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III, 15.
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purpose of its own, self-radiant, so burns the lamp of the Tathagata, without the shadow of a personal feeling. 1213
'Bore wood in wood, there must be fire; the wind blows of its own free self in space; dig deep and you will come to water; this is the rule of selfcausation. 1214
'All the Munis who perfect wisdom, must do so at Gayâ; and in the Kâsi country they must first turn the Wheel of Righteousness.' 1215
The young Brahman Upâka, astonished, breathed the praise of such strange doctrine1, and called to mind like thoughts he had before experienced2; lost in thought at the wonderful occurrence, 1216
At every turning of the road he stopped to think; embarrassed in every step he took. Tathagata proceeding slowly onwards, came to the city of Kâsi, 1217
The land so excellently adorned as the palace of Sakradevendra; the Ganges and Baranâ3, two twin rivers flowed amidst; 1218
TURNING THE LAW-WHEEL.
The woods and flowers and fruits so verdant, the peaceful cattle wandering together, the calm retreats
1 Sighed 'oh!' and praised in under tone the strange behaviour of Tathagata.
9 Or perhaps the following translation is better: 'following in mind the circumstances which led to the strange encounter.'
The account in the text makes the city of Benares to be between the Ganges and the Baranâ or Varanâ; General Cunningham (Archæolog. Report, vol. i, p. 104) says, The city of Benares is situated on the left bank of the Ganges, between the Barnâ Nadi on the north-east and the Asi Nâla on the south-west. The Barnâ is a considerable rivulet which rises to the north of Allahabad, and has a course of about 100 miles. The Asi is a mere brook of no length.'
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