A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s2.50

v2.c19.s2.50

Serious narratives, too, embodying the purest and most genuine Buddhist morality, are occasionally inserted; thus, the touching story of Prince Dīghāvu (“ Longlived ”), who makes every effort to avenge the murder of his parents, but who, at the very moment when the murderer, King Brahmadatta, is entirely in his power, sheathes his already drawn sword and foregoes his revenge.¹ Finally, similes too, which play such a large part in the sermons and sayings, are not wanting in the Vinayapiṭaka. Thus, for example, in the Cullavagga (IX, 1, 3f.) in a carefully worked out simile, eight qualities of the ocean are compared with eight peculiarities of the Buddhist doctrine and discipline of the order. Here we meet with the oft-quoted sentence :