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LIGHT OF ASIA
Illustrated Version
Sir Edwin Arnold
2
Contents
Sir Edwin Arnold
Edwin Ariyadasa
6
Author Preface
Sir Edwin Arnold
12
Book the First
Prince Siddhartha’s birth and his youth
17
Book the Second
Display of skills & wedding of Prince Siddhartha xxx
Book the Third
Prince Siddhartha sees the omens
xxx
Book the Fourth
The great renunciation
xxx
Book the Fifth
Ascetic Siddhartha’s quest for truth
xxx
Book the Sixth
End of austerities and enlightenment
xxx
Book the Seventh
The Buddha’s visit to Kapilavatthu
xxx
Book the Eighth
The Buddha’s Demise
xxx
Glossary
xxx
3
In the sumptuous Buddhist lit-
erature of the world, “Light of
Asia”, by Sir Edwin Arnold, is
without any doubt, an unique
work. It is primarily because,
this is the only original poem
written in English on the
Buddha, throughout the long
history of Buddhism. This dis-
tinction is quite necessary to
be established, because there
are translations of original Pali works into English and
other languages. Some of these are outstanding instances of
spiritual poetry.
Sir Edwin Arnold, the Author of this epic poem, was ini-
tially persuaded to compose this sacred work, as a result of
his deep and abiding desire to aid in the better and more
wholesome mutual understanding between East and West.
His discovery and profound appreciation of the peren-
nial philosophies of ancient India, could form a subject for
a substantial research paper. In his early youth in Eng-
land, Edwin Arnold felt the first stirrings of the Muse. His
adept command over poetic expression, won him the New-
gate Prize at the University College, Oxford in 1852, for his
poem “The Feast of the Belahazzar”.
Sir Edwin Arnold
4
Edwin Arnold was born in Sussex, England on July 10,
1832. He received his primary education at Royal College,
Rochester. Later on he studied at King’s College, London.
During his days at this plac