Cp 15

Mahiṁsarājacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, mahiṁso pavanacārako; Pavaḍḍhakāyo balavā, mahanto bhīmadassano.

The Buffalo King’s Conduct

“Then again when I was a buffalo who roamed the forest, large in body and strong, big and scary to see.

Pabbhāre giridugge ca, rukkhamūle dakāsaye; Hotettha ṭhānaṁ mahiṁsānaṁ, koci koci tahiṁ tahiṁ.

In a cave, a craggy hillside, at a tree root or a waterhole, there’d be somewhere for buffalos, in one place or another.

Vicaranto brahāraññe, ṭhānaṁ addasa bhaddakaṁ; Taṁ ṭhānaṁ upagantvāna, tiṭṭhāmi ca sayāmi ca.

Wandering the mighty forest, I saw a fine spot. Having gone there, I stood and lay to rest.

Athettha kapimāgantvā, pāpo anariyo lahu; Khandhe nalāṭe bhamuke, mutteti ohadeti taṁ.

Then a monkey came along, wicked, ignoble, and nimble. On my shoulder, forehead, and eyebrows, he peed and pooed.

Sakimpi divasaṁ dutiyaṁ, tatiyaṁ catutthampi ca; Dūseti maṁ sabbakālaṁ, tena homi upadduto.

Not just that day, but a second, a third, and a fourth; he soiled me all the time, he was harrying me.

Mamaṁ upaddutaṁ disvā, yakkho maṁ idamabravi; ‘Nāsehetaṁ chavaṁ pāpaṁ, siṅgehi ca khurehi ca’.

Seeing me being harried, a spirit said to me: ‘Kill that vile, wicked thing with your horns and hooves.’

Evaṁ vutte, tadā yakkhe, ahaṁ taṁ idamabraviṁ; ‘Kiṁ tvaṁ makkhesi kuṇapena, pāpena anariyena maṁ.

When he spoke, I said this to that spirit: ‘Why would you smear me with a wicked, ignoble carcass?

Yadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ, tato hīnataro bhave; Sīlañca me pabhijjeyya, viññū ca garaheyyu maṁ.

If I were upset with him I would degrade myself, violating my ethics, and being criticized by sensible people.

Hīḷitā jīvitā vāpi, parisuddhena mataṁ varaṁ; Kyāhaṁ jīvitahetūpi, kāhāmi paraheṭhanaṁ’.

Better to die from purity than live in shame. How could I, for the sake of life, harm another?’

Mamevāyaṁ maññamāno, aññepevaṁ karissati; Teva tassa vadhissanti, sā me mutti bhavissati.

Thinking of me, this one will do the same to others, and for that they will kill him. Then I shall be free.

Hīnamajjhimaukkaṭṭhe, sahanto avamānitaṁ; Evaṁ labhati sappañño, manasā yathāpatthitan”ti.

Forgiving disrespect from the low, middle and high, the wise one gains their heart’s desire.”