Ayoghara’s Conduct

“Then again when I wasthe true-born son of the king of Kāsi,I grew up in an iron house,*For protection against yakkhas who, according to Ja 510, are afraid of iron. As holdovers of the “old gods” they were threatened by the new technology of iron-smelting.so I was named Ayoghara.

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, kāsirājassa atrajo; Ayogharamhi saṁvaḍḍho, nāmenāsi ayogharo.

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, the true-born son of the king of Kāsi,kāsirājassa atrajo; I grew up in an iron house,*For protection against yakkhas who, according to Ja 510, are afraid of iron. As holdovers of the “old gods” they were threatened by the new technology of iron-smelting.Ayogharamhi saṁvaḍḍho, so I was named Ayoghara.nāmenāsi ayogharo.

‘Your life has been a painful one,as you’ve been raised in confinement.Today, my son, rulethe entirety of this land.’

‘Dukkhena jīvito laddho, saṁpīḷe patiposito; Ajjeva putta paṭipajja, kevalaṁ vasudhaṁ imaṁ’.

‘Your life has been a painful one,‘Dukkhena jīvito laddho, as you’ve been raised in confinement.saṁpīḷe patiposito; Today, my son, ruleAjjeva putta paṭipajja, the entirety of this land.’kevalaṁ vasudhaṁ imaṁ’.

Having bowed to the citizens of country and town,the king and his people,I raised my cupped palmsand said the following.

Saraṭṭhakaṁ sanigamaṁ, sajanaṁ vanditva khattiyaṁ; Añjaliṁ paggahetvāna, idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ.

Having bowed to the citizens of country and town,Saraṭṭhakaṁ sanigamaṁ, the king and his people,sajanaṁ vanditva khattiyaṁ; I raised my cupped palmsAñjaliṁ paggahetvāna, and said the following.idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ.

‘All the creatures of this earth—low, middle, or high—are unprotected in their own home,in which they grew up with their families.

‘Ye keci mahiyā sattā, hīnamukkaṭṭhamajjhimā; Nirārakkhā sake gehe, vaḍḍhanti sakañātibhi.

‘All the creatures of this earth—‘Ye keci mahiyā sattā, low, middle, or high—hīnamukkaṭṭhamajjhimā; are unprotected in their own home,Nirārakkhā sake gehe, in which they grew up with their families.vaḍḍhanti sakañātibhi.

It was unique in the world*Commentary has asadisaṁ, āveṇikaṁ for uttariya. The expected sense “superior” doesn’t fit, unless it is sarcastic.to be raised in confinement.I grew up in an iron house,scarcely lit by sun or moon.

Idaṁ loke uttariyaṁ, saṁpīḷe mama posanaṁ; Ayogharamhi saṁvaḍḍho, appabhe candasūriye.

It was unique in the world*Commentary has asadisaṁ, āveṇikaṁ for uttariya. The expected sense “superior” doesn’t fit, unless it is sarcastic.Idaṁ loke uttariyaṁ, to be raised in confinement.saṁpīḷe mama posanaṁ; I grew up in an iron house,Ayogharamhi saṁvaḍḍho, scarcely lit by sun or moon.appabhe candasūriye.

Filled with rotting carcass,I escaped my mother’s womb.Then to a viler sufferingI was tossed in an iron house.

Pūtikuṇapasampuṇṇā, muccitvā mātukucchito; Tato ghoratare dukkhe, puna pakkhittayoghare.

Filled with rotting carcass,Pūtikuṇapasampuṇṇā, I escaped my mother’s womb.muccitvā mātukucchito; Then to a viler sufferingTato ghoratare dukkhe, I was tossed in an iron house.puna pakkhittayoghare.

Having fallen into suchappallingly dreadful suffering,if I desired kingships,I’d be the worst of the worst.

Yadihaṁ tādisaṁ patvā, dukkhaṁ paramadāruṇaṁ; Rajjesu yadi rajjāmi, *rajjāmi → rañjāmi (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed)pāpānaṁ uttamo siyaṁ.

Having fallen into suchYadihaṁ tādisaṁ patvā, appallingly dreadful suffering,dukkhaṁ paramadāruṇaṁ; if I desired kingships,Rajjesu yadi rajjāmi, *rajjāmi → rañjāmi (bj, sya1ed, sya2ed)I’d be the worst of the worst.pāpānaṁ uttamo siyaṁ.

I’m fed up with the body,*These lines were adapted from Thag 16.1:14.1.I have no need for kingship.I shall seek quenchingwhere Death will not crush me.’

Ukkaṇṭhitomhi kāyena, rajjenamhi anatthiko; Nibbutiṁ pariyesissaṁ, yattha maṁ maccu na maddiye’.

I’m fed up with the body,*These lines were adapted from Thag 16.1:14.1.Ukkaṇṭhitomhi kāyena, I have no need for kingship.rajjenamhi anatthiko; I shall seek quenchingNibbutiṁ pariyesissaṁ, where Death will not crush me.’yattha maṁ maccu na maddiye’.

Reflecting in this way,as the great crowd wailed,like a bull elephant bursting his ropes,I entered the forest grove.

Evāhaṁ cintayitvāna, viravante mahājane; Nāgova bandhanaṁ chetvā, pāvisiṁ kānanaṁ vanaṁ.

Reflecting in this way,Evāhaṁ cintayitvāna, as the great crowd wailed,viravante mahājane; like a bull elephant bursting his ropes,Nāgova bandhanaṁ chetvā, I entered the forest grove.pāvisiṁ kānanaṁ vanaṁ.

I had no dislike of my parents,nor did I dislike the great fame.But because omniscience is precious to me,that is why I forsook kingship.”

Mātāpitā na me dessā, napi me dessaṁ mahāyasaṁ; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā rajjaṁ pariccajin”ti.

I had no dislike of my parents,Mātāpitā na me dessā, nor did I dislike the great fame.napi me dessaṁ mahāyasaṁ; But because omniscience is precious to me,Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, that is why I forsook kingship.”tasmā rajjaṁ pariccajin”ti.