Vaṭṭapotakacariya

Cariyāpiṭaka

The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

Yudhañjayavagga

The Chapter With Yudhañjaya

Saccapāramī 3

The Perfection of Truth (3rd)

Vaṭṭapotakacariya

The Baby Quail’s Conduct

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,

“Then again when I was

magadhe vaṭṭapotako;

a baby quail in Magadha,

Ajātapakkho taruṇo,

I was young, with wings unsprouted,

maṁsapesi kulāvake.

just a scrap of meat in the nest.

Mukhatuṇḍakenāharitvā,

With food she brought in her beak

mātā posayatī mamaṁ;

my mother nurtured me.

Tassā phassena jīvāmi,

I survived through her touch,

natthi me kāyikaṁ balaṁ.

for I had no physical strength.

Saṁvacchare gimhasamaye,

One year, in the hot season,

davaḍāho padippati;

the forest caught fire.

Upagacchati amhākaṁ,

It came toward us,

pāvako kaṇhavattanī.

a conflagration with a blackened trail.

Dhamadhamāiti evaṁ,

The fire roared and rumbled

saddāyanto mahāsikhī;

with great crests of flame,

Anupubbena jhāpento,

gradually burning

aggi mamamupāgami.

closer to me.

Aggivegabhayātītā,

Alarmed and terrified at the fierce fire,

tasitā mātāpitā mama;

my mother and father

Kulāvake maṁ chaḍḍetvā,

abandoned me in the nest,

attānaṁ parimocayuṁ.

saving themselves.

Pāde pakkhe pajahāmi,

I beat my feet and wings,

natthi me kāyikaṁ balaṁ;

but I had no physical strength.

Sohaṁ agatiko tattha,

When unable to leave,

evaṁ cintesahaṁ tadā.

I thought this there:

‘Yesāhaṁ upadhāveyyaṁ,

‘Those to whom I ought to run,

bhīto tasitavedhito;

scared and trembling with fear,

Te maṁ ohāya pakkantā,

have escaped, leaving me behind.

kathaṁ me ajja kātave.

How should I act today?

Atthi loke sīlaguṇo,

There is the quality of virtue in the world,

saccaṁ soceyyanuddayā;

truth, purity, and mercy.

Tena saccena kāhāmi,

By this truth I will make

saccakiriyamuttamaṁ.

a supreme declaration of truth.’

Āvejjetvā dhammabalaṁ,

Inspired by the power of Dhamma,

saritvā pubbake jine;

recollecting the former Victors,

Saccabalamavassāya,

relying on the power of truth,

saccakiriyamakāsahaṁ.

I made a declaration of truth.

Santi pakkhā apatanā,

‘I have wings that do not fly!

santi pādā avañcanā;

I have feet that do not walk!

Mātāpitā ca nikkhantā,

Mother and father have fled!

jātaveda paṭikkama’.

Jātaveda the fire: go back!’

Sahasacce kate mayhaṁ,

As I declared this truth

Mahāpajjalito sikhī;

the great crested flames

Vajjesi soḷasakarīsāni,

withdrew sixteen leagues,

Udakaṁ patvā yathā sikhī;

as if they had come to water.

Saccena me samo natthi,

There is no one to equal my truthfulness:

Esā me saccapāramī”ti.

this is my perfection of truth.”

Vaṭṭapotakacariyaṁ navamaṁ.