Other Translations: Deutsch
From:
Cariyāpiṭaka The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood
Hatthināgavagga The Chapter on an Elephant
Sīlapāramī 2 The Perfection of Ethics (2nd)
Bhūridattacariya The Dragon Bhūridatta’s Conduct
“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, “Then again when I was
bhūridatto mahiddhiko; Bhūridatta, a dragon of great psychic power,
Virūpakkhena mahāraññā, together with Virūpakkha the Great King
devalokamagañchahaṁ. I went to a heavenly realm.
Tattha passitvāhaṁ deve, There I saw gods
ekantaṁ sukhasamappite; wholly given over to pleasure.
Taṁ saggagamanatthāya, For the sake of going to that heaven,
sīlabbataṁ samādiyiṁ. I undertook the observance of ethics.
Sarīrakiccaṁ katvāna, After tending to me physical needs,
bhutvā yāpanamattakaṁ; and eating enough to get by,
Caturo aṅge adhiṭṭhāya, I resolved on the four factors,
semi vammikamuddhani. and lay down atop a termite mound, thinking:
‘Chaviyā cammena maṁsena, ‘My outer skin and inner, flesh,
Nahāruaṭṭhikehi vā; sinews and bones:
Yassa etena karaṇīyaṁ, whoever has use for these,
Dinnaṁyeva harātu so’. they are already given, please take them.’
Saṁsito akataññunā, While lying there the ingrate
ālampāyano mamaggahi; Ālampāyana grabbed me.
Peḷāya pakkhipitvāna, He threw me in a basket
kīḷeti maṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ. and made me perform in places all over.
Peḷāya pakkhipantepi, Though thrown in a basket
sammaddantepi pāṇinā; and crushed by his hands,
Ālampāyane na kuppāmi, I did not get upset with Ālampāyana,
sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mama. for fear of breaking my ethics.
Sakajīvitapariccāgo, To give up my own life
tiṇato lahuko mama; was as light as a blade of grass.
Sīlavītikkamo mayhaṁ, To transgress my ethical principles
pathavīuppatanaṁ viya. was like overturning the earth.
Nirantaraṁ jātisataṁ, In a hundred successive lives
cajeyyaṁ mama jīvitaṁ; I would give up my own life.
Neva sīlaṁ pabhindeyyaṁ, I would not even violate my ethics
catuddīpāna hetupi. for the sake of the four continents.
Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya, For the sake of protecting ethics,
Sīlapāramipūriyā; and fulfilling my perfection of ethics,
Na karomi citte aññathattaṁ, I did not let my mind change,
Pakkhipantampi peḷake”ti. even when thrown in a basket.”
Bhūridattacariyaṁ dutiyaṁ.