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LS... OF TI.
V, 27.
PRAISING NIRVANA.
C
313
Had banished all obscurity, but like the stream that ever flows, it rests not with us; the illustrious charioteer with his seven prancing steeds flies through the host (and disappears); 2135
*The bright-rayed ® Sürya-deva, entering the Yen-tsz's cave, was, with the moon, surrounded with fivefold barriers ; “ all things that live," deprived of light, 2136
Present their offerings to heaven; but from their sacrifice nought but the blacken'd smoke ascends 4; thus is it with Tathagata, his glory hidden, the world has lost its light. 2137
Rare was the expectancy of grateful love that filled the heart of all that lives; that love, reached its full limit, then was left to perish! 2138
The cords of sorrow all removed, we found the true and only way; but now he leaves the tangled mesh of life, and enters on the quiet place! 2139
His spirit (or, by spiritual power) mounting through space, he leaves the sorrow-bearing vessel of his body! the gloom of doubt and the great
1 This passage is a difficult one; if the construction is closely followed, the rendering would be this,' The illustrious charioteer (with) his seven swift steeds, the army host quickly (or, the wings of the army host) following him about. Possibly it must be connected with the lines which follow, and refers to the saptasvavâhana of Sûrya.
Kwong-kwong, well-rayed. 3 The Yen-tsz' cave is the fabulous hiding-place of the sun. The fable is a common one, particularly in Japanese mythology. I do not know whether it is found in Sanskrit literature.
• The reference in this and the preceding lines is to the disappearance of the sun and moon, and the darkness of the world, compared to the Nirvana of Tathagata.
0 This is a free translation; I have taken 'tsiueh' as an intensitive particle.
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