Other Translations: Deutsch
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Cariyāpiṭaka The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood
Hatthināgavagga The Chapter on an Elephant
Sīlapāramī 2 The Perfection of Ethics (2nd)
Bhūridattacariya The Dragon Bhūridatta’s Conduct
“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, “Then again when I was
bhūridatto mahiddhiko; Bhūridatta, a dragon of great psychic power, The text does not specify what kind of creature he was, thus relying on the fuller details of Ja 543.
Virūpakkhena mahāraññā, together with Virūpakkha the Great King
devalokamagañchahaṁ. I went to a heavenly realm.
Tattha passitvāhaṁ deve, There I saw gods
ekantaṁ sukhasamappite; wholly given over to pleasure.
Taṁ saggagamanatthāya, For the sake of going to that heaven,
sīlabbataṁ samādiyiṁ. I undertook the observance of ethics.
Sarīrakiccaṁ katvāna, After tending to my physical needs,
bhutvā yāpanamattakaṁ; and eating enough to get by,
Caturo aṅge adhiṭṭhāya, I resolved on the four factors,
semi vammikamuddhani. and lay down atop a termite mound, thinking:
‘Chaviyā cammena maṁsena, ‘My outer skin and inner, flesh,
Nahāruaṭṭhikehi vā; sinews and bones:
Yassa etena karaṇīyaṁ, whoever has use for these,
Dinnaṁyeva harātu so’. they are already given, please take them.’
Saṁsito akataññunā, While lying there the ingrate
ālampāyano mamaggahi; Ālampāyana grabbed me.
Peḷāya pakkhipitvāna, He threw me in a basket
kīḷeti maṁ tahiṁ tahiṁ. and made me perform in places all over. The text conflates a divine nāga with a cobra in a way we don’t really find in the suttas.
Peḷāya pakkhipantepi, Though thrown in a basket
sammaddantepi pāṇinā; and crushed by his hands,
Ālampāyane na kuppāmi, I did not get upset with Ālampāyana,
sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mama. for fear of breaking my ethics.
Sakajīvitapariccāgo, To give up my own life
tiṇato lahuko mama; was as light as a blade of grass.
Sīlavītikkamo mayhaṁ, To transgress my ethical principles
pathavīuppatanaṁ viya. was like overturning the earth.
Nirantaraṁ jātisataṁ, In a hundred successive lives
cajeyyaṁ mama jīvitaṁ; I would give up my own life.
Neva sīlaṁ pabhindeyyaṁ, I would not even violate my ethics
catuddīpāna hetupi. for the sake of the four continents.
Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya, For the sake of protecting ethics,
Sīlapāramipūriyā; and fulfilling my perfection of ethics,
Na karomi citte aññathattaṁ, I did not let my mind change,
Pakkhipantampi peḷake”ti. even when thrown in a basket.”
Bhūridattacariyaṁ dutiyaṁ.