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Bhisacariya

The Conduct of the Lotus-eaters

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,
“Then again when I was

kāsīnaṁ puravaruttame;
in the capital citadel of Kāsi,

Bhaginī ca bhātaro satta,
a sister and seven brothers

nibbattā sotthiye kule.
were born in a learned family.

Etesaṁ pubbajo āsiṁ,
I was the first-born of them all,

hirīsukkamupāgato;
furnishing with pure conscience.

Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato,
Seeing rebirth as fearful,

nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ.
I longed for renunciation.

Mātāpitūhi pahitā,
Sent for by my mother and father,

sahāyā ekamānasā;
my friends with one mind

Kāmehi maṁ nimantenti,
invited me to enjoy sensual pleasures, saying:

‘kulavaṁsaṁ dharehi’ti.
‘Maintain the family lineage.’

Yaṁ tesaṁ vacanaṁ vuttaṁ,
The words they said

gihīdhamme sukhāvahaṁ;
about the ways a householder can find happiness,

Taṁ me ahosi kaṭhinaṁ,
were hard for me to hear,

tattaphālasamaṁ viya.
like a heated ploughshare.

Te maṁ tadā ukkhipantaṁ,
When I rejected their proposal,

pucchiṁsu patthitaṁ mama;
they asked me what I wished for:

‘Kiṁ tvaṁ patthayase samma,
‘My dear, what is it that you wish,

yadi kāme na bhuñjasi’.
since you do not long for sensual pleasures?”

Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ,
I spoke to my beneficiaries

atthakāmo hitesinaṁ;
of the goal I desired.

‘Nāhaṁ patthemi gihībhāvaṁ,
‘I wish not for the householder’s state,

nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ’.
I long for renunciation.’

Te mayhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
Hearing my words,

pitu mātu ca sāvayuṁ;
they told my mother and father .

Mātāpitā evamāhu,
My parents said this:

‘sabbeva pabbajāma bho’.
‘Sirs, let all of us go forth!’

Ubho mātāpitā mayhaṁ,
So both my mother and father,

bhaginī ca satta bhātaro;
sister and seven brothers,

Amitadhanaṁ chaḍḍayitvā,
discarding countless riches,

pāvisimhā mahāvanan”ti.
entered the great forest.”

Bhisacariyaṁ catutthaṁ.