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SADDHARMA-PUNDARÎKA.
iii.

123. Nobody keeps their side 1 ; a putrid smell is continually issuing from their mouths ; an evil spirit has entered the body of those who do not believe in this supreme enlightenment.

124. Needy, obliged to do menial labour, always in another's service, feeble, and subject to many diseases they go about in the world, unprotected.

125. The man whom they happen to serve is unwilling to give them much, and what he gives is soon lost Such is the fruit of sinfulness.

126. Even the best-prepared medicaments, admi- nistered to them by able men, do, under those circumstances, but increase their illness, and the disease has no end.

127. Some commit thefts, affrays, assaults, or acts of hostility, whereas others commit robberies of goods ; (all this) befalls the sinner.

128. Never does he behold the Lord of the world, the King of kings ruling the earth 2 , for he is doomed to live at a wrong time 3 , he who scorns my Buddha- rule.

129. Nor does that foolish person listen to the law ; he is deaf and senseless ; he never finds rest, because he has scorned this enlightenment.

130. During many hundred thousand myriads of ko/is of iEons equal to the sand of the Ganges he shall be dull and defective; that is the evil result from scorning this SAtra.

Apratyanfka, van lect. apratyanfya. The rendering is doubtful. I take it to be synonymous with apaksha; cf. note, p. 17.

Mahi, i.e. Sansk. mahim.

In the darkness of hell, i. e. in common parlance, at nighttime, when nobody can behold the sun.