Extracts form " Light of Asia " by Sir Edwin Arnold

EXTRACTS FROM LIGHT OF ASIA 

" Light of Asia " was Authored by Sir Edwin Arnold who was an Englishman. Sir Edwin       Arnold has very appropriately represented the Life and Teachings of Gautama, who was a Prince from India and the Founder of Buddhism as the "Light of Asia ".

 The Glorious Light threw its Brilliant Rays throughout Asia, dispelling the Bloom of Ignorance and bringing to the Millions of People, who embraced his teachings, in a faith

and a hope of a new solace to come to shield and protect them from all ills.

size: medium;">Although he was an Englishman, he was a lover of India and its people and his name will be preserved throughout the ravages of time, protected and Referred as the Man who helped the Western World to know and appreciate Lord Buddhas Teachings and to  be converted to follow his Blissful Doctrine of  Ending Suffering.

His Vision of Buddha as he wrote in "Light of Asia "will be presented to you in a series of extracted posts in our  Web Portal - 

Extracts from the Book Authored by Late Mrs . T Kularthna-  The Book was Re - Produced with the Kind Permission of  the Publishers M.D Gunasena & Co.Ltd      

Herewith  The Story  "Light of Asia " by  Sir Edwin Arnold

In the Form of Extracts 

Un- Veils 

Post - 1

........  "Now I go to help the World 

This Last of many times; for birth and death

End house for me and those who learn my law,

I will go down among the Sakyas,

Under the Southward snows of Himalayas,

Where pious people live, and a just king 

Post - 2

That night the consort of king Suddhodana,

Maya the Queen dreamt a strange dream,

dreamt that a star from heaven,

Splendid,six-rayed, in color rosy pearl,

Where of  the token was an Elephant,

Six - tusked and white as milk of kanaduk,

shot through the void and shone into her,

Entered her womb upon the right,

Awaked, Bliss beyond mortal mothers filled her breast.

And over halfthe earth a lovely light 

Fore went the morn.

The grey  dream readers said 

" The Dream is good!

The queen shall bear a boy, a holy child 

of wondrous wisdom, profiting all flesh,

who shall deliver men from ignorance 

 Or Rule the world, if he will decide to Rule 

   

Post - 3

Queen Maya stood at noon, her days full filled

Under a Palsain the Lumbini - grounds 

A stately trunk, straight as a temple -shaft 

With a crown of glossy Leaves and fragrant Blossoms

And knowing the time come - for all things knew 

The conscious tree bent down its boughs to make

a Bower about queen Maya's Majesty; 

And earth out forth a thousand sudden flowers,

T spread a couch, while ready for the bath,

A rock-hard by gave out a limpid stream

Of crystal flow. So brought she forth her child.

Pangless - he has on his perfect form.

The marks thirty and two, of blessed birth.

For heaven was filled with gladness for earth's sake.

Knowing LordBuddha thus was come again            

Post - 4

On tidings of this Birth, from afar 

Came merchant men bringing gifts

In golden trays, jade and pearls, and sandalwood 

Homage from tribute cities, so they called 

Their Prince " All - Prospering " briefer, Siddhartha

Among the strangers came 

A grey-haired saint, Asitha, one whose ears

Long close to earthly things, caught a heavenly sound

The King Saluted , and Queen Maya made

Lay her baby before such holy feet,

But when he saw the prince the old man cried

" Ah Queen,not so ,Oh Babe I worship !  thou art he !

Thou art Buddha .

And thou will preach the law and save all flesh

Who learn the Law ,thou I shall never see .

Know,O King !

This is that Blossom on our human tree

Which opens once in many myraid years ,

But opened , fills the world with wisdom's scent,

Ah,Happy House !" 

Post - 5

When the eighth year passes

The Careful King bethought to teach his son

“Who is the wisest man great sirs,” he asked

To teach my prince all which a Prince shouldknow ?”

“ King Wishwamithra is the Wissest one .

The farthest seen scriptures , and the best

In learning , and the manual arts ,and all”

 

Thus Viswamithra came and heard commands

And on aday found fortunate ,the Prince

Took uphis slate and writing stick , and stood

With eyes bent down before the sage , whosaid

“ Child , write this scripture , speaking low the verse

Which only high born hear “

 

“ Acharya ,I write meekly replied the Prince .

After merepeat your numeration till we reach

The Lakh “ “I shall recite how many sun motes lie

From end to end within a yojana “

But Vishwamithra cried “ For thou Art Teacher of

Thy teachers, thou no I art Guru

 

Oh ! I worship thee Sweet Prince that comest

To my school only to show Thou knowest all the

Books and knowest fair reverence besides “,

Which Reverance Lord Buddha kept to all to all his

Schoolmasters        

Post - 6

                               Now our Lord was come to eighteen years  

                               The king commanded that there should be built

                               Three Stately Homes , Subha , Suramya , Ramya ,

                             “Or he red the sad and lowly path

                               Of self – denial and of pious pains,

                                How may his feet be turned ? “

 

                            “ maharaja ! love will cure these thin distempers,

                               Weave the spell of woman’s wiles

                               Around his idle heart,

                               What knows this noble boy of beauty yet ?

                               Find him soft wives and pretty play fellows.

                               Thoughts ye cannot stay with brazen chains,

                               A girl’s hair lightly binds ! “ 

Post - 7

                                    ‘This do my King ! commanded a festival ,

                                    Where the realm’s maids shall be competitors.

                                    In youth and grace ,sports that Skayas use .

                                    Let the prince give the prizes to the fair”

 

                                    Thus flocked Kapilawasthu’s maidens to the gate.

                                    Fair show it was of all the Indian Girls,

                                    Each maid took, with down dropped lids,

                                    Her gift , then fled to join her mates .

 

                                    Thus filled they ,one bright maid after another ,

                                    The cities flowers .and gllt his beauteous march

                                    Was ending ,and the prizes spent ,when last

                                    Came young Yasodara ; and they that stood

                                    Nearest Siddhartha saw the princely boy

                                    Start as the radiant girl approached.

 

                                    A form of heavenly  mould

                                    A gait like Paravati’s; eyes like a hind’s in

                                    Love time face so fair

                                             Words cannot paint its spell  

 

Post - 8

                               “Is there a gift for me ?”,she asked

                                And smiled . “the gifts are gone “ ,The Prince replied ,

                            “ Yet take this for amends ,dear sister

                               Of whose grace ,our happy city boasts “.

 

                               Therewith he loosed

                               The Emerald necklace from his throat ,

                               And clasped its green beads round her

                               Dark and silk soft waist ,

                               And their eys mixed , and from the

                               Look sprang love.

                              Therefore the maid was given unto the Prince

Post - 8

A willing Spoil

The marriage feast was kept as Sakyas use ,

And Temple offerings made , mantras sung ,

The garments of the bride and bridegroom tied ,

Then the grey father spoke “ Worshipful Prince ,

She that was ours ,henceforth is only thine .

Be good to her , who hath life in thee”

 

Wherewith they brought home sweet Yasodhara

With songs and trumpets ,to the Prince’s arms .

And love was all in all.

 

And all this House of Love

Was peopled fair with sweet attendance ,

Each one glad to gladden pleased at pleasure

Proud to obey ,Yasodhara,

Queen of the enchanting Court !

Prince Siddhartha's Real Life  Painting

Post -9  

And so Siddhartha lived forgetting ,

Amidst the beauteous court; holding the

Hand of sweet Yasodhara.

Oh! Why have I never seen and never sought ,

Tell me what lies beyond our brazen gates ?

Let the word be sent

That Channa yoke my chariot – at noon

Tomorrow; “Oh ! I shall ride and see beyond.”

 

Also the crier passed with drum and gong

Proclaiming loudly ; “ Ho, all  citizens,

The king commands that there be seen today

None that is sick ,or stricken deep in years,

No leper and no feeble folk go forth,

Let none , too burn his dead nor bring them out

Till nightfall. Thus Suddhodana commands.”       

     

Post -10  

So passed they through the gates

A joyous crowd, and all the paths with fair sights,

For the king’s words that such should be.

When from the roadside moaned a mournful voice,

“Help masters, lift me to my feet.

Alms ! give good people, for I shall die  

 

Then midway on the road

Slow tottering from his hovel,

Crept forth a wretch in rags, one skinny hand

Clutched a worn staff to prop his  quavering limbs

“ Channa ! what thing is this who seems a man

So miserable, so horrible, so sad? “

“ Are men born sometimes thus ?”

 

“ This is no other than an aged man “

But shall this come to others? If I live so long

Shall I be this? And if Yasodara lives

Fourscore years is this old age for her ?”

These they passed.

“ And the end of many aches

Which come unseen , and will come when they come

Is this; a broken body, and sad mind

And so old age ?”  

 

“At the last comes death.

In whatsoever way, whatever hour,

Some few grow old ,most suffer and fall sick

But almost die – behold where comes the dead .” 

Then did Siddhartha raise his eyes and see

Fast pacing towards the river bank a band

Of wailing people!

 

Then spoke the prince , “It is the end

Which comes to all who live?

Oh! suffering world, I see, I feel

The vastness of the agony of earth.

Since pleasure ends in pain and youth in age.

 

And love in loss and life in hateful death.

And death in unknown lives.

Me too this lure hath cheated, so it seemed

Lovely to live  and life a sunlit stream

The veil is rent, which blinded me.

Channa lead home again

Mine eyes have seen enough 

Post - 11

But when the days were numbered, there be fell

The parting of our Lord – which was to be –

“O ! Prince! what may such visions mean

Except I die or – worse than any death –

Thou shoulders forsake me, or be taken “

Soft as the last smile of sunset was the look

Siddhartha bent upon his weeping wife.

“Comfort thee, dear ,” he said “if comfort lies

In changeless love! for though thy dreams may be.

 

Shadows of things to come ;

Yet whatever befalls to thee and me

Be sure I loved and love Yasodhara

 

I will depart, the hour is come,

Unto this came I , and unto this all

Nights and days have led me ,

I lay aside my realms,

I choose to tread its path with patient stainless feet

And all my soul is full,

Of pity for the sickness of this world,

Which I will heal, if healing may be found   

   

 Post - 12

“ Therefore farewell friends

While life is good to give ,I give and go,

To seek deliverance that un-known light.

 

Channa Awake , and bringout Kantaka

Speak low and bring my horse,

For now the hour is come , when I should quit,

Unto this I came .

 

And not for thrones ;the kingdom that I carve ,

Is more than many realms “   

Fondly Siddhartha drew the proud head down

Patted the shining neck and said “Be still” !

White kantaka bear me now

The farthest journey ever ride rode

For this night take I horse to find the truth,

So shall thou share with me ,

The greatness of this deed which helps the world “

 Then to the saddle lightly leaping ,

He touched the arched crest and kantaka sprang forth .   

 

When the morning star

Stood half a spear’s length from the eastern rim,

And o’er the earth the breath of morning sighed,

Then drew he rein, and leaped to earth  and kissed,

White kantaka ,and spoke

Full sweet to channa. “ This which thou hast done

Shall bring  thee good and bring all creatures good

Be sure I love thee always for thy love .

 

Lead back my horse and take 

My crest pearl here ,

My princely robes , which hence forth steed me not.

My jeweled sword – belt and my sword ,and

These long locks ,by its bright edge severed thus

From off my brow, give the king all and say

Siddhartha prays forget him till be comes ,

Ten times a Prince with Royal wisdom won ,

From lonely searching’s and the strife for light

Where ,if I conquer , lo ! All earth is mine          

  

 

Post - 13

Round Rajgir five fair hills araose 

Guarding King Bimbisara's sylavan town,

Baibhara , green with lemon grass and palms 

Bipulla at whose foot thin Sarasuti steals

With warm ripple - shadowy Tapovan,

Whose streaming pools mirror balck rocks ,

low cliffs and flats of jungle flowers,

Here Lord Buddha sat the scorching summers 

Through ,driving rains , chilly dawns and eves;

wearing for all men's sake the yellow robes ,

Eating in Begger's guise the scanty meals 

Chance gathered from the charitable,at night 

Couched on the grass ,homeless, alone  

Then our Lord

After the manner of a Rishi hailed 

The rising orb , and in the fashion of a rshi passed

from street to street with begging bowl in hand,

Gathering the little pittance of his needs ,

Soon was it filled for all the townsmen cried 

" Take of our store, great Sir"  , and "Take of ours"

Marking his gold-like face and eyes enwarpt.

By mild speech paying all these gifts of hearts,

Wending his way back to the solitudes 

To sit upon his hill with holy men ,

And hear and ask of wisdom and its roads 

Post - 14

At Noon the herdsman cried 

And kept the crowd still movingin the plain 

Somehurt had lamed one lamb which toiled behind,,

Bleeding ,which when our lord did mark,full tenderly.

he took the limping lamb upon his neck ,saying 

"T were all as god to  ease one beast of grief ,

As sit and watch the sorrows of this world ,

In younder cavren with the priests who pary"

Then spke he to the herdsman ,"wherefore friends ,

Drive ye this flock adown ,under high noon ?"

" We are sent to fetch a sacrifice  of goats five score 

And five score sheep ,the which our Lord the King

Slaughters this night in worship of his Gods ".

Then said the master "I will also go "

Whom when they came unto the river side ,

A woman  -dove eyed  young ,with tearful face 

And lifted hands - saluted bending low .  

" In the fig grove  ,where I live alone

And reared my child ,he straying midst the blossom

Found a snake ,which twined about his wrists ,

But alas ! ere long he turned pale and still ,

One said  "he is stick of poison " and another 

" He will die " But I who could loose my precious 

Boy, prayed of them ,And someone said ,

" There is a Holy man upon the hill .    

Part - 15 

Lo ! Now he passes in the yellow robe

Ask for the Rishi if there is a cure 

For that which ails thy son 

And then with gentle eyes and touch with the patient hand,

Thou drew the face cloth back saying to me 

"Yes little sister ,there is that might heal thee first 

And him ,if thou thou could fetch the thing ,

I pary thee bring back mustard seed a tola ;

Only mark thou take it not from any hand or house  

Where father ,mother , child or slave has died ;

It shall be well  if thou can't find such seed .

Thus didn't thou speak my Lord ,"

" Yes I spoke thus ,

Dear Kissagotami,but didn't thou  find the seed ?" 

"Ah ,Sir ! I could not find asingle house 

Where there was mustard  seed  and none had died !"

" Today Thou know'st the whole world weeps with thy wore :

The grief which all hearts share grows less for one.

Bury thou thy child. "

Post - 15

Then in the Sylvan solitudes once more

Lord Buddha lived musing the woes of men,

So meditating that he forgot

Of times the hour of food ,rising from  thoughts

Prolonged beyond the sunrise and the moon ,

To see his bowl unfilled and eat of wild fruit

Fallen from the boughs o’ ahead.

 Therefore his grace faded,

His body was worn by the stress of his soul,

Lost day by day the marks, thirty and two

Which testifies the Buddha

And once at such a time

Fell to the earth in a deadly swoon, all spent.

Post - 16

So motionless. But there came by that way

A shepherd boy who saw Siddhartha lie

With lids fast–closed and lines of nameless pain

Fixed on his lips – the fierce noonday sun

Beating upon his head- who plucking boughs

From wild–rose apple trees , knitted them thick

Into a bower to shade the scared face.

 Also, he poured upon the master’s  slips

Drops of warm milk from his she-goats bag,

Lest, being low caste  he by touching

Wrong one so high and holy seeming.

 But our Lordgaining breath ,arose 

And asked milkin the shepherd's lota " Ah my Lod .

I cannot give thee ,guoth thelad ;"Thou seest 

I am asudra and muy touch defies !"

Then the world honoured spoke . "Pity and need 

Makeall flesh kin .

There is no cast in bloood which runneth ofonehue , nor caste in tears 

which trick;rsalt with all ; neither comes man 

To birth with tilka - mark stamped on his brow ,

Nor sacred thread on neck.Who doth right deed 

is twice born ,andwho doeth ill deeds vile .

Give me to drink ,my nbrother ;

When I come unto my quest it shall be good for thee "

There at pesant's heart 

Was Glad and gave.