Mātaṅga’s Conduct

“Then again when I wasa matted-hair ascetic of severe penance,Mātaṅga was my name,I was virtuous and serene.

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, jaṭilo uggatāpano; Mātaṅgo nāma nāmena, sīlavā susamāhito.

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, a matted-hair ascetic of severe penance,jaṭilo uggatāpano; Mātaṅga was my name,Mātaṅgo nāma nāmena, I was virtuous and serene.sīlavā susamāhito.

A brahmin and I both livedon a bank of the Ganges.I stayed upstream,the brahmin downstream.

Ahañca brāhmaṇo eko, gaṅgākūle vasāmubho; Ahaṁ vasāmi upari, heṭṭhā vasati brāhmaṇo.

A brahmin and I both livedAhañca brāhmaṇo eko, on a bank of the Ganges.gaṅgākūle vasāmubho; I stayed upstream,Ahaṁ vasāmi upari, the brahmin downstream.heṭṭhā vasati brāhmaṇo.

Wandering along the riverbank,he saw my hermitage upstream.Then he abused and cursed me,that my head would split in seven.

Vicaranto anukūlamhi, uddhaṁ me assamaddasa; Tattha maṁ paribhāsetvā, abhisapi muddhaphālanaṁ.

Wandering along the riverbank,Vicaranto anukūlamhi, he saw my hermitage upstream.uddhaṁ me assamaddasa; Then he abused and cursed me,Tattha maṁ paribhāsetvā, that my head would split in seven.abhisapi muddhaphālanaṁ.

If I were upset with himand if I were not taking care of my ethics,then just with a glanceI could have reduced him to ashes.

Yadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ, yadi sīlaṁ na gopaye; Oloketvānahaṁ tassa, kareyyaṁ chārikaṁ viya.

If I were upset with himYadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ, and if I were not taking care of my ethics,yadi sīlaṁ na gopaye; then just with a glanceOloketvānahaṁ tassa, I could have reduced him to ashes.kareyyaṁ chārikaṁ viya.

But when he cursed me then,so angry and bitter-hearted,it fell right back on his own head:I freed him from that yoke.*This again requires knowledge of the Jātaka (Ja 497). The commentary says he placed a lump of clay on the wicked brahmin’s head, which bore the brunt of the curse.

Yaṁ so tadā maṁ abhisapi, kupito duṭṭhamānaso; Tasseva matthake nipati, yogena taṁ pamocayiṁ.

But when he cursed me then,Yaṁ so tadā maṁ abhisapi, so angry and bitter-hearted,kupito duṭṭhamānaso; it fell right back on his own head:Tasseva matthake nipati, I freed him from that yoke.*This again requires knowledge of the Jātaka (Ja 497). The commentary says he placed a lump of clay on the wicked brahmin’s head, which bore the brunt of the curse.yogena taṁ pamocayiṁ.

I guarded my ethics,not my life.For then I was ethical,because it was solely for awakening.”

Anurakkhiṁ mama sīlaṁ, nārakkhiṁ mama jīvitaṁ; Sīlavā hi tadā āsiṁ, bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā”ti.

I guarded my ethics,Anurakkhiṁ mama sīlaṁ, not my life.nārakkhiṁ mama jīvitaṁ; For then I was ethical,Sīlavā hi tadā āsiṁ, because it was solely for awakening.”bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā”ti.