Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/139

Rh himself, "O wise Sumedha, from this time forth do thou fulfil the perfection of Truth; though the thunderbolt descend upon thy head, do thou never under the influence of desire and other passions utter a conscious lie, for the sake of wealth or any other advantage. And as the planet Venus at all seasons pursues her own course, nor ever goes on another course forsaking her own, even so, if thou forsake not truth and utter no lie, thou shalt become Buddha." And he strenuously turned his mind to the seventh perfection of Truth. Therefore it is said,

155. For these are not all the conditions of a Buddha, I will seek other conditions which bring about Buddhaship.

156. Seeking then I beheld the seventh Perfection of Truth Practised and followed by former Buddhas.

157. Having strenuously taken upon thyself this seventh perfection, Then free from duplicity of speech thou shalt attain supreme Buddhaship.

158. And as the planet Venus, balanced in all her times and seasons, In the world of men and devas, departs not from her path,

159. Even so do thou not depart from the course of truth, Advancing to the perfection of truth, thou shalt attain supreme Buddhaship.

But further considering, "These cannot be the only conditions that make a Buddha," and beholding the eighth Perfection of Resolution, he thought thus within himself, "O wise Sumedha, do thou from this time forth fulfil the perfection of Resolution; whatsoever thou resolvest be thou unshaken in that resolution. For as a mountain, the wind beating upon it in all directions, trembles not, moves not, but stands in its place, even so thou, if unswerving in thy resolution, shalt become Buddha." And he strenuously resolved to attain the eighth perfection of Resolution. Therefore it is said,

160. For these are not all the conditions of a Buddha, I will seek out other conditions that bring about Buddhaship.

1 Lit. depart from thy course in the matter of truthful things.