Cp 14

Cūḷabodhicariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, cūḷabodhi susīlavā; Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato, nekkhammaṁ abhinikkhamiṁ.

Cūḷabodhi’s Conduct

“Then again when I was the very virtuous Cūḷabodhi, seeing rebirth as fearful, I renounced worldly life.

Yā me dutiyikā āsi, brāhmaṇī kanakasannibhā; Sāpi vaṭṭe anapekkhā, nekkhammaṁ abhinikkhami.

She who had been my partner, a brahmin lady with golden skin, unconcerned with the cycle of rebirths, also renounced worldly life.

Nirālayā chinnabandhū, anapekkhā kule gaṇe; Carantā gāmanigamaṁ, bārāṇasimupāgamuṁ.

Without clinging, cutting off family, unconcerned with family or group, we walked from village to town until we reached Varanasi.

Tattha vasāma nipakā, asaṁsaṭṭhā kule gaṇe; Nirākule appasadde, rājuyyāne vasāmubho.

There we lived alert, mixing not with a family or group. Quiet and undisturbed, we both stayed in the royal park.

Uyyānadassanaṁ gantvā, rājā addasa brāhmaṇiṁ; Upagamma mamaṁ pucchi, ‘tuyhesā kā kassa bhariyā’.

Visiting the park, the king saw the brahmin lady. He approached me and asked, ‘Is she your wife? Or whose is she?’

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ tassa, idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ; ‘Na mayhaṁ bhariyā esā, sahadhammā ekasāsanī’.

When he said this, to him I said the following. ‘She is not my wife. We share the same teaching and belief.’

Tissā sārattagadhito, gāhāpetvāna ceṭake; Nippīḷayanto balasā, antepuraṁ pavesayi.

Infatuated with her, he had his men seize her. Compelling her by force he brought her to the royal compound.

Odapattakiyā mayhaṁ, sahajā ekasāsanī; Ākaḍḍhitvā nayantiyā, kopo me upapajjatha.

She who became mine by touching a water-jar, born together, one in beliefs, when he dragged her away, I felt so angry.

Saha kope samuppanne, sīlabbatamanussariṁ; Tattheva kopaṁ niggaṇhiṁ, nādāsiṁ vaḍḍhitūpari.

Together with the arising of anger, I remembered my precepts and vows, and right there controlled my anger, I did not allow it to grow.

Yadi naṁ brāhmaṇiṁ koci, koṭṭeyya tiṇhasattiyā; Neva sīlaṁ pabhindeyyaṁ, bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

If anyone were to attack that brahmin lady with a sharp knife, not even for that would I violate my ethics, because it was solely for awakening.

Na mesā brāhmaṇī dessā, napi me balaṁ na vijjati; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā sīlānurakkhisan”ti.

I did not dislike the brahmin lady, nor did I lack the strength. But because omniscience is precious to me, that’s why I guarded my ethics.”