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ā ī ū ṛ ṝ ḷ
ḹ ’ ṃ ḥ ṅ ñ
ṭ ḍ ṇ ṣ ś ź
š č ǰ γ    
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Aśvaghoṣa: Buddhacarita
    Click to Expand/Collapse Option Complete text
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionTitle
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionPreface
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 1: Bhagavatprasūti
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 2: Antaḥpuravihāra
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 3: Saṃvegotpatti
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 4: Strīvighātana
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 5: Abhiniṣkramaṇa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 6: Chandakanivartana
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 7: Tapovanapraveśa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 8: Antaḥpuravilāpa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 9: Kumārānveṣaṇa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 10: Śreṇyābhigamana
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 11: Kāmavigarhaṇa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 12: Arāḍadarśana
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 13: Māravijaya
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 14: Englightenment
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 15: Turning the Wheel of the Law
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 16: Many Conversions
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 17: Conversion (pravrajyā) of the Great Disciples
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 18: The Instruction of Anāthapiṇḍada
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 19: The Meeting of Father and Son
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 20: Acceptance of Jetavana
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 21: Progress (srotas) of the Mission
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 22: The Visit to Amrapāli's Grove
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 23: Fixing the Factors of Bodily Life
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 24: Compassion for the Licchavis
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 25: The Journey to Nirvāṇa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 26: The Mahāparinirvāṇa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 27: Eulogy of Nirvāṇa
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionChapter 28: The Division of the Relics
Click to Expand/Collapse OptionColophon
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vātāyanānām aviśālabhāvād anyo’nyagaṇḍārpitakuṇḍalānām |
mukhāni rejuḥ pramadottamānāṃ baddhāḥ kalāpā iva paṅkajānām || 3.21 || 
(17)太子見修塗 莊嚴從人衆
(18)服乘鮮光澤 欣然心歡悦 
skar khuṅ rnams kyis rnam par yaṅs pa ma yin las | | phan tshun ’gram par bkod pa’i rna luṅ can rnams kyis | |
’dam skyes padma rnams kyi tshogs rnams bciṅs pa bźin | | rab (4)myos mchog ma rnams kyi źal ni mdzes par gyur | | 
The prince seeing the ways prepared and watered, and the joyous holiday appearance of the people,
208. (Seeing too) the drapery and the chariot pure, bright, shining, his heart exulted greatly and rejoiced. 
21. The faces of the beautiful women shone like lotuses wreathed in garlands, while through the narrowness of the windows their earrings were transferred to each other’s cheeks. 
taṃ tāḥ1 kumāraṃ pathi vīkṣamāṇāḥ striyo babhur gām iva gantukāmāḥ |
ūrdhvonmukhāś2 cainam udīkṣamāṇā narā babhur dyām iva gantukāmāḥ || 3.22 || 
(19)國人瞻太子 嚴儀勝羽從
(20)亦如諸1 天衆 見天太子生 
gźon nu de la lam du rnam par blta ba yi | | bud med de rnams sa la ’gro ’dod ltar mdzes śiṅ | |
gyen du gdoṅ phyogs de la rab tu lta ba yi | | mi rnams gnam la ’gro bar ’dod bźin mdzes par gyur | | 
The people (on their part) gazed at the prince, so beautifully adorned, with all his retinue,
209. Like an assembled company of kings (gathered) to see a heaven-born prince. 
22. Gazing down upon the prince in the road. the women appeared as if longing to fall to the earth; gazing up to him with upturned faces, the men seemed as if longing to rise to heaven. 
dṛṣṭvā ca taṃ rājasutaṃ striyas tā jājvalyamānaṃ vapuṣā śriyā ca |
dhanyāsya bhāryeti śanair avocañ3 śuddhair manobhiḥ khalu nānyabhāvāt || 3.23 || 
 
lus daṅ dpal (5)gyis mchog tu ’bar bar gyur pa yi | | rgyal po’i sras de mthoṅ nas bud med de rnams ni | |
ṅes par dgoṅs pa gźan min bsam pa dag pa yis | | ’di yi chuṅ ma skal pa bzaṅ źes dal bus smra | | 
 
23. Beholding the king’s son thus radiant in his beauty and glory, those women softly whispered, ‘happy is his wife,’ with pure minds and from no baser feeling. 
ayaṃ kila vyāyatapīnabāhū rūpeṇa sākṣād iva puṣpaketuḥ |
tyaktvā śriyaṃ dharmam upaiṣyatīti tasmin hi tā4 gauravam eva cakruḥ || 3.24 || 
 
gzugs kyi dṅos su me tog can daṅ mtshuṅs śiṅ | | rnam par riṅ źiṅ (6)rgyas pa’i dpuṅ pa can ’di ni | |
dpal ñid dor nas chos la ñe bar gśegs źes te | | de la de dag rnams kyis źes kho na byas | | 
 
24. ‘He with the long sturdy arms, who stands in his beauty like the flower-armed god visibly present, will leave his royal pomp and devote himself to religion,’ thus thinking, full of kindly feelings towards him, they all offered reverence. 
kīrṇaṃ tathā rājapathaṃ kumāraḥ paurair vinītaiḥ śucidhīraveṣaiḥ |
tat pūrvam ālokya jaharṣa kiṃcin mene punarbhāvam ivātmanaś ca || 3.25 || 
 
rnam par dul la gtsaṅ źiṅ brtan pa’i cha lugs can | | groṅ pa rnams kyis de ltar rgyal po’i lam khyab pa | |
de ni sṅon du gźon nus mthoṅ nas (7)dga’ bas te | | bdag gi srid pa gźan ma cuṅ źig brtags pa ’dra | | 
 
25. Beholding for the first time that high-road thus crowded with respectful citizens, all dressed in white sedate garments, the prince for a while did feel a little pleasure and thought that it seemed to promise a revival of his youth. 
puraṃ tu tat svargam iva prahṛṣṭaṃ śuddhādhivāsāḥ samavekṣya devāḥ |
jīrṇaṃ naraṃ nirmamire prayātuṃ5 saṃcodanārthaṃ kṣitipātmajasya || 3.26 || 
(21)時2 淨居天王 忽然在道側
(22)變形衰老相 勸生厭離心 
groṅ khyer de yaṅ mtho ris bźin du rab dga’ ba | | mṅon par gzigs nas gtsaṅ mar gnas pa’i lha rnams kyis | |
sa gźi skyoṅ ba’i sras po yaṅ dag bskul don du | | ’khogs pa’i mi rgan rab tu ’gro bar (11b1)sprul gyur to | | 
And now a Deva-râga of the Pure abode, suddenly appears by the side of the road;
210. His form changed into that of an old man, struggling for life, his heart weak and oppressed. 
26. But then the gods, dwelling in pure abodes, having beheld that city thus rejoicing like heaven itself, created an old man to walk along on purpose to stir the heart of the king’s son. 
tataḥ kumāro jarayābhibhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā narebhyaḥ pṛthagākṛtiṃ tam |
uvāca saṃgrāhakam āgatāsthas tatraiva niṣkampaniviṣṭadṛṣṭiḥ || 3.27 || 
(23)太子見老人 驚怪問御者 
de nas gźon nu yis ni rga bas zil non źiṅ | | mi rnams las ni tha dad dbyibs can de gzigs nas | |
g-yo ba med ciṅ de ñid du ni źugs pa’i spyan | | chags par gyur ciṅ kha lo ’dzin pa la smras so | | 
The prince seeing the old man, filled with apprehension, asked his charioteer, 
27. The prince having beheld him thus overcome with decrepitude and different in form from other men, with his gaze intently fixed on him, thus addressed his driver with simple confidence: 
ka eṣa bhoḥ sūta naro ’bhyupetaḥ keśaiḥ sitair yaṣṭiviṣaktahastaḥ |
bhrūsaṃvṛtākṣaḥ śithilānatāṅgaḥ kiṃ vikriyaiṣā prakṛtir yadṛcchā || 3.28 || 
(24)此是何等人 頭白而背僂
(25)目冥身戰搖 任杖而羸歩
(26)爲是身卒3 變 爲受性自爾 
mṅon par ñer ’oṅs mi de su yin ’dren pa kye | | skra rnams (2)dkar źiṅ dbyug pa la ni lag pas brten | |
smin mas kun nas mig g-yogs ’khogs śiṅ yan lag druṅ | | rnam ’gyur ’di ni tha mal gaṅ ’dod yin nam ci | | 
211. ’What kind of man is this? his head white and his shoulders bent, his eyes bleared and his body withered, holding a stick to support him along the way.
212. ’Is his body suddenly dried up by the heat, or has he been born in this way?’ 
28. ‘Who is this man that has come here, O charioteer, with white hair and his hand resting on a staff, his eyes hidden beneath his brows, his limbs bent down and hanging loose,--is this a change produced in him or his natural state or an accident?’ 
ity evam uktaḥ sa rathapraṇetā nivedayām āsa nṛpātmajāya |
saṃrakṣyam apy artham adoṣadarśī tair eva devaiḥ kṛtabuddhimohaḥ || 3.29 || 
(27)御者心躊躇 不敢以實答
(28)淨居加神力 令其表眞言 
de skad ces smra śiṅ rta rab tu ’dren pa po | | lha mchog de rnams ñid kyi blo ni rmoṅs byas śiṅ | |
don ni bsruṅ bya (3)yin yaṅ skyon med mthoṅ gyur te | | de yis sa skyoṅ bdag ñid skyes la ṅes par gsol | | 
The charioteer, his heart much embarrassed, scarcely dared to answer truly,
213. Till the pure-born (Deva) added his spiritual power, and caused him to frame a reply in true words: 
29. Thus addressed, the charioteer revealed to the king’s son the secret that should have been kept so carefully, thinking no harm in his simplicity, for those same gods had bewildered his mind: 
rūpasya hantrī6 vyasanaṃ balasya śokasya yonir nidhanaṃ ratīnām |
nāśaḥ smṛtīnāṃ ripur indriyāṇām eṣā jarā nāma yayaiṣa bhagnaḥ || 3.30 || 
(29)色變氣虚微 多憂少歡樂
(6a1)喜忘諸根羸 是名衰老相 
gzugs kyi gnod byed stobs kyi rnam par za ba po | | rgan pa rnams kyi ’joms byed mya ṅan rnams kyi sa | | dran pa rnams kyi ñams byed dbaṅ po rnams kyi dgra | | ’di ni rgas pa źes bya gaṅ gis (4)’di bcom mo | | 
’His appearance changed, his vital powers decayed, filled with sorrow, with little pleasure,
214. ’His spirits gone, his members nerveless, these are the indications of what is called "old age." 
30. ‘That is old age by which he is broken down,--the ravisher of beauty, the ruin of vigour, the cause of sorrow, the destruction of delights, the bane of memories, the enemy of the senses. 
pītaṃ hy anenāpi payaḥ śiśutve kālena bhūyaḥ parisṛptam7 urvyām |
krameṇa bhūtvā ca yuvā vapuṣmān krameṇa tenaiva jarām upetaḥ || 3.31 || 
(2)此本爲嬰兒 長養於母乳
(3)及童子嬉遊 端正恣五欲
(4)年逝形枯朽 今爲老所壞 
’dis kyaṅ byis pa ñid daṅ ’o ma ’thuṅ gyur ciṅ | | dus kyis la yoṅs su gñid log gyur pa ste | |
rim gyis lus rab ldan pa’i laṅ tshor gyur nas kyaṅ | | rim gyis de ñid kho nas rga bar ñe bar soṅ | | 
This man was once a sucking child, brought up and nourished at his mother’s breast,
215. ’And as a youth full of sportive life, handsome, and in enjoyment of the five pleasures; as years passed on, his frame decaying, he is brought now to the waste of age.’ 
31. ‘He too once drank milk in his childhood, and in course of time he learned to grope on the ground; having step by step become a vigorous youth, he has step by step in the same way reached old age.’ 
ity evam ukte calitaḥ sa kiṃcid rājātmajaḥ sūtam idaṃ babhāṣe |
kim eṣa doṣo bhavitā mamāpīty asmai tataḥ sārathir abhyuvāca || 3.32 || 
(5)太子長歎息 而問御者言
(6)但彼獨衰老 吾等亦當然 
de skad ces smras rgyal po’i bdag ñid skyes pa ste | | cuṅ źig ’dar (5)la kha lo sgyur la ’di skad smras | |
skyon ’di kho po la yaṅ ’byuṅ ba min nam ci | | de bźin ’di la kha lo sgyur ba yis gsol to | | 
216. The prince greatly agitated and moved, asked his charioteer another question and said, ’Is yonder man the only one afflicted with age, or shall I, and others also, be such as he?’ 
32. Being thus addressed, the prince, starting a little, spoke these words to the charioteer, ‘What! will this evil come to me also?’ and to him again spoke the charioteer: 
āyuṣmato ’py eṣa vayaḥprakarṣo8 niḥsaṃśayaṃ kālavaśena bhāvī |
evaṃ jarāṃ rūpavināśayitrīṃ jānāti caivecchati caiva9 lokaḥ || 3.33 || 
(7)御者又答言 尊亦有此分
(8)時移形自變 必至無所疑
(9)少壯無不老 擧世知而求 
’di ni na tshod rab mchog tshe daṅ ldan pa’i yaṅ | | gdon mi za bar dus kyi dbaṅ gis ’byuṅ bar ’gyur | |
de bźin rgas pa gzugs kyi rnam par ñams pa (6)bor | | ’jig rten ba yi śes pa ñid ṅaṅ mthoṅ ba ñid | | 
217. The charioteer again replied and said, ’Your highness also inherits this lot, as time goes on, the form itself is changed, and this must doubtless come, beyond all hindrance:
218. ’The youthful form must wear the garb of age, throughout the world, this is the common lot.’ 
33. ‘It will come without doubt by the force of time through multitude of years even to my long-lived lord; all the world knows thus that old age will destroy their comeliness and they are content to have it so.’ 
tataḥ sa pūrvāśayaśuddhabuddhir vistīrṇakalpācitapuṇyakarmā |
śrutvā jarāṃ saṃvivije mahātmā mahāśaner ghoṣam ivāntike gauḥ || 3.34 || 
(10)菩薩久4 修習 清淨智慧業
(11)廣殖諸徳本 願果5 華於今
(12)聞説衰老苦 戰慄身毛竪 
de nas sṅon gyi bsam pa dag pa’i blo mṅa’ ba | | rnam rgyas bskal bar bsags pa’i bsod nams las can daṅ | |
rdo rje chen po’i sgra la ñe bar ba laṅ bźin | | rgas pa thos nas gźon nu kun nas yi mug gyur | | 
Bodhisattva, who had long prepared the foundation of pure and spotless wisdom,
219. Broadly setting the root of every high quality, with a view to gather large fruit in his present life, hearing these words respecting the sorrow of age, was afflicted in mind, and his hair stood up-right. 
34. Then he, the great-souled one, who had his mind purified by the impressions of former good actions, who possessed a store of merits accumulated through many preceding aeons, was deeply agitated when he heard of old age, like a bull who has heard the crash of a thunderbolt close by. 
niḥśvasya dīrghaṃ svaśiraḥ10 prakampya tamiṃś ca jīrṇe viniveśya cakṣuḥ |
tāṃ caiva dṛṣṭvā janatāṃ saharṣāṃ vākyaṃ sa saṃvigna11 idaṃ jagāda || 3.35 || 
(13)雷6 霆霹靂聲 群獸怖奔走
(14)菩薩亦如是 震怖長嘘息 
dbugs ni riṅ du (7)brgyus nas raṅ gi mgo bsgul źiṅ | | ’khogs pa de la spyan ni rnam par źugs nas su | |
rga ba daṅ bcas skye ba de rnams gzigs gyur nas | | sems ni khoṅ du chud pa de yis tshig ’di smras | | 
220. Just as the roll of the thunder and the storm alarm and put to flight the cattle; so was Bodhisattva affected by the words; shaking with apprehension, he deeply sighed; 
35. Drawing a long sigh and shaking his head, and fixing his eyes on that decrepit old man, and looking round on that exultant multitude he then uttered these distressed words: 
evaṃ jarā hanti ca nirviśeṣaṃ smṛtiṃ ca rūpaṃ ca parākramaṃ ca |
na caiva saṃvegam upaiti lokaḥ pratyakṣato ’pīdṛśam īkṣamāṇaḥ || 3.36 || 
(15)繋心於老苦 頷頭而瞪矚
(16)念此衰老苦 世人何愛樂 
dran pa daṅ ni gzugs daṅ pha rol gnon pa yaṅ | | de ltar rgas pas rnam dpyod med par (12a1)’joms pas te | |
’di lta bu ra ni mṅon sum ñid du soṅ na yaṅ | | ’jig rten pa dag skyo med ñer ’gro kho na’o | | 
221. Constrained at heart because of the pain of ’age;’ with shaking head and constant gaze, he thought upon this misery of decay; what joy or pleasure can men take (he thought), 
36. ‘Old age thus strikes down all alike, our memory, comeliness, and valour; and yet the world is not disturbed, even when it sees such a fate visibly impending. 
evaṃ gate sūta nivartayāśvān śīghraṃ gṛhāṇy eva bhavān prayātu |
udyānabhūmau hi kuto ratir me jarābhaye12 cetasi vartamāne || 3.37 || 
(17)老相之所壞 觸類無所擇
(18)雖有壯色力 無一不遷變
(19)目前見證相 如何不厭離 
de ltar soṅ la ’dren pa rta rnams phyir zlog la | | khyod ni khyim ñid du ni skyes par rab tu soṅ | |
rgas pa’i ’jigs pa’i sems su gnas pa kho bo (2)la | | skyed mos tshal gyi sa la bde ba ga la yod | | 
222. In that which soon must wither, stricken by the marks of age; affecting all without exception; though gifted now with youth and strength, yet not one but soon must change and pine away.
223. The eye beholding such signs as these before it, how can it not be oppressed by a desire to escape? 
37. ‘Since such is our condition, O charioteer, turn back the horses,--go quickly home; how can I rejoice in the pleasure-garden, when the thoughts arising from old age overpower me?’ 
athājñayā bhartṛsutasya tasya nivartayām āsa rathaṃ niyantā |
tataḥ kumāro bhavanaṃ tad eva cintāvaśaḥ śūnyam iva prapede || 3.38 || 
(20)菩薩謂御者 宜速迴車還
(21)念念衰老至 園林何足歡 
de nas rgyal po’i sras po de yi bka’ luṅ gis | | kha lo sgyur bas śiṅ rta phyir la bzlog par gyur | |
de nas gźon nus pho braṅ de ñid kho nar ni | | bsam pa’i dbaṅ gis stoṅ pa bźin du rab tu thob | | 
Bodhisattva then addressed his charioteer, `Quickly turn your chariot and go back,
224. ’Ever thinking on this subject of old age approaching, what pleasures now can these gardens afford, 
38. Then the charioteer at the command of the king’s son turned the chariot back, and the prince lost in thought entered even that royal palace as if it were empty. 
yadā tu tatraiva na śarma lebhe jarā jareti praparīkṣamāṇaḥ |
tato narendrānumataḥ sa bhūyaḥ krameṇa tenaiva bahir jagāma || 3.39 || 
(22)7 受命即風馳 飛輪旋本宮
(23)心存朽暮境 如歸空塜間
(24)觸事不留情 所居無暫安
(25)王聞子不悦 勸令重出遊
(26)即勅諸群臣 莊嚴復勝前 
gaṅ gi tshe na de yaṅ bde pa ma yin te | | (3)rgas pa rgas pa źes ni rab tu yoṅs su rtog | |
de nas mi dbaṅ gis ni rjes gnaṅ de ni slar | | rim gyis de ñid kho nas phyi rol gśegs par gyur | | 
the years of my life like the fast-flying wind; turn your chariot, and with speedy wheels take me to my palace.’
225. And so his heart keeping in the same sad tone, (he was) as one who returns to a place of entombment;
unaffected by any engagement or employment, so he found no rest in anything within his home.
226. The king hearing of his son’s sadness urged (his companions) to induce him again to go abroad, and forthwith incited his ministers and attendants to decorate the gardens even more than before. 
39. But when he found no happiness even there, as he continually kept reflecting, ‘old age, old age,’ then once more, with the permission of the king, he went out with the same arrangement as before. 
athāparaṃ vyādhiparītadehaṃ tae eva devāḥ sasṛjur manuṣyam |
dṛṣṭvā ca taṃ sārathim ābabhāṣe śauddhodanis tadgatadṛṣṭir eva || 3.40 || 
(27)天復化病人 守命在路傍
(28)身痩而腹大 呼吸長喘息
(29)手脚攣枯燥 悲泣而呻吟 
de nas gźan yaṅ lus la nad daṅ yoṅs ldan pa | | lha mchog de rnams ñid kyis bskyed ciṅ sprul pa’i mi | |
zas gtsaṅ rgyal po’i sras (4)po can der soṅ ñid kyis | | gzigs nas kha lo sgyur ba de ñid la smras pa | | 
227. The Deva then caused himself to appear as a sick man; struggling for life, he stood by the wayside, his body swollen and disfigured, sighing with deep-drawn groans,
228. His hands and knees contracted and sore with disease, his tears flowing as he piteously muttered (his petition). 
40. Then the same deities created another man with his body all afflicted by disease; and on seeing him the son of Suddhodana addressed the charioteer, having his gaze fixed on the man: 
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