Other Translations: Deutsch
From:
Cariyāpiṭaka The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood
Yudhañjayavagga The Chapter With Yudhañjaya
Saccapāramī 3 The Perfection of Truth (3rd)
Vaṭṭapotakacariya The Baby Quail’s Conduct
“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, “Then again when I was
magadhe vaṭṭapotako; a baby quail in Magadha,
Ajātapakkho taruṇo, I was young, with wings unsprouted,
maṁsapesi kulāvake. just a scrap of meat in the nest.
Mukhatuṇḍakenāharitvā, With food she brought in her beak
mātā posayatī mamaṁ; my mother nurtured me.
Tassā phassena jīvāmi, I survived through her touch,
natthi me kāyikaṁ balaṁ. for I had no physical strength.
Saṁvacchare gimhasamaye, One year, in the hot season,
davaḍāho padippati; the forest caught fire.
Upagacchati amhākaṁ, It came towards us,
pāvako kaṇhavattanī. a conflagration with a blackened trail.
Dhamadhamāiti evaṁ, The fire roared and rumbled
saddāyanto mahāsikhī; with great crests of flame,
Anupubbena jhāpento, gradually burning
aggi mamamupāgami. closer to me.
Aggivegabhayātītā, Alarmed and terrified at the fierce fire,
tasitā mātāpitā mama; my mother and father
Kulāvake maṁ chaḍḍetvā, abandoned me in the nest,
attānaṁ parimocayuṁ. saving themselves.
Pāde pakkhe pajahāmi, I beat my feet and wings,
natthi me kāyikaṁ balaṁ; but I had no physical strength.
Sohaṁ agatiko tattha, When unable to leave,
evaṁ cintesahaṁ tadā. I thought this there:
‘Yesāhaṁ upadhāveyyaṁ, ‘Those to whom I ought to run,
bhīto tasitavedhito; scared and trembling with fear,
Te maṁ ohāya pakkantā, have escaped, leaving me behind.
kathaṁ me ajja kātave. How should I act today?
Atthi loke sīlaguṇo, There is the quality of virtue in the world,
saccaṁ soceyyanuddayā; truth, purity, and mercy.
Tena saccena kāhāmi, By this truth I will make
saccakiriyamuttamaṁ. a supreme declaration of truth.’
Āvejjetvā dhammabalaṁ, Inspired by the power of Dhamma,
saritvā pubbake jine; recollecting the former Victors,
Saccabalamavassāya, relying on the power of truth,
saccakiriyamakāsahaṁ. I made a declaration of truth.
Santi pakkhā apatanā, ‘I have wings that do not fly!
santi pādā avañcanā; I have feet that do not walk!
Mātāpitā ca nikkhantā, Mother and father have fled!
jātaveda paṭikkama’. Jātaveda the fire: go back!’
Sahasacce kate mayhaṁ, As I declared this truth
Mahāpajjalito sikhī; the great crested flames
Vajjesi soḷasakarīsāni, withdrew sixteen leagues,
Udakaṁ patvā yathā sikhī; as if they had come to water.
Saccena me samo natthi, There is no-one to equal my truthfulness:
Esā me saccapāramī”ti. this is my perfection of truth.”
Vaṭṭapotakacariyaṁ navamaṁ.