Cp 22

Somanassacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, indapatthe puruttame; Kāmito dayito putto, somanassoti vissuto.

Somanassa’s Conduct

“Then again when I was in Indapatta, the capital city, I was a loved and cherished child renowned as Somanassa.

Sīlavā guṇasampanno, kalyāṇapaṭibhānavā; Vuḍḍhāpacāyī hirīmā, saṅgahesu ca kovido.

I was ethical, full of good qualities, of fine and eloquent speech, honoring elders, conscientious, and expert in the methods of inclusiveness.

Tassa rañño patikaro, ahosi kuhakatāpaso; Ārāmaṁ mālāvacchañca, ropayitvāna jīvati.

Now there was this charlatan renunciant who was favored by the king. He made a living by cultivating an orchard and flowering shrubs.

Tamahaṁ disvāna kuhakaṁ, thusarāsiṁva ataṇḍulaṁ; Dumaṁva anto susiraṁ, kadaliṁva asārakaṁ.

Seeing he was a charlatan, like a pile of chaff without grain, like a hollow tree, like a plantain tree with no core, I thought:

Natthimassa sataṁ dhammo, sāmaññāpagato ayaṁ; Hirīsukkadhammajahito, jīvitavuttikāraṇā.

‘There is no good in him, he has strayed from asceticism. He has left the bright qualities of conscience for the sake of making a living.’

Kupito ahu paccanto, aṭavīhi parantihi; Taṁ nisedhetuṁ gacchanto, anusāsi pitā mamaṁ.

Then the borders were in turmoil by wild frontier savages. Before going to put an end to it, my father instructed me:

‘Mā pamajji tuvaṁ tāta, jaṭilaṁ uggatāpanaṁ; Yadicchakaṁ pavattehi, sabbakāmadado hi so’.

‘My dear, do not neglect the matted-hair ascetic of severe penance. He is the granter of our wishes, give him all he desires.’

Tamahaṁ gantvānupaṭṭhānaṁ, Idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ; ‘Kacci te gahapati kusalaṁ, Kiṁ vā te āharīyatu’.

I went then to serve him, and said the following. ‘I hope you are well, householder. Is there anything I can bring for you?’

Tena so kupito āsi, kuhako mānanissito; ‘Ghātāpemi tuvaṁ ajja, raṭṭhā pabbājayāmi vā’.

At that he was upset with me, that prideful charlatan. ‘I’ll have you killed right now! Or banished from the realm!’

Nisedhayitvā paccantaṁ, rājā kuhakamabravi; ‘Kacci te bhante khamanīyaṁ, sammāno te pavattito’.

After putting an end to the border conflict, the king said to the charlatan, ‘I hope you’re keeping well, sir, and honors were served you?’

Tassa ācikkhatī pāpo, kumāro yathā nāsiyo; Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, āṇāpesi mahīpati.

That wicked one told him how the prince deserved execution. When he heard these words, the Lord of the Earth commanded:

‘Sīsaṁ tattheva chinditvā, katvāna catukhaṇḍikaṁ; Rathiyā rathiyaṁ dassetha, sā gati jaṭilahīḷitā’.

‘Cut off his head right there! Saw his corpse into four pieces! And then show them from street to street: this is the fate of one who shames the ascetic.’

Tattha kāraṇikā gantvā, caṇḍā luddā akāruṇā; Mātu aṅke nisinnassa, ākaḍḍhitvā nayanti maṁ.

Right away left the punishers— fierce, violent and pitiless. They dragged me from my mother’s lap and led me away.

Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ, bandhataṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ; ‘Rañño dassetha maṁ khippaṁ, rājakiriyāni atthi me’.

I said to them as they bound me with tight bonds: ‘Present me to the king right now, I have an issue for the king!’

Te maṁ rañño dassayiṁsu, pāpassa pāpasevino; Disvāna taṁ saññāpesiṁ, mamañca vasamānayiṁ.

They presented me to the king, follower of the wicked one and his wicked ways. On seeing me, I persuaded him and brought him under my influence.

So maṁ tattha khamāpesi, mahārajjamadāsi me; Sohaṁ tamaṁ dālayitvā, pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ.

He asked for my forgiveness then, and offered me the kingdom. But having burst the darkness asunder, I went forth to homelessness.

Na me dessaṁ mahārajjaṁ, kāmabhogo na dessiyo; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā rajjaṁ pariccajin”ti.

I did not dislike great kingship, nor did I dislike sensual enjoyment. But because omniscience is precious to me, that is why I forsook kingship.”