Other Translations: Deutsch
From:
Cariyāpiṭaka The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood
Hatthināgavagga The Chapter on an Elephant
Sīlapāramī 1 The Perfection of Ethics (1st)
Mātuposakacariya The Conduct of One Who Provided for His Mother
“Yadā ahosiṁ pavane, “Once I lived in the forest
kuñjaro mātuposako; as a elephant who provided for his mother.
Na tadā atthi mahiyā, At that time no-one on earth
guṇena mama sādiso. could equal my virtues.
Pavane disvā vanacaro, Seeing me in the forest, a forester
rañño maṁ paṭivedayi; informed the king about me.
‘Tavānucchavo mahārāja, ‘Great King, an elephant that befits you
gajo vasati kānane. is dwelling in the forest grove.
Na tassa parikkhāyattho, No need to dig a moat around him,
napi āḷakakāsuyā; nor tether him to a post in a pit.
Saha gahite soṇḍāya, Taken by the trunk,
sayameva idhehi’ti. he will come here by himself.’
Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, When he heard these words,
rājāpi tuṭṭhamānaso; the king, elated,
Pesesi hatthidamakaṁ, sent an elephant-tamer,
chekācariyaṁ susikkhitaṁ. a well-trained and expert tutor.
Gantvā so hatthidamako, When the elephant-tamer reached there,
addasa padumassare; he saw me in a lotus pond,
Bhisamuḷālaṁ uddharantaṁ, pulling out lotus roots
yāpanatthāya mātuyā. to feed my mother.
Viññāya me sīlaguṇaṁ, Discerning my moral virtue,
lakkhaṇaṁ upadhārayi; he checked me for marks.
‘Ehi puttā’ti vatvāna, Saying, ‘Come, child’,
mama soṇḍāya aggahi. he took me by the trunk.
Yaṁ me tadā pākatikaṁ, What was at that time
sarīrānugataṁ balaṁ; the natural strength of my body,
Ajja nāgasahassānaṁ, would equal a thousand
balena samasādisaṁ. of the elephants of today.
Yadihaṁ tesaṁ pakuppeyyaṁ, If I had been upset
upetānaṁ gahaṇāya maṁ; with those who came to capture me,
Paṭibalo bhave tesaṁ, I would have had the power
yāva rajjampi mānusaṁ. to defeat even a kingdom of men.
Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya, Nevertheless, for the sake of guarding my ethics,
Sīlapāramipūriyā; and fulfilling my perfection of ethics,
Na karomi citte aññathattaṁ, I did not let my mind change,
Pakkhipantaṁ mamāḷake. even as they caged me.
Yadi te maṁ tattha koṭṭeyyuṁ, And even were they to beat me
pharasūhi tomarehi ca; with hatchets and lances,
Neva tesaṁ pakuppeyyaṁ, I would never become upset,
sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mamā”ti. for fear of violating my ethics.”
Mātuposakacariyaṁ paṭhamaṁ.