Buddha-Carita [sanskrit]

by E. B. Cowell | 2003 | 11,474 words | ISBN-10: 8187418788 | ISBN-13: 9788187418788

The Buddha Carita (Saddharma-pundarika) by Asvaghosa a famous Sanskrit text revolving around the live and exploits of the Buddha. The Buddha Carita (Buddhacarita) is written in the style of a Kavya (or Mahakavya, epic poetry) and extant original Sanskrit text consists of roughly 1,000 metrical verses.

athaivamukto magadhādhipena suhṛnmukhena pratikūlamartham |
svastho 'vikāraḥ kulaśaucaśuddhaḥ śauddhodanirvākyamidaṃ jagāda || 1 ||
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nāścaryametadbhavato 'bhidhātuṃ jātasya haryaṅkakule viśāle |
yanmitrapakṣe tava mitrakāma syādvṛttireṣā pariśuddhavṛtteḥ || 2 ||
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asatsu maitrī svakulānurūpā na tiṣṭhati śrīriva viklaveṣu |
pūrvaiḥ kṛtāṃ prītiparamparābhistāmeva santastu vivardhayanti || 3 ||
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ye cārthakṛcchreṣu bhavanti loke samānakāryāḥ suhṛdāṃ manuṣyāḥ |
mitrāṇi tānīti paraimi buddhyā svasthasya vṛddhiṣviha ko hi na syāt || 4 ||
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evaṃ ca ye dravyamavāpya loke mitreṣu dharme ca niyojayanti |
avāptasārāṇi dhanāni teṣāṃ bhraṣṭāni nānte janayanti tāpam || 5 ||
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suhṛttayā cāryatayā ca rājan vibhāvya māmeva viniścayaste |
atrānuneṣyāmi suhṛttayaiva brūyāmahaṃ nottaramanyadatra || 6 ||
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ahaṃ jarāmṛtyubhayaṃ viditvā mumukṣayā dharmamimaṃ prapannaḥ |
bandhūnpriyānaśrumukhān vihāya prāgeva kāmānaśubhasya hetūn || 7 ||
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nāśīviṣebhyo 'pi tathā bibhemi naivāśanibhyo gaganāccyutebhyaḥ |
na pāvakebhyo 'nilasaṃhitebhyo yathā bhayaṃ me viṣayebhya ebhyaḥ || 8 ||
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kāmā hyanityāḥ kuśalārthacaurā riktāśca māyāsadṛśāśca loke |
āśāsyamānā api mohayanti cittaṃ nṛṇāṃ kiṃ punarātmasaṃsthāḥ || 9 ||
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kāmābhibhūtā hi na yānti śarma tripiṣṭape kiṃ vata martyaloke |
kāmaiḥ satṛṣṇasya hi nāsti tṛptiryathendhanairvātasakhasya vahneḥ || 10 ||
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jagatyanartho na samo 'sti kāmairmohācca teṣveva janaḥ prasaktaḥ |
tattvaṃ viditvaivamanarthabhīruḥ prājñaḥ svayaṃ ko 'bhilaṣedanartham || 11 ||
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samudravastrāmapi gāmavāpya pāraṃ jigīṣanti mahārṇavasya |
lokasya kāmairna vitṛptirasti patadbhirambhobhirivārṇavasya || 12 ||
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devena vṛṣṭe 'pi hiraṇyavarṣe dvīpānsamudrāṃścaturo 'pi jitvā |
śakrasya cārdhāsanamapyavāpya māndhāturāsīdviṣayeṣvatṛptiḥ || 13 ||
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bhuktvāpi rājyaṃ divi devatānāṃ śatakratau vṛtrabhayātpranaṣṭe |
darpānmahārṣīnapi vāhayitvā kāmeṣvatṛpto nahuṣaḥ papāta || 14 ||
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aiḍaśca rājā tridivaṃ vigāhya nītvāpi devīṃ vaśamurvaśīṃ tām |
lobhādṛṣibhyaḥ kanakaṃ jihīrṣurjagāma nāśaṃ viṣayeṣvatṛptaḥ || 15 ||
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balermahendraṃ nahuṣaṃ mahendrādindraṃ punarye nahuṣādupeyuḥ |
svarge kṣitau vā viṣayeṣu teṣu ko viśvasedbhāgyakulākuleṣu || 16 ||
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cīrāmbarā mūlaphalāmbubhakṣā jaṭā vahanto 'pi bhujaṅgadīrghāḥ |
yairanyakāryā munayo 'pi bhagnāḥ kaḥ kāmasañjñān mṛgayeta śatrūn || 17 ||
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ugrāyudhaścaugradhṛtāyudho 'pi yeṣāṃ kṛte mṛtyumavāpa bhīṣmāt |
cintāpi teṣāmaśivā vadhāya tadvṛttināṃ kiṃ punaravratānām || 18 ||
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āsvādamalpaṃ viṣayeṣu matvā saṃyojanotkarṣamatṛptimeva |
sadbhyaśca garhāṃ niyataṃ ca pāpaṃ kaḥ kāmasañjñaṃ viṣamāsasāda || 19 ||
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kṛṣyādibhirdharmabhiranvitānāṃ kāmātmakānāṃ ca niśamya duḥkham |
svāsthyaṃ ca kāmeṣvakutūhalānāṃ kāmān vihātuṃ kṣamamātmavadbhiḥ || 20 ||
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jñeyā vipatkāmini kāmasampatsiddheṣu kāmeṣu madaṃ hyupaiti |
madādakāryaṃ kurute na kāryaṃ yena kṣato durgatimabhyupaiti || 21 ||
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yatnena labdhāḥ parirakṣitāśca ye vipralabhya pratiyānti bhūyaḥ |
teṣvātmavān yācitakopameṣu kāmeṣu vidvāniha ko rameta || 22 ||
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anviṣya cādāya ca jātatarṣā yānatyajantaḥ pariyānti duḥkham |
loke tṛṇolkāsadṛśeṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 23 ||
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anātmavanto hṛdi yairvidaṣṭā vināśamarchanti na yānti śarma |
kruddhaugrasarpapratimeṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 24 ||
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asthi kṣudhārttā iva sārameyā bhuktvāpi yānnaiva bhavanti tṛptāḥ |
jīrṇāsthikaṅkālasameṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 25 ||
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ye rājacaurodakapāvakebhyaḥ sādhāraṇatvājjanayanti duḥkham |
teṣu praviddhāmiṣasaṃnibheṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 26 ||
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yatra sthitānāmabhito vipattiḥ śatroḥ sakāśādapi bāndhavebhyaḥ |
hiṃsreṣu teṣvāyatanopameṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 27 ||
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girau vane cāpsu ca sāgare ca yadbhraṃśamarchantyabhilaṅghamānāḥ |
teṣu drumaprāgraphalopameṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 28 ||
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tīrthaiḥ prayatnairvividhairavāptāḥ kṣaṇena ye nāśamiha prayānti |
svapnopabhogapratimeṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 29 ||
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yānarcayitvāpi na yānti śarma vivardhayitvā paripālayitvā |
aṅgārakarṣapratimeṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 30 ||
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vināśamīyuḥ kuravo yadarthaṃ vṛṣṇyandhakā maithiladaṇḍakāśca |
śūlāsikāṣṭhapratimeṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 31 ||
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sundopasundāvasurau yadarthamanyonyavairaprasṛtau vinaṣṭau |
sauhārdaviśleṣakareṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 32 ||
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kāmāndhasañjñāḥ kṛpayā va ke ca kravyātsu nātmānamihotsṛjanti |
sapatnabhūteṣvaśiveṣu teṣu kāmeṣu kasyātmavato ratiḥ syāt || 33 ||
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kāmāndhasañjñaḥ kṛpaṇaṃ karoti prāpnoti duḥkhaṃ vadhabandhanādi |
kāmārthamāśākṛpaṇastapasvī mṛtyuśramaṃ cārhati jīvaloke || 34 ||
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gītairhriyante hi mṛgā vadhāya rūpārthamagnau śalabhāḥ patanti |
matsyo giratyāyasamāmiṣārthī tasmādanarthaṃ viṣayāḥ phalanti || 35 ||
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kāmāstu bhogā iti yanmataṃ syādbhogyā na kecitparigaṇyamānāḥ |
vastrādayo dravyaguṇā hi loke duḥkhapratīkāra iti pradhāryāḥ || 36 ||
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iṣṭaṃ hi tarṣapraśamāya toyaṃ kṣunnāśahetoraśanaṃ tathaiva |
vātātapāmbvāvaraṇāya veśma kaupīnaśītāvaraṇāya vāsaḥ || 37 ||
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nidrāvighātāya tathaiva śayyā yānaṃ tathādhvaśramanāśanāya |
tathāsanaṃ sthānavinodanāya snānaṃ mṛjārogyabalāśrayāya || 38 ||
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duḥkhapratīkāranimittabhūtāstasmātprajānāṃ viṣayā na bhogyāḥ |
aśnāmi bhogāniti ko 'bhyupeyātprājñaḥ pratīkāravidhau pravṛttān || 39 ||
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yaḥ pittadāhena vidahyamānaḥ śītakriyāṃ bhoga iti vyavasyet |
duḥkhapratīkāravidhau pravṛttaḥ kāmeṣu kuryātsa hi bhogasañjñām || 40 ||
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kāmeṣvanaikāntikatā ca yasmādato 'pi me teṣu na bhogasañjñā |
ya eva bhāvā hi sukhaṃ diśanti ta eva duḥkhaṃ punarāvahanti || 41 ||
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gurūṇi vāsāṃsyagurūṇi caiva sukhāya śīte hyasukhāya gharme |
candrāṃśavaścandanameva coṣṇe sukhāya duḥkhāya bhavanti śīte || 42 ||
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dvandvāni sarvasya yataḥ prasaktānyalābhalābhaprabhṛtīni loke |
ato 'pi naikāntasukho 'sti kaścinnaikāntaduḥkhaḥ puruṣaḥ prṭhivyām || 43 ||
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dṛṣṭvā ca miśrāṃ sukhaduḥkatāṃ me rājyaṃ ca dāsyaṃ ca mataṃ samānam |
nityaṃ hasatyeva hi naiva rājā na cāpi santapyata eva dāsaḥ || 44 ||
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ājñā nṛpatve 'bhyadhiketi yasmātmahānti duḥkhānyata eva rājñaḥ |
āsaṅgakāṣṭhapratimo hi rājā lokasya hetoḥ parikhedameti || 45 ||
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rājye nṛpastyāgini vaṅkamitre viśvāsamāgacchati cedvipannaḥ |
athāpi viśrambhamupaiti neha kiṃ nāma saukhyaṃ cakitasya rājñaḥ || 46 ||
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yadā ca jitvāpi mahīṃ samagrāṃ vāsāya dṛṣṭaṃ puramekameva |
tatrāpi caikaṃ bhavanaṃ niṣevyaṃ śramaḥ parārthe nanu rājabhāvaḥ || 47 ||
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rājyo 'pi vāse yugamekameva kṣutsaṃnirodhāya tathānnamātrā |
śayyā tathaikāsanamekameva śeṣā viśeṣā nṛpatermadāya || 48 ||
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tuṣṭyarthametacca phalaṃ yadīṣṭamṛte 'pi rājyānmama tuṣṭirasti |
tuṣṭau ca satyāṃ puruṣasya loke sarve viśeṣā nanu nirviśeṣāḥ || 49 ||
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tannāsti kāmān prati sampratāryaḥ kṣeme śivaṃ mārgamanuprapannaḥ |
smṛtvā suhṛttvaṃ tu punaḥ punarmāṃ brūhi pratijñāṃ khalu pālayanti || 50 ||
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na hyasmyamarṣeṇa vanapraviṣṭo na śatrubāṇairavadhūtamauliḥ |
kṛtaspṛho nāpi phalādhikebhyo gṛhṇāmi naitadvacanaṃ yataste || 51 ||
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yo dandaśūkaṃ kupitaṃ bhujaṅgaṃ muktvā vyavasyeddhi punargrahītum |
dāhātmikāṃ vā jvalitāṃ tṛṇaulkāṃ santyajya kāmānsa punarbhajeta || 52 ||
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andhāya yaśca spṛhayedanandho baddhāya mukto vidhanāya vāḍhyaḥ |
unmattacittāya ca kalyacittaḥ spṛhāṃ sa kuryādviṣayātmakāya || 53 ||
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bhikṣopabhogī vara nānukampyaḥ kṛtī jarāmṛtyubhayaṃ titīrṣuḥ |
ihottamaṃ śāntisukhaṃ ca yasya paratra duḥkhāni ca saṃvṛtāni || 54 ||
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lakṣmyāṃ mahatyāmapi vartamānastṛṣṇābhibhūtastvanukampitavyaḥ |
prāpnoti yaḥ śāntisukhaṃ na ceha paratra duḥkhaṃ pratigṛhyate ca || 55 ||
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evaṃ tu vaktuṃ bhavato 'nurūpaṃ sattvasya vṛttasya kulasya caiva |
mamāpi voḍhuṃ sadṛśaṃ pratijñāṃ sattvasya vṛttasya kulasya caiva || 56 ||
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ahaṃ hi saṃsārarasena viddho viniḥsṛtaḥ śāntamavāptukāmaḥ |
neccheyamāptuṃ tridive 'pi rājyaṃ nirāmayaṃ kiṃ vata mānuṣeṣu || 57 ||
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trivargasevāṃ nṛpa yattu kṛtsnataḥ paro manuṣyārtha iti tvamāttha mām |
anartha ityāttha mamārthadarśanaṃ kṣayī trivargo hi na cāpi tarpakaḥ || 58 ||
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pade tu yasminna jarā na bhīrutā na janma naivoparamo na vādhayaḥ |
tameva manye puruṣārthamuttamaṃ na vidyate yatra punaḥ punaḥ kriyā || 59 ||
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yadapyavocaḥ paripālyatāṃ jarā navaṃ vayo gacchati vikriyāmiti |
aniścayo 'yaṃ capalaṃ hi dṛśyate jarāpyadhīrā dhṛtimacca yauvanam || 60 ||
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svakarmadakṣaśca yadā tu ko jagadvayaḥsu sarveṣu ca saṃvikarṣati |
vināśakāle kathamavyavasthite jarā pratīkṣyā viduṣā śamepsunā || 61 ||
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jarāyudho vyādhivikīrṇasāyako yadāntako vyādha ivāśritaḥ sthitaḥ |
prajāmṛgān bhāgyavanāśritāṃstudan vayaḥprakarṣaṃ prati ko manorathaḥ || 62 ||
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suto yuvā vā sthaviro 'thavā śiśustathā tvarāvāniha kartumarhati |
yathā bhaveddharmavataḥ kṛpātmanaḥ pravṛttiriṣṭā vinivṛttireva vā || 63 ||
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yadāttha vā dīptaphalāṃ kulocitāṃ kuruṣva dharmāya makhakriyāmiti |
namo makhebhyo na hi kāmaye sukhaṃ parasya duḥkhakriyayāpadiśyate || 64 ||
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paraṃ hi hantuṃ vivaśaṃ phalepsayā na yuktarūpaṃ karuṇātmanaḥ sataḥ |
kratoḥ phalaṃ yadyapi śāśvataṃ bhavet tathāpi kṛtvā kimupakṣayātmakam || 65 ||
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bhavecca dharmo yadi nāparo vidhirvratena śīlena manaḥśamena vā |
tathāpi naivārhati sevituṃ kratuṃ viśasya yasmin paramucyate phalam || 66 ||
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ihāpi tāvatpuruṣasya tiṣṭhataḥ pravartate yatparahiṃsayā sukham |
tadapyaniṣṭaṃ saghṛṇasya dhīmato bhavāntare kiṃ vata yanna dṛśyate || 67 ||
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na ca pratāryo 'smi phalapravṛttaye bhaveṣu rājan ramate na me manaḥ |
latā ivāmbhodharavṛṣṭitāḍitāḥ pravṛttayaḥ sarvagatā hi cañcalā || 68 ||
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ihāgataścāhamito didṛkṣayā munerarāḍasya vimokṣavādinaḥ |
prayāmi cādyaiva nṛpāstu te śivaṃ vacaḥ kṣamethāḥ śamatattvaniṣṭhuram || 69 ||
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athendravaddivyava śaśvadarkavadguṇairava śreya ihāva gāmava |
avāyurāryairava satsutān ava śriyaśca rājannava dharmamātmanaḥ || 70 ||
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himāriketūdbhavasamplavāntare yathā dvijo yāti vimokṣayaṃstanum |
himāriśatruṃ kṣayaśatrughātinastathāntare yāhi vimocayanmanaḥ || 71 ||
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nṛpo 'bravītsāñjalirāgataspṛho yatheṣṭamāpnoti bhavānavighnataḥ |
avāpya kāle kṛtakṛtyatāmimāṃ mamāpi kāryo bhavatā tvanugrahaḥ || 72 ||
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sthiraṃ pratijñāya tatheti pārthive tataḥ sa vaiśvantaramāśramaṃ yayau |
parivrajantaṃ samudīkṣya vismito nṛpo 'pi ca prāpurimaṃ giriṃ vrajan || 73 ||
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Other editions:

Also see the following editions of the Sanskrit text or (alternative) English translations of the Buddha-carita Chapter 11

Cover of edition (2003)

The Buddha-Carita By Asvaghosa or Acts of Buddha
by E. B. Cowell (2003)

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Cover of edition (2011)

Buddha Carita of Asvaghosa
by Shanti Lal Nagar (2011)

Sanskrit text, English translation, Index of Verse and Photographs of Archaeological Evidence

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Cover of edition (2016)

Asvaghosa’s Buddhacarita or Acts of the Buddha
by E. H. Johnston (2016)

Sanskrit text with English Translation

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