________________
1, 4.
PUTTING AWAY DESIRE.
39
you, so graceful and fair, (see if you cannot) by your combined power hit on some device; for beauty's power is not for ever. 260
'Still it holds the world in bondage, by secret ways and lustful arts; but no such loveliness in all the world (as yours), equal to that of heavenly nymphs'; 261
*The gods beholding it would leave their queens, spirits and Rishis would be misled by it; why not then the prince, the son of an earthly king ? why should not his feelings be aroused ? 262
This prince indeed, though he restrains his heart and holds it fixed", pure-minded, with virtue uncontaminated, not to be overcome by power of women; 263
(Yet) of old there was Sundart (Su-to-li) able to destroy the great Rishi, and to lead him to indulge in love, and so degrade his boasted eminence *; 264
Undergoing long penance, Gautama fell likewise (by the arts of) a heavenly queen; Shing-kü, a Rishi putra, practising lustful indulgences according to fancy , (was lost). 265
*The Brahman Rishi Visvâmitra (Pi-she-po), living religiously for ten thousand years, deeply
1 In appearance equal to Devis.
• Or, what then is man (to do), though son of a king, that his feelings should not be aroused ?
* Holding his will, though firmly fixed. • And bend his head beneath her feet.
• The phrase which ends this line is obscure. It may be rendered thus, Shing-kü, the Rishi putra, practised lustful ways, beside the flowings of the fountain.' [See a similar case, Catena of Buddhist Scriptures, P. 259.1 The Sanskrit text is as follows: Rishyasringa, the son of a Muni, unlearned with women.'
. Practising religious rules, or, preparing a religious life.
Digitized by Google
