Text of Confucianism Part 02

SR No.: 007676
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: James Legge
Publisher: Oxford
Publication Year: 1882
Total Pages: 2405
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 43 MB

Page 1878

V, 27.
PRAISING NIRVANA.
321
setting forth the world's great sorrow; whilst those, not yet freed from the power of passion, wept with many tears, unable to control themselves. 2185
Yet even those who had put away all faults, sighed as they thought of the pain of birth and death. And now the Malla host1 hearing that Buddha had attained Nirvana, 2186
With cries confused, wept piteously, greatly moved, as when a flight of herons meet a hawk (kite). In a body now they reach the twin (Sala) trees, and as they gaze upon Tathagata dead (entered on his long sleep), 2187
Those features never again to awake to consciousness, they smote their breasts and sighed to heaven; as when a lion seizing on a calf, the whole herd rushes on with mingled sounds. 2188
In the midst there was one Malla, his mind enamoured of the righteous law, who gazed with steadfastness upon the holy a law-king, now entered on the mighty calm, 2189
And said: “The world was everywhere asleep, when Buddha setting forth his law caused it to awake; but now he has entered on the mighty calm, and all is finished in an unending sleep. 2190
For man's sake he had raised the standard of his law, and now, in a moment, it has fallen; the sun of Tathagata's wisdom spreading abroad the lustre of its “great awakening 3.” 2191
The Mallas (wrestlers) are termed lih-sse,' strong-masters, in Chinese. They dwelt at Kusinagara and Pâvâ. The Likkhavis are also called lih-sse.
• The holy law-king, dharmarâga.
: The 'great awakening' refers, of course, to Buddha as 'the awakened.
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