Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/216

 as the moon is deprived of its lustre in the dark part of its menstrual course.

31. ‘By wrath he throws himself headlong into his ruin, in spite of the efforts of his friends to restrain him. As a rule he gets into a stupid rage of hatred, and the power of his mind being impaired, he is unable to distinguish between what is good for him and what is bad.

32. Carried away by his anger, he will commit sinful actions to be repented of with many misfortunes for centuries. Can enemies, whose wrath has been provoked by severe injuries, do anything worse?

33. ‘Anger is our adversary within us, this I know. Who may bear the free course of its insolence ?

34. For this reason I did not release that anger, although it was struggling within me. Who, indeed, may suffer himself to overlook an enemy able to do such mischief?'

These heart-moving words and the marvellous forbearance he had proved by them to possess, softened and converted the mind of that king who spoke :

35. “Worthy, indeed, of your tranquillity of mind are these words you have spoken!... But, why use many words? I was deceived because I did not understand you.

After thus praising the Bodhisattva, he went near to him and throwing himself at his feet, confessed his sin. And he dismissed also that female ascetic, after obtaining her pardon, and offered himself to the disposal of the Bodhisattva as his attendant.

In this manner a man by keeping down his anger appeases his enemies, but doing otherwise he will inflame them. Thus considering, one ought to strive after the suppression of anger. [This story is also to be told in connection with such sayings as praise the precept of forbearance, viz. 'in this manner unfriendly feelings are set at rest by friendliness, and by self-restraint hatred is not allowed to grow,' and 'in this manner he who banishes anger acts to the benefit of