Hatthināgavagga

The Chapter on an Elephant

41 segments · SuttaCentral ·

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0.1

Cariyāpiṭaka

The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

0.2

Hatthināgavagga

The Chapter on an Elephant

0.3

Sīlapāramī 2

The Perfection of Ethics (2nd)

0.4

Bhūridattacariya

The Dragon Bhūridatta’s Conduct

1.1

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,

“Then again when I was

1.2

bhūridatto mahiddhiko;

Bhūridatta, a dragon of great psychic power,

1.3

Virūpakkhena mahāraññā,

together with Virūpakkha the Great King

1.4

devalokamagañchahaṁ.

I went to a heavenly realm.

2.1

Tattha passitvāhaṁ deve,

There I saw gods

2.2

ekantaṁ sukhasamappite;

wholly given over to pleasure.

2.3

Taṁ saggagamanatthāya,

For the sake of going to that heaven,

2.4

sīlabbataṁ samādiyiṁ.

I undertook the observance of ethics.

3.1

Sarīrakiccaṁ katvāna,

After tending to me physical needs,

3.2

bhutvā yāpanamattakaṁ;

and eating enough to get by,

3.3

Caturo aṅge adhiṭṭhāya,

I resolved on the four factors,

3.4

semi vammikamuddhani.

and lay down atop a termite mound, thinking:

4.1

‘Chaviyā cammena maṁsena,

‘My outer skin and inner, flesh,

4.2

Nahāruaṭṭhikehi vā;

sinews and bones:

4.3

Yassa etena karaṇīyaṁ,

whoever has use for these,

4.4

Dinnaṁyeva harātu so’.

they are already given, please take them.’

5.1

Saṁsito akataññunā,

While lying there the ingrate

5.2

ālampāyano mamaggahi;

Ālampāyana grabbed me.

5.3

Peḷāya pakkhipitvāna,

He threw me in a basket

5.4

kīḷeti maṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ.

and made me perform in places all over.

6.1

Peḷāya pakkhipantepi,

Though thrown in a basket

6.2

sammaddantepi pāṇinā;

and crushed by his hands,

6.3

Ālampāyane na kuppāmi,

I did not get upset with Ālampāyana,

6.4

sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mama.

for fear of breaking my ethics.

7.1

Sakajīvitapariccāgo,

To give up my own life

7.2

tiṇato lahuko mama;

was as light as a blade of grass.

7.3

Sīlavītikkamo mayhaṁ,

To transgress my ethical principles

7.4

pathavīuppatanaṁ viya.

was like overturning the earth.

8.1

Nirantaraṁ jātisataṁ,

In a hundred successive lives

8.2

cajeyyaṁ mama jīvitaṁ;

I would give up my own life.

8.3

Neva sīlaṁ pabhindeyyaṁ,

I would not even violate my ethics

8.4

catuddīpāna hetupi.

for the sake of the four continents.

9.1

Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya,

For the sake of protecting ethics,

9.2

Sīlapāramipūriyā;

and fulfilling my perfection of ethics,

9.3

Na karomi citte aññathattaṁ,

I did not let my mind change,

9.4

Pakkhipantampi peḷake”ti.

even when thrown in a basket.”

10.1

Bhūridattacariyaṁ dutiyaṁ.