________________
JUNE, 1887.)
NAGARJUNA'S SUHRILLEKHA.
171
"Moves thereby the wise to thoughtful re- |
verence and consideration, beholding it; "So I, relying on the true law, spoken by
Tathagata, " (Write these words that the Maharaja may
accept them with deep faith. "For, although thou hast before heard thy
Teacher's words (the words of thy Muni), " Yet, listening to me thou shalt receive in
creased benefit; "Even as the flower-lake, beautiful in its
purity, "Is yet lit up to greater beauty by the bright
ness of the moonbeams. “Buddha declares that we ought carefully
to practise the six reflections, “To wit; reflection on the three gems
(Buddha, Dharma, Saingha), on charity, on morality, and thoughts about the Devas; “That we ought to prepare ourselves in the
practice of the ten rules of virtue, and in purifying the three organs (thought, word,
deed); “That we ought to put away from us wine,
which leads to confusion of thought and a wicked life. That we ought to regard the present life,
and its possessions, 88 speedily decaying. “That we ought diligently to work in and
cultivate the field of religious charity. “Charity is a stronghold, without compare; " It is indeed the very best friend and com
panion, "He declares, moreover, that we ought with
diligence to practise the pure rules of moral conduct, and reject all false and
corrupt (principles); “Then all our most cherished vows shall be
attained ; Just as the great earth produces all kinds
of fruit, "So moral condact brings forth all that is really good.
| "He declares that we ought to practise
patience, and equanimity, and drive from
18 anger and resentment. “This, Buddha declares to be the highest
rule of life. “So, also, with perseverance and meditation
and wisdom,
“Supplied with these six rules, we overleap
(the realm) of birth and death. "If a man who is a layman, reverences his
father and mother, "This, also, is called a most excellent field
of religious merit; "In the present world it secures us high
repate; "And in the future world it brings an incal
culable reward. “But murder, theft, adultery, false ways, and
drunken profligacy, "Luxurious seats and perfumed odours, "Dancing and music, gluttonous eating, "Discard these things, as altogether evil. "But, if you only for a while practice the
rules of moral conduct, "Then you must receive the joys of heaven
and progress towards nirvana. “Stingy ways, jealons and covetous desires,
and all false dealing, “Deceitful words, hypocrisy and idle ways, "All these, as opposed to virtue and religion, “The great king ought to reject and put
away. "Beauty and outward rank, and the five
desires of sense, "Are all unstable as the bubble-foam ; “Rely not, then, on such weak things as
these. "Easy remissness, and all idleness, produce
incessant sorrow; "If you wish to grow in every virtue and
attain "sweet-dew" (immortality) “Then put away such things, as hurtfal
poison. "Being able to exercise perseverance and
diligence, "You shall appear like any autumn moon
without a cloud, " Or as beautiful as Nanda or the Anguli
malya, "Or as Kshama and all the other sages and
saints. "Tathagata says there are three kinds of
speech, "Thoughtful speech, true speech, and false
speech, The first is like the flower; the second, like the honey;
• But how is he a type of beauty
