Cp 8

Sivirājacariya

“Ariṭṭhasavhaye nagare, sivināmāsi khattiyo; Nisajja pāsādavare, evaṁ cintesahaṁ tadā.

King Sivi’s Conduct

“In the city called Ariṭṭha I was the aristocrat named Sivi. Seated in my finest longhouse, I then had the following thought:

‘Yaṁ kiñci mānusaṁ dānaṁ, adinnaṁ me na vijjati; Yopi yāceyya maṁ cakkhuṁ, dadeyyaṁ avikampito’.

‘Whatever human gifts there are, none may be found that I have not given. Even if someone were to ask for my eye, I would give it without wavering.’

Mama saṅkappamaññāya, sakko devānamissaro; Nisinno devaparisāya, idaṁ vacanamabravi.

Knowing my thoughts, Sakka the lord of gods, sitting in the assembly of gods said the following.

‘Nisajja pāsādavare, sivirājā mahiddhiko; Cintento vividhaṁ dānaṁ, adeyyaṁ so na passati.

‘Seated in his finest longhouse, the mighty King Sivi is thinking of manifold gifts and cannot see any he would not give.

Tathaṁ nu vitathaṁ netaṁ, handa vīmaṁsayāmi taṁ; Muhuttaṁ āgameyyātha, yāva jānāmi taṁ manaṁ’.

Is this true or not? Come, let us test him. Wait a while until I know his mind.’

Pavedhamāno palitasiro, Valigatto jarāturo; Andhavaṇṇova hutvāna, Rājānaṁ upasaṅkami.

Appearing as a frail old man, with grey hair and wrinkled skin, feeble and blind, he approached the king.

So tadā paggahetvāna, vāmaṁ dakkhiṇabāhu ca; Sirasmiṁ añjaliṁ katvā, idaṁ vacanamabravi.

Then, stretching out his left and right arms, he raised his cupped palms to his head and said the following.

‘Yācāmi taṁ mahārāja, dhammika raṭṭhavaḍḍhana; Tava dānaratā kitti, uggatā devamānuse.

‘Great king, I have a request for you. Under your just rule the kingdom has flourished, and the renown of your love of giving has risen among gods and humans.

Ubhopi nettā nayanā, andhā upahatā mama; Ekaṁ me nayanaṁ dehi, tvampi ekena yāpaya’.

Both my eyes, by which I find my way, are ruined and become blind. Give me just one eye, while you too get by with one.’

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, haṭṭho saṁviggamānaso; Katañjalī vedajāto, idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ.

After hearing his words I was thrilled, my mind elated, so with cupped palms, inspired, I said the following.

‘Idānāhaṁ cintayitvāna, pāsādato idhāgato; Tvaṁ mama cittamaññāya, nettaṁ yācitumāgato.

‘Just now I was reflecting on this when I came here from the longhouse. Understanding my mind, you have come to ask for an eye.

Aho me mānasaṁ siddhaṁ, saṅkappo paripūrito; Adinnapubbaṁ dānavaraṁ, ajja dassāmi yācake.

Oh! My wish has come true! My intention is fulfilled! Today I shall give to a supplicant a fine gift never before given.’

Ehi sivaka uṭṭhehi, mā dandhayi mā pavedhayi; Ubhopi nayanaṁ dehi, uppāṭetvā vaṇibbake’.

‘Come Sivaka, stand up, do not hesitate or waver. Pluck out even both eyes and give them to the supplicant.’

Tato so codito mayhaṁ, sivako vacanaṁ karo; Uddharitvāna pādāsi, tālamiñjaṁva yācake.

And then, urged on by me, Sivaka did as I said. Extracting both eyes, he presented them to the trembling supplicant.

Dadamānassa dentassa, dinnadānassa me sato; Cittassa aññathā natthi, bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

‘While planning to give, while giving, and after I had given, my mind did not falter, because it was solely for awakening.

Na me dessā ubho cakkhū, attā na me na dessiyo; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā cakkhuṁ adāsahan”ti.

It was not because I disliked my eyes, or that I disliked myself, but because omniscience is precious to me, that is why I gave away my eyes.’”