The Buddha-Carita or The Life of Buddha by Ven. Aśvaghoṣa

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7 Book I: [Bhagavatprasūtiḥ] [The Birth of the Holy One] 1 śriya parārdhyā vidadhadvidhātjit tamo nirasyannabhibhūtabhānubht | nudannidāgha jitacārucadramāḥ sa vadyate ’rhanniha yasya nopamā || 1.1* 2 1. That Arhat is here saluted, who has no counterpart, — who, as bestowing the supreme happiness, surpasses (Brahman) the Creator, — who, as driving away darkness, vanquishes the sun, — and, as dispelling all burning heat, surpasses the beautiful moon. āsīdviśālonnatasānulakṣmyā payodapaktyeva parītapārśvam | udagradhiṣṇya gagaṇe ’vagāḍha pura maharṣeḥ kapilasya vastu || 1.2* 2. There was a city, the dwelling-place 3 of the great saint Kapila, having its sides surrounded by the beauty of a lofty broad table-land as by a line of clouds, and itself, with its high-soaring palaces, 4 immersed in the sky. sitonnateneva nayena htvā kailāsaśailasya yadabhraśobhām | bhramādupetān vahadabuvāhān sabhāvanā vā saphalīcakāra || 1.3* 3. By its pure and lofty system of government it, as it were, stole the splendour of the clouds of Mount Kailāsa, and while it bore the clouds which came to it through a mistake, it fulfilled the imagination which had led them thither. 5 ratnaprabhodbhāsini yatra lebhe tamo na dāridryamivāvakāśam | parārdhyapauraiḥ sahavāsatoṣāt ktasmitevātirarāja lakṣmīḥ || 1.4* 4. In that city, shining with the splendour of gems, darkness like poverty could find no place; prosperity shone resplendently, as with a smile, from the joy of dwelling with such surpassingly excellent citizens. yadvedikātoraṇasihakarṇairatnairdadhāna prativeśama śobhām | jagatyadṣṭveva samānamanyatspardhā svagehairmitha eva cakre || 1.5* 5. With its festive arbours, its arched gateways and pinnacles, 6 it was radiant with jewels in every dwelling; and unable to find any other rival in the world, it could only feel emulation with its own houses. 1 The chapter titles are not given by Cowell, and are taken from Johnston’s version. There is no head-title in the original, but they can be inferred from the end-title. 2 Verses marked with an asterick are omitted from Johnson’s edition as being spurious. 3 Vastu seems to be used here for vāstu. 4 Dhiṣṇya 5 They had though that it was Kailāsa 6 Or towers? (sihakarṇaiḥ)
Buddha-carita, or The Life of Buddha - 8 rāmāmukhedūn paribhūtapadmān yatrāpayāto ’pyavimanya bhānuḥ | satāpayogādiva vāri veṣṭu paścātsamudrābhimukhaḥ pratasthe || 1.6* 6. There the sun, even although he had retired, was unable to scorn the moon-like faces of its women which put the lotuses to shame, and as if from the access of passion, hurried towards the western ocean to enter the (cooling) water. śakyārjitānā yaśasā janena dṣṭvātabhāva gamito ’yamindraḥ | iti dhvajaiścārucalatpatākairyanmārṣṭumasyākamivodayacchat || 1.7* 7. ‘Yonder Indra has been utterly annihilated by the people when they saw the glories 1 acquired by the Sakyas,’-uttering this scoff, the city strove by its banners with gayfluttering streamers to wipe away every mark of his existence. ktvāpi rātrau kumudaprahāsamidoḥ karairyadrajatālayasthaiḥ | sauvarṇaharmyeṣu gatārkapādairdivā sarojadyutimālalabe || 1.8* 8. After mocking the water-lilies even at night by the moonbeams which rest on its silver pavilions, — by day it assumed the brightness of the lotuses through the sunbeams falling on its golden palaces. mahībtā mūrdhni ktābhiṣekaḥ śuddhodano nāma npo ’rkabadhuḥ | adhyāśayo vā sphuṭapudarīka purādhirāja tadalacakāra || 1.9* 9. A king, by name Śuddhodana, of the kindred of the sun, anointed to stand at the head of earths monarchs, — ruling over the city, adorned it, as a bee-inmate a fullblown lotus. 2 bhūbhtparārdhyo ’pi sapakṣa eva pravttadāno ’pi madānupetaḥ | īśo ’pi nitya samaḍṣṭipātaḥ saumyasvabhāvo ’pi pthupratāpaḥ || 1.10* 10. The very best of kings with his train ever near him, 3 — intent on liberality yet devoid of pride; 4 a sovereign, yet with an ever equal eye thrown on all, 5 — of gentle nature and yet with wide-reaching majesty. 6 1 For the genitive yaśasām, see Pāṇ. II, 3. 52 (adhīgartha). 2 Vā is used for iva in Śiśup. Badha, III, 63, IV, 35; Meghad. 82. (Cf. infra, IV, 44.) Purādhirājam seems used adverbally. Cf. the line in Vikramorv. kusumāny āśerate shaṭpadāḥ. Could it mean ‘as a thought the lotus of the heart?’ 3 Also ‘though the highest of mountains, yet bearing his wings (uncut).’ 4 Or if applied to an elephant, ‘not in rut.’ 5 Or with a double meaning in īśa, ‘though like Śīva, yet with even eyes,’ i.e. not three. 6 Or ‘like the moon, yet widely burning (like the sun).’
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The Buddha-Carita or The Life of Buddha by Ven. Aśvaghoṣa

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