Ekarājacariya

Cariyāpiṭaka

The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

Yudhañjayavagga

The Chapter With Yudhañjaya

Mettāpāramī 2

The Perfection of Love (2nd)

Ekarājacariya

The One King’s Conduct

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,

“Then again when I was

ekarājāti vissuto;

the renowned One King,

Paramaṁ sīlaṁ adhiṭṭhāya,

resolved on highest ethics,

pasāsāmi mahāmahiṁ.

I ruled the great earth.

Dasa kusalakammapathe,

Without exception I followed

vattāmi anavasesato;

the ten ways of skillful deeds.

Catūhi saṅgahavatthūhi,

With the four ways of being inclusive,

saṅgaṇhāmi mahājanaṁ.

I brought together the population.

Evaṁ me appamattassa,

As I was being diligent,

idha loke parattha ca;

for the sake of this world and the next,

Dabbaseno upagantvā,

Dabbasena attacked

acchindanto puraṁ mama.

and sacked my city.

Rājūpajīve nigame,

The royal dependents in the city,

sabalaṭṭhe saraṭṭhake;

with the military and the citizens—

Sabbaṁ hatthagataṁ katvā,

he captured them all,

kāsuyā nikhaṇī mamaṁ.

and buried me in a pit.

Amaccamaṇḍalaṁ rajjaṁ,

The court ministers, the flourishing kingdom,

phītaṁ antepuraṁ mama;

and my royal court—

Acchinditvāna gahitaṁ,

were captured and held,

piyaṁ puttaṁva passahaṁ;

I even saw my beloved son.

Mettāya me samo natthi,

There is no one to equal my love:

esā me mettāpāramī”ti.

this is my perfection of love.”

Ekarājacariyaṁ cuddasamaṁ.