इहासने शुष्यतु मे शरीरं
त्वगस्थिमांसं प्रलयं च यातु ।
अप्राप्य बोधिं बहुकल्पदुर्लभां
नैवासनात्कायामतश्चलिष्यते ॥
ihāsane śuṣyatu me śarīraṁ
tvag-asthi-māṁsaṁ pralayaṁ ca yātu |
aprāpya bodhiṁ bahu-kalpa-durlabhāṁ
naivāsanāt kāyam ataś caliṣyate ||
(Lalita-vistara: 19.57)
“Let my body dry up on this seat.
And let its skin, bones, and flesh disintegrate.
Without attaining enlightenment (bodhi),
Which is difficult to attain [even] in many kalpas,
Never shall this body move forth from this seat.”
Commentary
This was the Buddha’s resolve on the eve of his enlightenment.
Alternate version
ihāsane śuṣyatu me śarīraṁ
tvag-asthi-māṁsaṁ vilayaṁ ca yātu |
aprāpya bhaktiṁ bahu-janma-durlabhāṁ
naivāsanāt kāyam ataś caliṣyate ||
“Let my body dry up on this seat.
And let its skin, bones, and flesh disintegrate.
Without attaining bhakti,
Which is difficult to attain [even] in many births,
Never shall this body move forth from this seat.”