Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1882
Total Pages: 2405
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 43 MB

Page 1914

EXAMPLE OF THE STYLE OF EXPANDED SUTRAS. 357
the Rishit the message
he went for
Seeing this, rejoicing he set out, And (arriving) stood at the king's palace gate; He beheld there an innumerable concourse of people, When spying out a servant (grey-clothes), he asked and said : "All haill where dwells the king? I desire to have an audience with the lord of the kingdom;" The servant seeing the Rishi venerable for age, With joy elated, entered the palace and delivered the message. The king then ordered him to cause the Rishi to appear before him, And spreading a seat he went forthwith to meet him. Asita, hearing (the message), was glad at heart, And filled with a yearning desire, He asked where dwelt the lord, the holy one, For he was failing now in years and had but few to live. The king, commanding him to be seated, Asked him wherefore he had come "? Because (he said) of the many signs he had seen, he had come, Hearing of the excellency (superiority) of the son he had, The thirty-two signs on his body, He wished to behold him and inspect the fortunate indications, Therefore he said again) have I come. “Welcomel (said the king) I rejoice (to see you) [or, I rejoice (to
hear it)]. Now for a moment the child sleeps in peaceful rest, But wait for a little while until he wakes, And you shall see him beautiful as the moon at "full."
On this the mind of Asita being much perplexed, he replied to the king in the following Gâthâs and said :
From endless Kalpas With perseverance accumulating meritorious conduct, From time long past inspired with wisdom, How is it possible that such a one can again take his rest in sleep? Thro' ages past exercising the virtue of charity, Feeling deep compassion for the poor, Grudging nothing which he possessed, How can such a one again seek rest in sleep? Reverencing the rules of pure conduct (stla), Observing the moral law without transgression, Desiring to relieve and save all that lives, How can such a one still find rest in sleep? Always practising patience and equanimity, His mind harbouring no resentment, Controlling his heart (firm) like the solid earth, How can such a one still repose in sleep? Persevering steadily, as the moon from its first appearance,
1 Literally, 'in his heart harbouring-hungry-void.' ? Why himself invited, or condescended to come. · Virya.
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