Other Translations: Deutsch
From:
Cariyāpiṭaka The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood
Hatthināgavagga The Chapter on an Elephant
Sīlapāramī 5 The Perfection of Ethics (5th)
Mahiṁsarājacariya The Buffalo King’s Conduct
“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, “Then again when I was
mahiṁso pavanacārako; a buffalo who roamed the forest,
Pavaḍḍhakāyo balavā, large in body and strong,
mahanto bhīmadassano. big and scary to see.
Pabbhāre giridugge ca, In a cave, a craggy hillside,
rukkhamūle dakāsaye; at a tree root or a waterhole,
Hotettha ṭhānaṁ mahiṁsānaṁ, there’d be somewhere for buffalos,
koci koci tahiṁ tahiṁ. in one place or another.
Vicaranto brahāraññe, Wandering the mighty forest,
ṭhānaṁ addasa bhaddakaṁ; I saw a fine spot.
Taṁ ṭhānaṁ upagantvāna, Having gone there,
tiṭṭhāmi ca sayāmi ca. I stood and lay to rest.
Athettha kapimāgantvā, Then a monkey came along,
pāpo anariyo lahu; wicked, ignoble, and nimble.
Khandhe nalāṭe bhamuke, On my shoulder, forehead, and eyebrows,
mutteti ohadeti taṁ. he peed and pooed.
Sakimpi divasaṁ dutiyaṁ, Not just that day, but a second,
tatiyaṁ catutthampi ca; a third, and a fourth;
Dūseti maṁ sabbakālaṁ, he soiled me all the time,
tena homi upadduto. he was harassing me.
Mamaṁ upaddutaṁ disvā, Seeing me being harassed,
yakkho maṁ idamabravi; a spirit said to me:
‘Nāsehetaṁ chavaṁ pāpaṁ, ‘Kill that vile, wicked thing
siṅgehi ca khurehi ca’. with your horns and hooves.’
Evaṁ vutte, tadā yakkhe, When he spoke, I said
ahaṁ taṁ idamabraviṁ; this to that spirit:
‘Kiṁ tvaṁ makkhesi kuṇapena, ‘Why would you smear me
pāpena anariyena maṁ. with a wicked, ignoble carcass?
Yadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ, If I were upset with him
tato hīnataro bhave; I would degrade myself,
Sīlañca me pabhijjeyya, violating my ethics,
viññū ca garaheyyu maṁ. and being criticized by sensible people.
Hīḷitā jīvitā vāpi, Better to die from purity
parisuddhena mataṁ varaṁ; than live in shame.
Kyāhaṁ jīvitahetūpi, How could I, for the sake of life,
kāhāmi paraheṭhanaṁ’. harm another?’
Mamevāyaṁ maññamāno, Thinking of me, this one
aññepevaṁ karissati; will do the same to others,
Teva tassa vadhissanti, and for that they will kill him.
sā me mutti bhavissati. Then I shall be free.
Hīnamajjhimaukkaṭṭhe, Forgiving disrespect
sahanto avamānitaṁ; from the low, middle and high,
Evaṁ labhati sappañño, the wise one gains
manasā yathāpatthitan”ti. their heart’s desire.”
Mahiṁsarājacariyaṁ pañcamaṁ.