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V, 25.
PARINIRVÂNA.
279
With flowing tears and doleful sighs, signifying thereby their love of kindred, destroyed for ever all their books of heresy, to show their firm adherence to the true lawl. 1907
Having put down all heresy (or heretics), they left it once for all? (never to return); severed from the world and the world's doctrines, convinced that non-continuance (impermanence) was the great disease (evil). 1908
(Moreover thus they thought) : 'The lord of men now enters the great quiet place (Nirvana), (and we are left) without support and with no saviour; the highest lord of "means” (means of saving men) is now about to extinguish all his glory in the finals place (of death). 1909
Now we indeed have lost our steadfast will, as fire deprived of fuel; greatly to be pitied is the world, now that the lord gives up his world-protecting (office), 1910
'Even as a man bereft of spiritual power (right reason) throughout the world is greatly pitied. Oppressed by heat we seek the cooling lake, nipped by the cold we use the fire; 1911
• But in a moment all is lost", the world is left without resource ; the excellent law (superlative
1 Khing-fă=saddharma.
* The passage may possibly mean that they sent away all heretics from their city ; but the whole verse is obscure.
* The 'final' or 'highest place. • This is a doubtful translation; the original is sih kwoh in, all openly or widely (gone).'
o Without a place of refuge, or a lodging-place. The line literally translated is, All things that live, what refuge have they?'
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