Mahiṁsarājacariya

Cariyāpiṭaka

The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

Hatthināgavagga

The Chapter on an Elephant

Sīlapāramī 5

The Perfection of Ethics (5th)

Mahiṁsarājacariya

The Buffalo King’s Conduct

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,

“Then again when I was

mahiṁso pavanacārako;

a buffalo who roamed the forest,

Pavaḍḍhakāyo balavā,

large in body and strong,

mahanto bhīmadassano.

big and scary to see.

Pabbhāre giridugge ca,

In a cave, a craggy hillside,

rukkhamūle dakāsaye;

at a tree root or a waterhole,

Hotettha ṭhānaṁ mahiṁsānaṁ,

there’d be somewhere for buffalos,

koci koci tahiṁ tahiṁ.

in one place or another.

Vicaranto brahāraññe,

Wandering the mighty forest,

ṭhānaṁ addasa bhaddakaṁ;

I saw a fine spot.

Taṁ ṭhānaṁ upagantvāna,

Having gone there,

tiṭṭhāmi ca sayāmi ca.

I stood and lay to rest.

Athettha kapimāgantvā,

Then a monkey came along,

pāpo anariyo lahu;

wicked, ignoble, and nimble.

Khandhe nalāṭe bhamuke,

On my shoulder, forehead, and eyebrows,

mutteti ohadeti taṁ.

he peed and pooed.

Sakimpi divasaṁ dutiyaṁ,

Not just that day, but a second,

tatiyaṁ catutthampi ca;

a third, and a fourth;

Dūseti maṁ sabbakālaṁ,

he soiled me all the time,

tena homi upadduto.

he was harrying me.

Mamaṁ upaddutaṁ disvā,

Seeing me being harried,

yakkho maṁ idamabravi;

a spirit said to me:

‘Nāsehetaṁ chavaṁ pāpaṁ,

‘Kill that vile, wicked thing

siṅgehi ca khurehi ca’.

with your horns and hooves.’

Evaṁ vutte, tadā yakkhe,

When he spoke, I said

ahaṁ taṁ idamabraviṁ;

this to that spirit:

‘Kiṁ tvaṁ makkhesi kuṇapena,

‘Why would you smear me

pāpena anariyena maṁ.

with a wicked, ignoble carcass?

Yadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ,

If I were upset with him

tato hīnataro bhave;

I would degrade myself,

Sīlañca me pabhijjeyya,

violating my ethics,

viññū ca garaheyyu maṁ.

and being criticized by sensible people.

Hīḷitā jīvitā vāpi,

Better to die from purity

parisuddhena mataṁ varaṁ;

than live in shame.

Kyāhaṁ jīvitahetūpi,

How could I, for the sake of life,

kāhāmi paraheṭhanaṁ’.

harm another?’

Mamevāyaṁ maññamāno,

Thinking of me, this one

aññepevaṁ karissati;

will do the same to others,

Teva tassa vadhissanti,

and for that they will kill him.

sā me mutti bhavissati.

Then I shall be free.

Hīnamajjhimaukkaṭṭhe,

Forgiving disrespect

sahanto avamānitaṁ;

from the low, middle and high,

Evaṁ labhati sappañño,

the wise one gains

manasā yathāpatthitan”ti.

their heart’s desire.”

Mahiṁsarājacariyaṁ pañcamaṁ.