājā babhāṣe puruṣa tameva | vijñāyatā kva pratigacchatīti tathetyathaina puruṣo ’nvagacchat || 10.12 12. The king, having heard this and perceived its meaning with his mind, thus at once spoke to that man: ‘Let it be known whither he is going;’ and the man, receiving the command, followed the prince. 1 So the Tibetan. The Sanskrit text seems corrupt here. Cf. I,65 c. 2 A name of Bimbisāra, see Burnouf, Introd. p. 165.
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<strong>Buddha</strong>-carita, <strong>or</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Buddha</strong> - 126<br />
anyakriyāṇāmapi rājamārge strīṇā nṇā vā bahumānapūrvam |<br />
tadeva kalpa naradevasūtra nirīkṣamāṇā na tu tasya dṣṭiḥ || 10.7<br />
7. In the men and the women on the highway, even though they were intent on other<br />
business, that conduct alone with the pr<strong>of</strong>oundest reverence seemed proper which is<br />
enjoined <strong>by</strong> the rules <strong>of</strong> royal homage; but his eyes never looked upon them.<br />
bhruvau lalāṭa mukhamīkṣaṇa vā vapuḥ karau vā caraṇau gati vā |<br />
yadeva yastasya dadarśa tatra tadeva tasyānubabadha cakṣuḥ || 10.8<br />
8. His brows, his f<strong>or</strong>ehead, his mouth, <strong>or</strong> his eyes, — his body, his hands, his feet, <strong>or</strong><br />
his gait, — whatever part <strong>of</strong> him any one beheld, that at once riveted his eyes.<br />
dṣṭvā śubh<strong>or</strong>ṇabhruvamāyatākṣa jvalaccharīra śubhajālahastam |<br />
ta bhikṣuveśa kṣitipālanārha sacukṣubhe rājaghasya lakṣmīḥ || 10.9<br />
9. Having beheld him with the beautiful circle <strong>of</strong> hair between his brows 1 and with<br />
long eyes, with his radiant body and his hands showing a graceful membrane between<br />
the fingers, — so w<strong>or</strong>thy <strong>of</strong> ruling the earth and yet wearing a mendicant’s dress, —<br />
the Goddess <strong>of</strong> Rājagha was herself perturbed.<br />
śreṇyo ’tha bhartā magadhājirasya vāhyādvimānādvipula janaugham |<br />
dadarśa papraccha ca tasya hetu tatastamasmai puruṣaḥ śaśasa || 10.10<br />
10. <strong>The</strong>n Śreṇya, 2 the l<strong>or</strong>d <strong>of</strong> the court <strong>of</strong> the Magadhas, beheld from the outside <strong>of</strong><br />
his palace the immense concourse <strong>of</strong> people, and asked the reason <strong>of</strong> it; and thus did a<br />
man recount it to him:<br />
jñāna para vā pthivīśriya vā viprairya ukto ’dhigamiṣyatīti |<br />
sa eva śākyādhipatestanūjo nirīkṣyate pravrajito janena || 10.11<br />
11. ‘He who was thus f<strong>or</strong>etold <strong>by</strong> the Brāhmans, "he will either attain supreme wisdom<br />
<strong>or</strong> the empire <strong>of</strong> the earth," — it is he, the son <strong>of</strong> the king <strong>of</strong> the Śākyas, who is the<br />
ascetic whom the people are gazing at.’<br />
tataḥ śrutārtho manasā gatārtho rājā babhāṣe puruṣa tameva |<br />
vijñāyatā kva pratigacchatīti tathetyathaina puruṣo ’nvagacchat || 10.12<br />
12. <strong>The</strong> king, having heard this and perceived its meaning with his mind, thus at once<br />
spoke to that man: ‘Let it be known whither he is going;’ and the man, receiving the<br />
command, followed the prince.<br />
1 So the Tibetan. <strong>The</strong> Sanskrit text seems c<strong>or</strong>rupt here. Cf. I,65 c.<br />
2 A name <strong>of</strong> Bimbisāra, see Burnouf, Introd. p. 165.