Page:Sacred Books of the Buddhists Vol 1.djvu/358

 when time has come for them likewise to wage war with Death, they will lose their insolence and ferocity.

36. Such as are masters in magic arts may subdue those demons, if they come up to do harm to godly persons, by the use of penance-power, evil-averting spells, and medicinal herbs; but against that demon, whose name is Death, there is no remedy at all.

37. 'Such as are skilled in the art of bringing about magical illusions, perplex the eyes of a great assembly. Yet Death, too, must have still some power, that his eye is not bewildered even by those.

38. Both those who by their penance-powerful charms checked the virulence of poison, and the excellent physicians who extinguished the diseases of men, even Dhanvantari and such as he, have disappeared. Therefore my mind is bent on practising righteousness in the forest.

39. "The Vidyâdharas, owing to their might made up of manifold spells and powers, make themselves visible and again invisible, go through the air or descend to the earth. Nevertheless, when they meet Death, they too have lost their might.

40. “The lords of the Celestials (the Devas) drive back the Asuras in spite of their haughtiness, and themselves in turn in spite of their haughtiness are driven back by the Asuras. Yet, even both armies combined, a host that would march with just pride against any adversáry, are not able to vanquish Death.

41. ‘Understanding this ferocity of the nature of Death, our enemy, and his irresistibleness, I am no longer pleased with the life at home. It is not from anger that I leave nor in consequence of diminished affection, but I have resolved upon a life of righteousness in the forest.'

The king said: 'But what hope do you set upon the forest-life, the danger of death being thus irremediable ? what hope on taking the vow of a holy life?

42. 'Shall not Death, our enemy, attain you also in