Mātaṅgacariya

Cariyāpiṭaka

The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

Hatthināgavagga

The Chapter on an Elephant

Sīlapāramī 7

The Perfection of Ethics (7th)

Mātaṅgacariya

Mātaṅga’s Conduct

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,

“Then again when I was

jaṭilo uggatāpano;

a matted-hair ascetic of severe penance,

Mātaṅgo nāma nāmena,

Mātaṅga was my name,

sīlavā susamāhito.

I was virtuous and serene.

Ahañca brāhmaṇo eko,

A brahmin and I both lived

gaṅgākūle vasāmubho;

on a bank of the Ganges.

Ahaṁ vasāmi upari,

I stayed upstream,

heṭṭhā vasati brāhmaṇo.

the brahmin downstream.

Vicaranto anukūlamhi,

Wandering along the riverbank,

uddhaṁ me assamaddasa;

he saw my hermitage upstream.

Tattha maṁ paribhāsetvā,

Then he abused and cursed me,

abhisapi muddhaphālanaṁ.

that my head would split in seven.

Yadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ,

If I were upset with him

yadi sīlaṁ na gopaye;

and if I were not taking care of my ethics,

Oloketvānahaṁ tassa,

then just with a glance

kareyyaṁ chārikaṁ viya.

I could have reduced him to ashes.

Yaṁ so tadā maṁ abhisapi,

But when he cursed me then,

kupito duṭṭhamānaso;

so angry and bitter-hearted,

Tasseva matthake nipati,

it fell right back on his own head:

yogena taṁ pamocayiṁ.

I freed him from that yoke.

Anurakkhiṁ mama sīlaṁ,

I guarded my ethics,

nārakkhiṁ mama jīvitaṁ;

not my life.

Sīlavā hi tadā āsiṁ,

For then I was ethical,

bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā”ti.

because it was solely for awakening.”

Mātaṅgacariyaṁ sattamaṁ.