[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Buddhist Sanskrit literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit) › [Dharmapada anthologies](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada) › [Udānavarga](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga) › [法句譬喻經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju) › [Texts from the Buddhist Canon commonly known as Dhammapada, with accompanying narratives](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal) › 3.p4 # 法句譬喻經 3.p4 Texts from the Buddhist Canon commonly known as Dhammapada, with accompanying narratives 3.p4 - **Language:** English ### [3.p4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal.3.p4) In old time, when Buddha was residing in the country of Kausāmbī, in a certain Vihāra called Mei-yin (beautiful voice), and preaching for the sake of the four orders, there was a certain Brahmachārin, unrivalled for knowledge of Scripture, who being unable to find any one equal to himself in argument, was accustomed to carry, wherever he went, a lighted Torch in his hand. One day a man in the market-place of a certain town, seeing him thus, asked him the reason of his strange conduct, on which he replied—"The world is so dark, and men so deluded, that I carry this Torch to light it up so far as I can.” At this time Buddha transformed himself into a man of eminence (magistrate), who, sitting on his chair of office in the market-place, forthwith called out to the Brahmachārin, “What ho there! what are you about (with that Torch)?” To whom the Brahmachārin replied, “All men are so wrapped in ignorance and gloom, that I carry this Torch to illumine them.” Then the magistrate asked him again, “And are you so learned as to be acquainted with the four treatises (vidyās) which occur in the midst of the Sacred Books, to wit, the treatise on Literature (Śabdavidyā); the treatise on the “Heavenly Bodies and their Paths; “the treatise on “Government;” and the treatise on “Military Art"? On the Brahmachārin being forced to confess he was unacquainted with these things, he flung away his Torch, and Buddha appearing in his glorious body, added these words— - [Previous: 3.p3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal.3.p3) - [Next: 3.p5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal.3.p5) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal.3) ## Linked texts (1) - [法句譬喻經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju.1.50) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal.3.p4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.dharmapada.udanavarga*zh-faju~en-beal.3.p4) · Pramāṇa