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Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
154. Those goblins, ghosts, imps, like vultures, are always looking out through the windows and loopholes, in all directions in search of food. 55. Such is that dreadful house, spacious and high, but very infirm, full of holes, frail and dreary. (Let us suppose that) it is the property of a certain man, 56. And that while he is out of doors the house is reached by a conflagration, so that on a sudden it is wrapt in a blazing mass of fire on every side. 57. The beams and rafters consumed by the fire, the columns and partitions in flame are crackling most dreadfully, whilst goblins and ghosts are yelling. 58. Vultures are driven out by hundreds; urchins withdraw with parched faces; hundreds of mischievous beasts of prey! run, scorched, on every side, crying and shouting *. 59. Many poor devils move about, burnt by the fire; while burning they tear one another with the teeth, and bespatter each other with their blood. 1 Vy4ada. 2 Krosanti, var. lect. kroshanti. Burnouf’s version, ‘sont en fureur,’ points to a reading roshanti, which, however, is not appropriate, for the would-be conflagration is a description of the time of twilight. III. A PARABLE. 85 60. Hyenas also perish there, in the act of eating one another. The excrements burn, and a loathsome stench spreads in all directions. 61. The centipedes, trying to fly, are devoured by the urchins. The ghosts, with burning hair, hover about, equally vexed with hunger and heat. 62. In such a state is that awful house, where thousands of flames are breaking out on every side. But the man who is the master of the house looks on from without. 63. And he hears his own children, whose minds are engaged in playing with their toys, in their fondness of which they amuse themselves, as fools do in their ignorance. 64. And as he hears them he quickly steps in’ to save his children, lest his ignorant children might perish in the flames. 65. He tells them the defect of the house, and says: This, young man? of good family, is a miserable house, a dreadful one; the various creatures in it, and this fire to boot, form a series of evils. 66. In it are snakes, mischievous goblins, urchins, and ghosts in great number ; hyenas, troops of dogs and jackals, as well as vultures, seeking their prey. 67. Such beings live in this house, which, apart 1 This trait is wanting in the prose relation. The explanation, I fancy, is this: If the description of the glowing house refers to morning twilight, the father (Pitamaha, or Day-god) will needs step in afterwards; if, on the other hand, the evening twilight is meant, he will already have left the house. In the former case he calls his children to activity, to théir daily work ; in the latter he admonishes them to take their rest, exhorts them to think of the end of life. * In addressing more persons it is not uncommon that only cne is addressed as representing the whole company. 86 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. TT.
2* In addressing more persons it is not uncommon that only cne is addressed as representing the whole company. 86 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. TT. from the fire, is extremely dreadful, and miserable enough; and now comes to it this fire blazing on all sides. 68. The foolish boys, however, though admonished, do not mind their father’s words, deluded as they are by their toys; they do not even understand him. 69. Then the man thinks: I am now in anxiety on account of my children. What is the use of my having sons if I lose them? No, they shall not perish by this fire. 70. Instantly a device occurred to his mind: These young (and ignorant) children are fond of toys, and have none just now to play with. Oh, they are so foolish! 71. He then says to them: Listen, my sons, I have carts of different sorts, yoked with deer, goats, and excellent bullocks, lofty, great, and completely furnished. 72. They are outside the house; run out, do with them what you like; for your sake have I caused them to be made. Run out all together, and rejoice to have them. 73. All the boys, on hearing of such carts, exert themselves, immediately rush out hastily, and reach, free from harm, the open air. 74. On seeing that the children have come out, the man betakes himself to the square in the centre of the village, and there from the throne he is sitting on he says: Good people, now I feel at ease. * The sun reaches the meridian point. The poetic version which makes the father enter the blazing house is consistent; the prose version has effaced a necessary trait of the story. Therefore Til. A PARABLE. 87 75. These poor sons of mine, whom I have recovered with difficulty, my own dear twenty young children, were in a dreadful, wretched, horrible house, full of many animals. 76. As it was burning and wrapt in thousands of flames, they were amusing themselves in it with playing, but now I have rescued them all. Therefore I now feel most happy. 77. The children, seeing their father happy, approached him, and said: Dear father, give us, as you have promised’, those nice vehicles of three kinds ; 78. And make true all that you promised us in the house when saying, ‘I will give you three sorts of vehicles.’ Do give them; it is now the right time. 79. Now the man (as we have supposed) had a mighty treasure of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; he possessed bullion, numerous slaves, domestics, and vehicles of various kinds ; 80. Carts made of precious substances, yoked with bullocks, most excellent, with benches? and a row of tinkling bells, decorated with umbrellas and flags, and adorned with a network of gems and pearls. 81. They are embellished with gold, and artificial wreaths hanging down here and there ; covered all around with exceJlent cloth and fine white muslin. 82. Those carts are moreover furnished with choice mattresses of fine silk, serving for cushions, it is posterior to the version in metre, and apparently belongs to a much later period.
382. Those carts are moreover furnished with choice mattresses of fine silk, serving for cushions, it is posterior to the version in metre, and apparently belongs to a much later period. 1 Yathabhibh4&shitam, var. lect. °-bhAvitam. * Vedikés. 88 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. III. and covered with choice carpets showing the images of cranes and swans, and worth thousands of ko/is. 83. The carts are yoked with white bullocks, well fed, strong, of great size, very fine, who are tended by numerous persons. 84. Such excellent carts that man gives to all his sons, who, overjoyed and charmed, go and play with them in all directions. 85. In the same manner, S4riputra, I, the great Seer, am the protector and father of all beings, and all creatures who, childlike, are captivated by the pleasures of the triple world, are my sons. 86. This triple world is as dreadful as that house, overwhelmed with a number of evils, entirely inflamed on every side by a hundred different sorts of birth, old age, and disease. 87. But I, who am detached from the triple world and serene, am living in absolute retirement? in a wood*, This triple world is my domain, and those who in it are suffering from burning heat are my sons. 88. And I told its evils because I had resolved upon saving them, but they would not listen to me, because all of them were ignorant and their hearts attached to the pleasures of sense. 89. Then I employ an able device, and tell them of the three vehicles, so showing them the means of evading® the numerous evils of the triple world which are known to me. go. And those of my sons who adhere to me, 1 Ekantasthayin, ? Vana, a wood, also means a cloud, the cloudy region. 5 Nirdhavan4rthaya; a var. lect. has nirvapanarth4ya, i.e. to allay. THI. A PARABLE. 89 who are mighty in the six transcendent faculties (Abhig#4s) and the triple science, the Pratyekabuddhas, as well as the Bodhisattvas unable to slide back ; g1. And those (others) who equally are my sons, to them I just now am showing, by means of this excellent allegory, the single Buddha-vehicle. Receive it; ye shall all become Ginas. 92. It is most excellent and sweet, the most exalted in the world, that knowledge of the Buddhas, the most high among men; it is something sublime and adorable. 93. The powers, meditations, degrees of emancipation and self-concentration by many hundreds of kofis, that is the exalted vehicle in which the sons of Buddha take a never-ending delight. 94. In playing with it they pass days and nights, fortnights, months, seasons, years, intermediate kalpas, nay, thousands of ko/is of kalpas’. 95. This is the lofty vehicle of jewels which sundry Bodhisattvas and the disciples listening to the Sugata employ to go and sport on the terrace of enlightenment. 96. Know then, Tishya’, that there is no second
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
Romanised transliteration as printed by the translator, not the original script. This is what we hold.
154. Those goblins, ghosts, imps, like vultures, are always looking out through the windows and loopholes, in all directions in search of food. 55. Such is that dreadful house, spacious and high, but very infirm, full of holes, frail and dreary. (Let us suppose that) it is the property of a certain man, 56. And that while he is out of doors the house is reached by a conflagration, so that on a sudden it is wrapt in a blazing mass of fire on every side. 57. The beams and rafters consumed by the fire, the columns and partitions in flame are crackling most dreadfully, whilst goblins and ghosts are yelling. 58. Vultures are driven out by hundreds; urchins withdraw with parched faces; hundreds of mischievous beasts of prey! run, scorched, on every side, crying and shouting *. 59. Many poor devils move about, burnt by the fire; while burning they tear one another with the teeth, and bespatter each other with their blood. 1 Vy4ada. 2 Krosanti, var. lect. kroshanti. Burnouf’s version, ‘sont en fureur,’ points to a reading roshanti, which, however, is not appropriate, for the would-be conflagration is a description of the time of twilight. III. A PARABLE. 85 60. Hyenas also perish there, in the act of eating one another. The excrements burn, and a loathsome stench spreads in all directions. 61. The centipedes, trying to fly, are devoured by the urchins. The ghosts, with burning hair, hover about, equally vexed with hunger and heat. 62. In such a state is that awful house, where thousands of flames are breaking out on every side. But the man who is the master of the house looks on from without. 63. And he hears his own children, whose minds are engaged in playing with their toys, in their fondness of which they amuse themselves, as fools do in their ignorance. 64. And as he hears them he quickly steps in’ to save his children, lest his ignorant children might perish in the flames. 65. He tells them the defect of the house, and says: This, young man? of good family, is a miserable house, a dreadful one; the various creatures in it, and this fire to boot, form a series of evils. 66. In it are snakes, mischievous goblins, urchins, and ghosts in great number ; hyenas, troops of dogs and jackals, as well as vultures, seeking their prey. 67. Such beings live in this house, which, apart 1 This trait is wanting in the prose relation. The explanation, I fancy, is this: If the description of the glowing house refers to morning twilight, the father (Pitamaha, or Day-god) will needs step in afterwards; if, on the other hand, the evening twilight is meant, he will already have left the house. In the former case he calls his children to activity, to théir daily work ; in the latter he admonishes them to take their rest, exhorts them to think of the end of life. * In addressing more persons it is not uncommon that only cne is addressed as representing the whole company. 86 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. TT.
2* In addressing more persons it is not uncommon that only cne is addressed as representing the whole company. 86 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. TT. from the fire, is extremely dreadful, and miserable enough; and now comes to it this fire blazing on all sides. 68. The foolish boys, however, though admonished, do not mind their father’s words, deluded as they are by their toys; they do not even understand him. 69. Then the man thinks: I am now in anxiety on account of my children. What is the use of my having sons if I lose them? No, they shall not perish by this fire. 70. Instantly a device occurred to his mind: These young (and ignorant) children are fond of toys, and have none just now to play with. Oh, they are so foolish! 71. He then says to them: Listen, my sons, I have carts of different sorts, yoked with deer, goats, and excellent bullocks, lofty, great, and completely furnished. 72. They are outside the house; run out, do with them what you like; for your sake have I caused them to be made. Run out all together, and rejoice to have them. 73. All the boys, on hearing of such carts, exert themselves, immediately rush out hastily, and reach, free from harm, the open air. 74. On seeing that the children have come out, the man betakes himself to the square in the centre of the village, and there from the throne he is sitting on he says: Good people, now I feel at ease. * The sun reaches the meridian point. The poetic version which makes the father enter the blazing house is consistent; the prose version has effaced a necessary trait of the story. Therefore Til. A PARABLE. 87 75. These poor sons of mine, whom I have recovered with difficulty, my own dear twenty young children, were in a dreadful, wretched, horrible house, full of many animals. 76. As it was burning and wrapt in thousands of flames, they were amusing themselves in it with playing, but now I have rescued them all. Therefore I now feel most happy. 77. The children, seeing their father happy, approached him, and said: Dear father, give us, as you have promised’, those nice vehicles of three kinds ; 78. And make true all that you promised us in the house when saying, ‘I will give you three sorts of vehicles.’ Do give them; it is now the right time. 79. Now the man (as we have supposed) had a mighty treasure of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; he possessed bullion, numerous slaves, domestics, and vehicles of various kinds ; 80. Carts made of precious substances, yoked with bullocks, most excellent, with benches? and a row of tinkling bells, decorated with umbrellas and flags, and adorned with a network of gems and pearls. 81. They are embellished with gold, and artificial wreaths hanging down here and there ; covered all around with exceJlent cloth and fine white muslin. 82. Those carts are moreover furnished with choice mattresses of fine silk, serving for cushions, it is posterior to the version in metre, and apparently belongs to a much later period.
382. Those carts are moreover furnished with choice mattresses of fine silk, serving for cushions, it is posterior to the version in metre, and apparently belongs to a much later period. 1 Yathabhibh4&shitam, var. lect. °-bhAvitam. * Vedikés. 88 SADDHARMA-PUNDARIKA. III. and covered with choice carpets showing the images of cranes and swans, and worth thousands of ko/is. 83. The carts are yoked with white bullocks, well fed, strong, of great size, very fine, who are tended by numerous persons. 84. Such excellent carts that man gives to all his sons, who, overjoyed and charmed, go and play with them in all directions. 85. In the same manner, S4riputra, I, the great Seer, am the protector and father of all beings, and all creatures who, childlike, are captivated by the pleasures of the triple world, are my sons. 86. This triple world is as dreadful as that house, overwhelmed with a number of evils, entirely inflamed on every side by a hundred different sorts of birth, old age, and disease. 87. But I, who am detached from the triple world and serene, am living in absolute retirement? in a wood*, This triple world is my domain, and those who in it are suffering from burning heat are my sons. 88. And I told its evils because I had resolved upon saving them, but they would not listen to me, because all of them were ignorant and their hearts attached to the pleasures of sense. 89. Then I employ an able device, and tell them of the three vehicles, so showing them the means of evading® the numerous evils of the triple world which are known to me. go. And those of my sons who adhere to me, 1 Ekantasthayin, ? Vana, a wood, also means a cloud, the cloudy region. 5 Nirdhavan4rthaya; a var. lect. has nirvapanarth4ya, i.e. to allay. THI. A PARABLE. 89 who are mighty in the six transcendent faculties (Abhig#4s) and the triple science, the Pratyekabuddhas, as well as the Bodhisattvas unable to slide back ; g1. And those (others) who equally are my sons, to them I just now am showing, by means of this excellent allegory, the single Buddha-vehicle. Receive it; ye shall all become Ginas. 92. It is most excellent and sweet, the most exalted in the world, that knowledge of the Buddhas, the most high among men; it is something sublime and adorable. 93. The powers, meditations, degrees of emancipation and self-concentration by many hundreds of kofis, that is the exalted vehicle in which the sons of Buddha take a never-ending delight. 94. In playing with it they pass days and nights, fortnights, months, seasons, years, intermediate kalpas, nay, thousands of ko/is of kalpas’. 95. This is the lofty vehicle of jewels which sundry Bodhisattvas and the disciples listening to the Sugata employ to go and sport on the terrace of enlightenment. 96. Know then, Tishya’, that there is no second
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.
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