Sutta Piṭaka
Sunītattheragāthā
Sunītattheragāthā
“Nīce kulamhi jātohaṁ, daliddo appabhojano; Hīnakammaṁ mamaṁ āsi, ahosiṁ pupphachaḍḍako.
Sunīta
I was born in a low-class family. We were poor, with little to eat. My job was lowly— I threw out the old flowers.
Jigucchito manussānaṁ, paribhūto ca vambhito; Nīcaṁ manaṁ karitvāna, vandissaṁ bahukaṁ janaṁ.
Shunned by people, I was disregarded and held in contempt. I humbled my heart and paid respects to many people.
Athaddasāsiṁ sambuddhaṁ, bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhataṁ; Pavisantaṁ mahāvīraṁ, magadhānaṁ puruttamaṁ.
Then I saw the Buddha at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha. The great hero was entering the capital city of the Magadhans.
Nikkhipitvāna byābhaṅgiṁ, vandituṁ upasaṅkamiṁ; Mameva anukampāya, aṭṭhāsi purisuttamo.
I dropped my flail and approached to pay homage. Out of sympathy for me, the supreme man stood still.
Vanditvā satthuno pāde, ekamantaṁ ṭhito tadā; Pabbajjaṁ ahamāyāciṁ, sabbasattānamuttamaṁ.
When I had paid homage at the Teacher’s feet, I stood to one side and requested the going forth from the one supreme among all beings.
Tato kāruṇiko satthā, sabbalokānukampako; ‘Ehi bhikkhū’ti maṁ āha, sā me āsūpasampadā.
Consequently, the Teacher, being compassionate, having sympathy for the whole world, said to me, “Come, monk!” That was my ordination.
Sohaṁ eko araññasmiṁ, viharanto atandito; Akāsiṁ satthu vacanaṁ, yathā maṁ ovadī jino.
Staying alone in the wilderness, meditating tirelessly, I have completed what the Teacher taught, just as the victor advised me.
Rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ, Pubbajātimanussariṁ; Rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ, Dibbacakkhuṁ visodhayiṁ; Rattiyā pacchime yāme, Tamokhandhaṁ padālayiṁ.
In the first watch of the night, I recollected my past lives. In the middle watch, I purified my clairvoyance. In the last watch, I shattered the mass of darkness.
Tato ratyā vivasāne, sūriyassuggamanaṁ pati; Indo brahmā ca āgantvā, maṁ namassiṁsu pañjalī.
At the end of the night, as the sunrise drew near, Indra and the Divinity came and revered me with joined hands.
‘Namo te purisājañña, namo te purisuttama; Yassa te āsavā khīṇā, dakkhiṇeyyosi mārisa’.
“Homage to you, O thoroughbred! Homage to you, supreme among men! Since your defilements are ended, you, good fellow, are worthy of a religious donation.”
Tato disvāna maṁ satthā, devasaṅghapurakkhataṁ; Sitaṁ pātukaritvāna, imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.
Consequently, having seen me honored by the assembly of gods, the Teacher smiled and said the following:
‘Tapena brahmacariyena, saṁyamena damena ca; Etena brāhmaṇo hoti, etaṁ brāhmaṇamuttaman’”ti.
“By fervor and spiritual practice, by restraint and by self-control: that’s how to become a brahmin, this is the supreme brahmin.”