A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t3.13

v2.c19.s6.t3.13

Chapters XII [^2) and XIII also contain episodes, which are missing in the other biographies of the Buddha. On the other hand, the rest of the story (Chapters XIV-XXVI) differs but little from the legend as it is known from other sources :[^3) namely, the four encounters by which the Bodhisattva becomes acquainted with age, disease, death and renunciation of the world, the flight from the palace, the meeting with King Bimbisāra, the apprenticeship of Gotama and his futile ascetic practices, the conflict with Māra, the final enlightenment and the proclaiming of the doctrine at the request of the god Brahman. The last chapter (XXVII), however, in the true manner of the Mahāyāna Sūtras, is devoted to the glorification of the Lalita-Vistara itself, and the enumeration of the merits and advantages which one gains by propagating and honouring it.