Hatthināgavagga

The Chapter on an Elephant

29 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 7

The Perfection of Ethics (7th)

0.4

Mātaṅgacariya

Mātaṅga’s Conduct

1.1

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,

“Then again when I was

1.2

jaṭilo uggatāpano;

a matted-hair ascetic of severe penance,

1.3

Mātaṅgo nāma nāmena,

Mātaṅga was my name,

1.4

sīlavā susamāhito.

I was virtuous and serene.

2.1

Ahañca brāhmaṇo eko,

A brahmin and I both lived

2.2

gaṅgākūle vasāmubho;

on a bank of the Ganges.

2.3

Ahaṁ vasāmi upari,

I stayed upstream,

2.4

heṭṭhā vasati brāhmaṇo.

the brahmin downstream.

3.1

Vicaranto anukūlamhi,

Wandering along the riverbank,

3.2

uddhaṁ me assamaddasa;

he saw my hermitage upstream.

3.3

Tattha maṁ paribhāsetvā,

Then he abused and cursed me,

3.4

abhisapi muddhaphālanaṁ.

that my head would split in seven.

4.1

Yadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ,

If I were upset with him

4.2

yadi sīlaṁ na gopaye;

and if I were not taking care of my ethics,

4.3

Oloketvānahaṁ tassa,

then just with a glance

4.4

kareyyaṁ chārikaṁ viya.

I could have reduced him to ashes.

5.1

Yaṁ so tadā maṁ abhisapi,

But when he cursed me then,

5.2

kupito duṭṭhamānaso;

so angry and bitter-hearted,

5.3

Tasseva matthake nipati,

it fell right back on his own head:

5.4

yogena taṁ pamocayiṁ.

I freed him from that yoke.

6.1

Anurakkhiṁ mama sīlaṁ,

I guarded my ethics,

6.2

nārakkhiṁ mama jīvitaṁ;

not my life.

6.3

Sīlavā hi tadā āsiṁ,

For then I was ethical,

6.4

bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā”ti.

because it was solely for awakening.”

7.1

Mātaṅgacariyaṁ sattamaṁ.