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30
URAGAVAGGA.
"Yes, O friend!' so saying Bhagavat entered.
A fourth time the Yakkha Âlavaka said this to Bhagavat : 'Come out, O Samana l'
'I shall not come out to thee, O friend, do what thou pleasest.'
'I shall ask thee a question, O Samana, if thou canst not answer it, I will either scatter thy thoughts or cleave thy heart, or take thee by thy feet and throw thee over to the other shore of the Ganga.'
'I do not see, O friend, any one in this world nor in the world of gods, Māras, Brahmans, amongst the beings comprising gods, men, Samanas, and Brâhmanas, who can either scatter my thoughts or cleave my heart, or take me by the feet and throw me over to the other shore of the Gangâ; however, O friend, ask what thou pleasest.'
Then the Yakkha Âlavaka addressed Bhagavat in stanzas:
1. What in this world is the best property for a man ? what, being well done, conveys happiness? what is indeed the sweetest of sweet things ? how lived do they call life the best ?'
(180) 2. Bhagavat said: 'Faith is in this world the best property for a man ; Dhamma, well observed, conveys happiness; truth indeed is the sweetest of things; and that life they call the best which is lived with understanding.'
(181) 3. Alavaka said: 'How does one cross the stream (of existence) ? how does one cross the sea ? how does one conquer pain ? how is one purified ?'
4. Bhagavat said: By faith one crosses the stream, by zeal the sea, by exertion one conquers pain, by understanding one is purified.' (183)
(182)
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| SR No. | 007674 |
| Book Title | Dhammapada |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Max Muller |
| Publisher | Oxford |
| Publication Year | 1881 |
| Total Pages | 2540 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 45 MB |