Morajātaka

Jātaka

Stories of Past Lives 159

Dukanipāta

The Book of the Twos

Daḷhavagga

The Chapter on the Strong

9. Morajātaka

The Peacock: a past life story

“Udetayañ cakkhumā ekarājā,

This Clear-eyed One arises, the One King,

Harissavaṇṇo pathavippabhāso;

palomino-colored, shining over the earth.

Taṁ taṁ namassāmi harissavaṇṇaṁ pathavippabhāsaṁ,

I bow especially to you, palomino-colored, shining over the earth:

Tayājja guttā viharemu divasaṁ.

guarded by you let us live out this day.

Ye brāhmaṇā vedagū sabbadhamme,

Those brahmins who are knowledge-masters with respect to all things,

Te me namo te ca maṁ pālayantu;

I worship them, may they keep me safe.

Namatthu buddhānaṁ namatthu bodhiyā,

Hail the Awakened Ones, hail Awakening!

Namo vimuttānaṁ namo vimuttiyā;

Homage to the freed ones, homage to freedom!

Imaṁ so parittaṁ katvā,

Having made this protection,

Moro carati esanā.

the peacock wanders seeking.

Apetayaṁ cakkhumā ekarājā,

This Clear-eyed One sets, the One King,

Harissavaṇṇo pathavippabhāso;

palomino-colored, shining over the earth.

Taṁ taṁ namassāmi harissavaṇṇaṁ pathavippabhāsaṁ,

I bow especially to you, palomino-colored, shining over the earth:

Tayājja guttā viharemu rattiṁ.

guarded by you let us live out this night.

Ye brāhmaṇā vedagū sabbadhamme,

Those brahmins who are knowledge-masters with respect to all things,

Te me namo te ca maṁ pālayantu;

I worship them, may they keep me safe.

Namatthu buddhānaṁ namatthu bodhiyā,

Hail the Awakened Ones, hail Awakening!

Namo vimuttānaṁ namo vimuttiyā;

Homage to the freed ones, homage to freedom!

Imaṁ so parittaṁ katvā,

Having made this protection,

Moro vāsamakappayī”ti.

the peacock made his home.

Morajātakaṁ navamaṁ.