A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t3.65

v2.c19.s6.t3.65

In the concluding verses, the poet states emphatically that he has written his work, the aim of which is liberation, not for the sake of delectation, but with a view to perfect peace; he has given it the form of an ornate poem, only so as to be able to win over non-Buddhist hearers to Buddha's doctrine, and to make this doctrine palatable to them, just as one mixes a bitter medicine with honey to make it drinkable. Much space in the Saundarānanda is accordingly devoted to preaching, in which the poet makes use of much the same expressions which are familiar to us from the Tipiṭaka. The joys of solitude and meditation are extolled in this poem just as in other Hīnayāna works.¹ Nevertheless the Saundarānanda also alludes to doctrines which are peculiar to the Mahāyāna. Nanda is filled with the "great pity," which makes him search his heart, in deep commiseration, for means whereby he may release the beings from suffering (XIII, 8). Whilst the Tipiṭaka teaches often enough that everything is "transitory, without self, and full of suffering," Nanda attains to the realisation that everything is "transitory, empty (śūnya), without self, and full of suffering."² And at the end, it is not enough for Nanda himself to become a saint who attains to Nirvāṇa: he must also become an apostle.³