Uttarajjhayana 9

9.1

caiūṇa devalogāo uvavanno mānusaṃmi logaṃmi |
uvasaṃtamohaṇijjo saraī porāṇiyaṃ jāiṃ ||

Having fallen from the world of the gods, born in the human world, / his deluding karma pacified, he remembered his former birth.

9.2

jāiṃ sarittu bhayavaṃ sahasaṃbuddho anuttare dhamme |
puttaṃ ṭhavettu rajje abhinikkhamaī namī rāyā ||

Having remembered his birth, self-enlightened in the supreme Dharma, / King Nami, having installed his son on the throne, went forth from home.

9.3

so devalogasarise aṃteuravaragao vare bhoe |
bhuṃjittu namī rāyā buddho bhoge pariccayaī ||

He had gone into the splendid inner apartments resembling the world of the gods; / having enjoyed excellent pleasures, King Nami, enlightened, abandoned those pleasures.

9.4

mihilaṃ sapurajanavayaṃ balamorohaṃ ca pariyaṇaṃ savvaṃ |
ciccā abhinikkhaṃto egaṃtamahiṭṭhio bhayavaṃ ||

Abandoning Mithilā with its citizens and countryside, its army, harem, and all retinue,
the Blessed One went forth from home and took up complete seclusion.

9.5

kolāhalagabhūyaṃ āsī mihilāe pavvayaṃtaṃmi |
taiyā rāyarisiṃmi namiṃmi abhinikkhamaṃtaṃmi ||

There was an uproar in Mithilā when the royal sage went forth,
at that time when Nami went forth from home.

9.6

abbhuṭṭhiyaṃ rāyarisiṃ pavvajjāṭhāṇamuttamaṃ |
sakko māhaṇarūveṇa imaṃ vayaṇamabbavī ||

To the royal sage who had risen to the supreme state of world-renunciation,
Śakra, in the form of a brāhmaṇa, addressed these words:

9.7

kiṇṇu bho! ajja mihilāe kolāhalagasaṃkulā |
suvvaṃti dāruṇā saddā pāsāesu gihesu ya? ||

'Why, sir, today in Mithilā, crowded with commotion,
are dreadful cries heard in palaces and in houses?'

9.8

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the royal sage Nami then addressed the lord of gods:

9.9

mihilāe ceie vacche sīyacchāe manorame |
pattapupphaphalovee bahūṇaṃ bahuguṇe sayā ||

'In Mithilā there was a sacred tree, pleasant with cool shade,
endowed with leaves, flowers, and fruits, always of many virtues to many beings.

9.10

vāeṇa hīramāṇaṃmi ceiyaṃmi manorame |
duhiyā asaraṇā attā ee kaṃdaṃti bho! khagā ||

Now that the lovely sacred tree is being uprooted by the wind,
these birds, afflicted, shelterless, and distressed, are wailing, sir!'

9.11

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the lord of gods then addressed the royal sage Nami:

9.12

esa aggī ya vāū ya eyaṃ ḍajjhai maṃdiraṃ |
bhayavaṃ! aṃteuraṃ teṇaṃ kīsa ṇaṃ nāvapekkhasi? ||

'Here are fire and wind; this palace is burning;
O venerable one, your inner apartments [are ablaze]! Why do you not look at them?'

9.13

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the royal sage Nami then addressed the lord of gods:

9.14

suhaṃ vasāmo jīvāmo jesiṃ mo natthi kiṃcana |
mihilāe ḍajjhamāṇīe na me ḍajjhai kiṃcana ||

'Happily we dwell, happily we live, who have nothing of our own;
while Mithilā is burning, nothing of mine is burnt.

9.15

cattaputtakalattassa nivvāvārassa bhikkhuṇo |
piyaṃ na vijjaī kiṃci appiyaṃ pi na vijjae ||

For a monk who has abandoned sons and wife, and is free of worldly business,
nothing is dear, and nothing is disagreeable.

9.16

bahuṃ khu muniṇo bhaddaṃ anagārassa bhikkhuṇo |
savvao vippamukkassa egaṃtamanupassao ||

Great indeed is the blessedness of the sage, the homeless mendicant monk,
who is completely detached and contemplates seclusion.'

9.17

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the lord of gods then addressed the royal sage Nami:

9.18

pāgāraṃ kāraittāṇaṃ gopuraṭṭālagāṇi ca |
ussūlagasayagghīo tao gacchasi khattiyā! ||

'Having built walls and gatehouses with watchtowers,
and mounted iron-spiked barricades and hundred-killers, then you may go, O Kṣatriya!'

9.19

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the royal sage Nami then addressed the lord of gods:

9.20

saddhaṃ nagaraṃ kiccā tavasaṃvaramaggalaṃ |
khaṃtiṃ niuṇapāgāraṃ tiguttaṃ duppadhaṃsayaṃ ||

'Making faith my city, austerity and self-restraint its gate-bar,
forbearance its strong rampart, and the three protections its invincible defense;

9.21

dhanuṃ parakkamaṃ kiccā jīvaṃ ca iriyaṃ sayā |
dhiiṃ ca keyaṇaṃ kiccā sacceṇa palimaṃthae ||

Making effort my bow, correct conduct always its bowstring,
and making firmness the bow-grip, one pierces [the enemy] with truth.

9.22

tavanārāyajutteṇa bhettūṇaṃ kammakaṃcuyaṃ |
munī vigayasaṃgāmo bhavāo parimuccae ||

Having pierced the armor of karma with arrows tipped with austerity,
the sage, victorious in battle, is completely liberated from existence.'

9.23

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the lord of gods then addressed the royal sage Nami:

9.24

pāsāe kāraittāṇaṃ vaddhamāṇagihāṇi ya |
bālaggapoiyāo ya tao gacchasi khattiyā! ||

'Having built palaces and prosperous houses
and towers with rooftop apartments, then you may go, O Kṣatriya!'

9.25

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the royal sage Nami then addressed the lord of gods:

9.26

saṃsayaṃ khalu so kuṇaī, jo magge kuṇaī gharaṃ |
jattheva gaṃtumicchejjā tattha kuvvejja sāsayaṃ ||

'He certainly acts foolishly who builds a house on the road;
wherever one wishes to go, there one should make an eternal [abode].'

'He who builds his house on the road, will certainly get into trouble; wherever he wants to go, there he may take up his lodgings.'

9.27

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao nemiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the lord of gods then addressed the royal sage Nami:

9.28

āmose lomahāre ya gaṃṭhibhee ya takkare |
nagarassa khemaṃ kāūṇaṃ tao gacchasi khattiyā! ||

'Having secured the city against robbers, pickpockets,
cutpurses, and thieves, then you may go, O Kṣatriya!'

9.29

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this matter, impelled by reason and argument,
the royal sage Nami then addressed the lord of gods:

9.30

asaiṃ tu manussehiṃ micchā daṃḍo pajuṃjaī |
akāriṇo'ttha bajjhaṃti muccaī kārao jano ||

Often indeed men inflict punishment wrongly: / the innocent are bound here, while the perpetrator goes free.

9.31

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the king of the gods then said this to the royal sage Nami:

9.32

je kei patthivā tubbhaṃ nānamaṃti narāhivā! |
vase te ṭhāvaittāṇaṃ tao gacchasi khattiyā! ||

"Whichever earthly kings do not submit to you, O lord of men! / having brought them under your control, then you may go, O kṣatriya!"

9.33

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the royal sage Nami then said this to the king of the gods:

9.34

jo sahassaṃ sahassāṇaṃ saṃgāme dujjae jine |
egaṃ jinejja appāṇaṃ esa se paramo jao ||

"Though one should conquer a thousand times a thousand [men] in a battle hard to win, / if one should conquer oneself alone, that is one's supreme victory.

9.35

appāṇameva jujjhāhi kiṃ te jujjheṇa bajjhao |
appāṇameva appāṇaṃ jaittā suhamehae ||

Fight with your own self alone! What is the use of fighting outsiders? / By conquering oneself through oneself alone, one attains bliss.

9.36

paṃciṃdiyāṇi kohaṃ mānaṃ māyaṃ taheva lohaṃ ca |
dujjayaṃ ceva appāṇaṃ savvaṃ appe jie jiyaṃ ||

The five sense organs, anger, pride, deceit, and likewise greed— / and the self which is hard to subdue: when oneself is conquered, all is conquered."

9.37

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the king of the gods then said this to the royal sage Nami:

9.38

jaittā viule janne bhoittā samaṇamāhaṇe |
daccā bhoccā ya jaṭṭhā ya tao gacchasi khattiyā! ||

"Having offered extensive sacrifices, having fed śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, / having given, enjoyed, and sacrificed, then you may go, O kṣatriya!"

9.39

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the royal sage Nami then said this to the king of the gods:

9.40

jo sahassaṃ sahassāṇaṃ māse māse gavaṃ dae |
tassāvi saṃjamo seo adiṃtassa vi kiṃcana ||

"Though one should give a thousand thousands of cows month after month, / better still than that is the self-restraint of one who gives nothing at all."

9.41

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the king of the gods then said this to the royal sage Nami:

9.42

ghorāsamaṃ caittāṇaṃ anne patthesi āsamaṃ |
iheva posaharao bhavāhi manuyāhivā! ||

"Having abandoned a terrible hermitage, you desire another hermitage. / Right here, be devoted to posaha, O ruler of men!"

"You have left the dreadful âsrama (that of the householder) and are wanting to enter another; (remain what you were), O king, and be content with observing the Pôsaha-days."

9.43

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the royal sage Nami then said this to the king of the gods:

9.44

māse māse tu jo bālo kusaggeṇa tu bhuṃjae |
na so suyakkhāyadhammassa kalaṃ agghai solasiṃ ||

"Though a fool should eat month after month with the tip of a kuśa blade, / he does not equal a sixteenth part of the well-expounded Dharma."

9.45

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the king of the gods then said this to the royal sage Nami:

9.46

hiraṇṇaṃ suvaṇṇaṃ maṇimuttaṃ kaṃsaṃ dūsaṃ ca vāhaṇaṃ |
kosaṃ vaḍḍhāvaittāṇaṃ tao gacchasi khattiyā! ||

"Silver, gold, pearls and jewels, bronze, garments, and carriages— / having augmented your treasury, then you may go, O kṣatriya!"

9.47

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the royal sage Nami then said this to the king of the gods:

9.48

suvaṇṇaruppassa u pavvayā bhave siyā hu kelāsasamā asaṃkhayā |
narassa luddhassa na tehiṃ kiṃci icchā hu āgāsasamā anaṃtiyā ||

"Even if there were innumerable mountains of gold and silver equal to Mount Kailāsa, / they would be nothing to a greedy man; desire indeed is boundless as the sky.

9.49

puḍhavī sālī javā ceva hiraṇṇaṃ pasubhissaha |
paḍipuṇṇaṃ nālamegassa iha vijjā tavaṃ care ||

The earth, rice, barley, and gold together with domestic beasts / filled to the brim are not enough for one [man]: knowing this here, one should practice austerity."

9.50

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namiṃ rāyarisiṃ deviṃdo iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the king of the gods then said this to the royal sage Nami:

9.51

accheragamabbhudae bhoe cayasi patthivā! |
asaṃte kāme patthesi saṃkappeṇa vihannasi ||

"O king, having arisen in wonderful pleasures, you abandon them! / You desire non-existent pleasures, and you are distressed by your fancy."

9.52

eyamaṭṭhaṃ nisāmittā heūkāraṇacoio |
tao namī rāyarisī deviṃdaṃ iṇamabbavī ||

Having heard this statement and prompted by reasons and arguments, / the royal sage Nami then said this to the king of the gods:

9.53

sallaṃ kāmā visaṃ kāmā kāmā āsīvisovamā |
kāme patthemāṇā akāmā jaṃti doggaiṃ ||

"Pleasures of sense are a dart, pleasures of sense are poison, pleasures of sense are like venomous serpents; / seeking pleasures of sense, [creatures] without desire [for holiness] go to a wretched state of existence.

9.54

ahe vayai koheṇaṃ māṇeṇaṃ ahamā gaī |
māyā gaipaḍigghāo lobhāo duhao bhayaṃ ||

One goes downward through anger; through pride [one goes to] a low state of existence; / deceit blocks the path to a good destiny; from greed arises danger from both sides."

9.55

avaujjhiūṇa māhaṇarūvaṃ viuvviūṇa iṃdattaṃ |
vaṃdai abhitthuṇaṃto imāhi mahurāhiṃ vaggūhiṃ ||

Casting off the form of a brāhmaṇa and manifesting his status as Indra, / he paid homage, praising [the king] with these sweet words:

Throwing off the guise of a Brâhmana, and making visible his true form, Sakra saluted him respectfully and praised him with these sweet words:

9.56

aho! te nijjio koho aho! te māno parājio |
aho! te nirakkiyā māyā aho! te lobho vasīkao ||

"Ah! Your anger has been vanquished; ah! Your pride has been overcome; / ah! Your deceit has been expelled; ah! Your greed has been brought under control!

9.57

aho! te ajjavaṃ sāhu aho! te sāhu maddavaṃ |
aho! te uttamā khaṃtī aho! te mutti uttamā ||

Ah! Excellent is your uprightness; ah! Excellent is your gentleness; / ah! Supreme is your forbearance; ah! Supreme is your freedom from attachment!

9.58

ihaṃ si uttamo bhaṃte! peccā hohisi uttamo |
loguttamuttamaṃ ṭhāṇaṃ siddhiṃ gacchasi nīrao ||

You are supreme in this world, venerable sir! In the hereafter you will be supreme; / free from dust, you will reach perfection, the highest of highest stations."

9.59

evaṃ abhitthuṇaṃto rāyarisiṃ uttamāe saddhāe |
payāhiṇaṃ kareṃto puṇo puṇo vaṃdaī sakko ||

Thus praising the royal sage with supreme faith / and circumambulating him, Śakra paid homage again and again.

9.60

to vaṃdiūṇa pāe cakkaṃkusa lakkhaṇe munivarassa |
āgāsenuppaio laliyacavalakuṃḍalatirīḍī ||

Then, having bowed to the feet of the excellent sage, marked with wheel and elephant-goad, / the diadem-wearer with graceful, tremulous earrings flew up into the sky.

9.61

namī namei appāṇaṃ sakkhaṃ sakkeṇa coio |
caiūṇa gehaṃ vaidehī sāmanne pajjuvaṭṭhio ||

Nami bowed down himself, having been urged in person by Śakra; / abandoning home, the ruler of Videha established himself in the ascetic life.

9.62

evaṃ kareṃti saṃbuddhā paṃḍiyā paviyakkhaṇā |
viniyaṭṭaṃti bhogesu jahā se namī rāyarisi || –tti bemi ||

Thus act the fully enlightened, the learned, the discerning; / they turn away from pleasures, just as did the royal sage Nami. — Thus I say.