The Conduct of One Who Provided for His Mother

“Once I lived in the forestas an elephant who provided for his mother.At that time no-one on earthcould equal my virtues.

“Yadā ahosiṁ pavane, kuñjaro mātuposako; Na tadā atthi mahiyā, guṇena mama sādiso.

“Once I lived in the forest“Yadā ahosiṁ pavane, as an elephant who provided for his mother.kuñjaro mātuposako; At that time no-one on earthNa tadā atthi mahiyā, could equal my virtues.guṇena mama sādiso.

Seeing me in the forest, a foresterinformed the king about me.‘Great King, an elephant that befits youis dwelling in the forest grove.

Pavane disvā vanacaro, rañño maṁ paṭivedayi; ‘Tavānucchavo mahārāja, gajo vasati kānane.

Seeing me in the forest, a foresterPavane disvā vanacaro, informed the king about me.rañño maṁ paṭivedayi; ‘Great King, an elephant that befits you‘Tavānucchavo mahārāja, is dwelling in the forest grove.gajo vasati kānane.

No need to dig a moat around him,nor tether him to a post in a pit.Taken by the trunk,he will come here by himself.’

Na tassa parikkhāyattho, napi āḷakakāsuyā; Saha gahite soṇḍāya, *Saha gahite → samaṁ gahite (bj); samāgahite (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2)sayameva idhehi’ti.

No need to dig a moat around him,Na tassa parikkhāyattho, nor tether him to a post in a pit.napi āḷakakāsuyā; Taken by the trunk,Saha gahite soṇḍāya, *Saha gahite → samaṁ gahite (bj); samāgahite (sya1ed, sya2ed, pts-vp-pli1-2)he will come here by himself.’sayameva idhehi’ti.

When he heard these words,the king, elated,sent an elephant-tamer,a well-trained and expert tutor.

Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, rājāpi tuṭṭhamānaso; Pesesi hatthidamakaṁ, chekācariyaṁ susikkhitaṁ.

When he heard these words,Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, the king, elated,rājāpi tuṭṭhamānaso; sent an elephant-tamer,Pesesi hatthidamakaṁ, a well-trained and expert tutor.chekācariyaṁ susikkhitaṁ.

When the elephant-tamer reached there,he saw me in a lotus pond,pulling out lotus rootsto feed my mother.

Gantvā so hatthidamako, addasa padumassare; Bhisamuḷālaṁ uddharantaṁ, *Bhisamuḷālaṁ → bhisamūlaṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1, mr)yāpanatthāya mātuyā.

When the elephant-tamer reached there,Gantvā so hatthidamako, he saw me in a lotus pond,addasa padumassare; pulling out lotus rootsBhisamuḷālaṁ uddharantaṁ, *Bhisamuḷālaṁ → bhisamūlaṁ (bj, pts-vp-pli1, mr)to feed my mother.yāpanatthāya mātuyā.

Discerning my moral virtue,he checked me for marks.Saying, ‘Come, child’,he took me by the trunk.

Viññāya me sīlaguṇaṁ, lakkhaṇaṁ upadhārayi; ‘Ehi puttā’ti vatvāna, mama soṇḍāya aggahi.

Discerning my moral virtue,Viññāya me sīlaguṇaṁ, he checked me for marks.lakkhaṇaṁ upadhārayi; Saying, ‘Come, child’,‘Ehi puttā’ti vatvāna, he took me by the trunk.mama soṇḍāya aggahi.

What was at that timethe natural strength of my body,would equal a thousandof the elephants of today.

Yaṁ me tadā pākatikaṁ, sarīrānugataṁ balaṁ; Ajja nāgasahassānaṁ, balena samasādisaṁ.

What was at that timeYaṁ me tadā pākatikaṁ, the natural strength of my body,sarīrānugataṁ balaṁ; would equal a thousandAjja nāgasahassānaṁ, of the elephants of today.balena samasādisaṁ.

If I had been upsetwith those who came to capture me,I would have had the powerto defeat even a kingdom of men.

Yadihaṁ tesaṁ pakuppeyyaṁ, upetānaṁ gahaṇāya maṁ; Paṭibalo bhave tesaṁ, yāva rajjampi mānusaṁ.

If I had been upsetYadihaṁ tesaṁ pakuppeyyaṁ, with those who came to capture me,upetānaṁ gahaṇāya maṁ; I would have had the powerPaṭibalo bhave tesaṁ, to defeat even a kingdom of men.yāva rajjampi mānusaṁ.

Nevertheless, for the sake of guarding my ethics,and fulfilling my perfection of ethics,I did not let my mind change,even as they caged me.

Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya, Sīlapāramipūriyā; Na karomi citte aññathattaṁ, Pakkhipantaṁ mamāḷake.

Nevertheless, for the sake of guarding my ethics,Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya, and fulfilling my perfection of ethics,Sīlapāramipūriyā; I did not let my mind change,Na karomi citte aññathattaṁ, even as they caged me.Pakkhipantaṁ mamāḷake.

And even were they to beat mewith hatchets and lances,I would never become upset,for fear of violating my ethics.”

Yadi te maṁ tattha koṭṭeyyuṁ, pharasūhi tomarehi ca; Neva tesaṁ pakuppeyyaṁ, sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mamā”ti.

And even were they to beat meYadi te maṁ tattha koṭṭeyyuṁ, with hatchets and lances,pharasūhi tomarehi ca; I would never become upset,Neva tesaṁ pakuppeyyaṁ, for fear of violating my ethics.”sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mamā”ti.