This article explores the ideas and ideals of asceticism by analysing the description of the ascetic practices and the āśrama in the Budhhacarita of Aśvaghoṣa. Although kāvya literature paints vivid pictures in front of our eyes and can give us valuable historical information, usually scholars and historians undermine its potential as a source to study the past. The kāvyas are vibrant than usually thought about and gives more chance and content to a historian to analyse and contextualise. The Buddhacarita of Aśvaghoṣa is an earliest extant kāvya work and a testimony of the fact that literature allows a poet to describe, comment, mock and sometimes reflect over the ideas and ideals of the society which he lives in. Through a very compelling narrative, Aśvaghoṣa presents the story of Sarvārthasiddha’s journey to enlightenment and his first-hand experience of what ascetic resolves are, how ascetics live, what are their goals and aspirations and finally the realisation that this old treaded path is not going to help him. The article analyses Sarvārthasiddha’s search for true recluse and tries to understand dialogues, dissensions, confluences and dichotomies between Buddhism and Brahmanism as portrayed by Aśvaghoṣa. Asceticism is a fascinating theme to explore and the story of the Buddhacarita of Aśvaghoṣa makes it more animated and alive.

中文翻译：

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Aśvaghoṣa佛像中的苦行思想和理想

这篇文章通过分析阿斯瓦格哈卡里塔（Aśvaghoṣa）的苦行修行和 āśrama 的描述，探讨了苦行的思想和理想。尽管 kāvya 文学在我们眼前描绘了生动的画面，并且可以为我们提供宝贵的历史信息，但通常学者和历史学家会削弱其作为研究过去的来源的潜力。kāvyas 比通常想象的更有活力，为历史学家提供了更多的机会和内容进行分析和背景化。Aśvaghoṣa 的佛像是现存最早的 kāvya 作品，它证明了这样一个事实：文学允许诗人描述、评论、嘲讽，有时甚至反思他所生活的社会的思想和理想。 通过非常引人注目的叙述，Aśvaghoṣa 讲述了有部者证悟之旅的故事，以及他对苦行者的决心是什么、苦行者如何生活、他们的目标和抱负是什么的第一手经验，并最终意识到这条老路对他没有帮助。这篇文章分析了有部成就对真正的隐士的追求，并试图理解 Aśvaghoṣa 所描绘的佛教和婆罗门教之间的对话、分歧、融合和二分法。苦行是一个值得探索的迷人主题，Aśvaghoṣa 的佛行的故事使它更加生动活泼。这篇文章分析了有部成就对真正的隐士的追求，并试图理解 Aśvaghoṣa 所描绘的佛教和婆罗门教之间的对话、分歧、融合和二分法。苦行是一个值得探索的迷人主题，Aśvaghoṣa 的佛行的故事使它更加生动活泼。这篇文章分析了有部成就对真正的隐士的追求，并试图理解 Aśvaghoṣa 所描绘的佛教和婆罗门教之间的对话、分歧、融合和二分法。苦行是一个值得探索的迷人主题，Aśvaghoṣa 的佛行的故事使它更加生动活泼。