night keep their minds continually reflecting on the church, they have the profits of mankind. 4. Doing what is virtuous, not doing what is sinful, he who follows the teaching of the wise men of old has never any fear of the lord of death: he goes to the other shore in the vessel of the doctrine. 5. All the worlds are shaky, all the worlds are agitated, all the worlds are burning, all the worlds are full of smoke. 6. Where there is no shaking, no agitation; where there is no association with humanity, where there is no trace of Mâra, there one's mind finds true delight. 7. They who have shown the Victorious one (Djina), the guide, even the most minute mark of respect, will obtain, after having gone through the different heavens, the abode where there is no death (nirvâņa or amatampadam). 8. They who in this world dwell in forests, who are dispassionate, and who live a life of holiness, who take but a single meal a day, how will they be purified? 9. By having no fondness for the past, by finding no delight in the future, by having found the present in this world, reflective through wisdom and discriminative, they put an end (to sinfulness), and in this way are they purified. IO. Delighting in the law, rejoicing in the law, keeping his mind on the law, reflecting (or remembering) the law, a Bhixu will not fall away from the law. II. The wise man who in the life of the world has gained faith and wisdom has the greatest treasure, compared with which other treasures are contemptible. 12. He who abides in the law, who is perfectly virtuous, who knows how to be modest, who speaks the truth, and who acts (accordingly) himself, in him mankind rejoice. 13. By listening one learns the (different) parts of the law; by listening one turns away from sin; by listening one casts off what is not profitable; by listening one finds nirvâņa. 14. Do nothing sinful, observe most perfect virtue, thoroughly control your mind: this is the doctrine of the Buddha. 15. One should do what is virtuous: if one does not what is virtuous, he has suffering; he who has done what is virtuous, in this world and in the other he will find joy. 16. Speak the truth, refrain from anger, give to him who begs, though it be but a little: by observing these three precepts one will go (to dwell) among the gods. 17. The reward of virtue is happiness: when one follows up his design to completion, he will speedily obtain blessed enlightenment (bodhi) and nirvâņa. 18. By charity one greatly increases one's merit; by perfect control one retains no enemies; by being virtuous one casts off sin; by putting an end to corruption (kleçâ) one leaves sorrow behind (nibbuta). 19. He who, though wearing jewels, lives according to the law, who is controlled and who strictly lives a life of holiness (brahmacharya), who has cast off all the punishments of mankind, he is a Brâhmana, a Çramana, he is a Bhixu.1 20. Faith, modesty, virtue, and charity, these virtues (dharma) holy men do praise: by this road one goes to the region of the gods, they say; this leads to the world. of the gods. 21. They (the bodies) are thrown away and scattered in every direction, like those pigeon-coloured bones; what pleasure, then, is there in looking at them? 22. Alas! created things are impermanent; being born, they are subject to destruction; what has been born will be destroyed; happy they who are at rest. 23. The end of all that has been gathered together is to be destroyed; the end of what has been raised up is to fall; the end of meeting is separation; the end of life is death. 24. May the world be happy; may the years be prosperous, the harvests be plentiful, and may the law reign supreme; and may maladies and all other visitations be at an end! Vasubhandhu's Çâstrangâthâsangraha is finished. 1 Comp. Ud. ch. xxxiii. v. 1. |