The Conduct of the Lotus-eaters

“Then again when I was*According to Ja 488 his name was Kañcana, “golden”.in the capital citadel of Kāsi,a sister and seven brotherswere born in a learned family.

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, kāsīnaṁ puravaruttame; Bhaginī ca bhātaro satta, nibbattā sotthiye kule.

“Then again when I was*According to Ja 488 his name was Kañcana, “golden”.“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, in the capital citadel of Kāsi,kāsīnaṁ puravaruttame; a sister and seven brothersBhaginī ca bhātaro satta, were born in a learned family.nibbattā sotthiye kule.

I was the first-born of them all,furnishing with pure conscience.Seeing rebirth as fearful,I longed for renunciation.

Etesaṁ pubbajo āsiṁ, hirīsukkamupāgato; Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato, nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ.

I was the first-born of them all,Etesaṁ pubbajo āsiṁ, furnishing with pure conscience.hirīsukkamupāgato; Seeing rebirth as fearful,Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato, I longed for renunciation.nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ.

Sent for by my mother and father,my friends with one mindinvited me to enjoy sensual pleasures, saying:‘Maintain the family lineage.’

Mātāpitūhi pahitā, sahāyā ekamānasā; Kāmehi maṁ nimantenti, ‘kulavaṁsaṁ dharehi’ti.

Sent for by my mother and father,Mātāpitūhi pahitā, my friends with one mindsahāyā ekamānasā; invited me to enjoy sensual pleasures, saying:Kāmehi maṁ nimantenti, ‘Maintain the family lineage.’‘kulavaṁsaṁ dharehi’ti.

The words they saidabout the ways a householder can find happiness,were hard for me to hear,like a heated ploughshare.

Yaṁ tesaṁ vacanaṁ vuttaṁ, gihīdhamme sukhāvahaṁ; Taṁ me ahosi kaṭhinaṁ, tattaphālasamaṁ viya. *tattaphālasamaṁ → tattapālasamaṁ viya (si); santattaphālasamaṁ viya (mr)

The words they saidYaṁ tesaṁ vacanaṁ vuttaṁ, about the ways a householder can find happiness,gihīdhamme sukhāvahaṁ; were hard for me to hear,Taṁ me ahosi kaṭhinaṁ, like a heated ploughshare.tattaphālasamaṁ viya. *tattaphālasamaṁ → tattapālasamaṁ viya (si); santattaphālasamaṁ viya (mr)

When I turned down their proposal,they asked me what I wished for:‘My dear, what is it that you wish,since you do not long for sensual pleasures?’

Te maṁ tadā ukkhipantaṁ, pucchiṁsu patthitaṁ mama; ‘Kiṁ tvaṁ patthayase samma, yadi kāme na bhuñjasi’.

When I turned down their proposal,Te maṁ tadā ukkhipantaṁ, they asked me what I wished for:pucchiṁsu patthitaṁ mama; ‘My dear, what is it that you wish,‘Kiṁ tvaṁ patthayase samma, since you do not long for sensual pleasures?’yadi kāme na bhuñjasi’.

I spoke to my beneficiaries,wanting what is best.‘I wish not for the householder’s state,I long for renunciation.’

Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ, atthakāmo hitesinaṁ; ‘Nāhaṁ patthemi gihībhāvaṁ, nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ’.

I spoke to my beneficiaries,Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ, wanting what is best.atthakāmo hitesinaṁ; ‘I wish not for the householder’s state,‘Nāhaṁ patthemi gihībhāvaṁ, I long for renunciation.’nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ’.

Hearing my words,they told my mother and father .My parents said this:‘Sirs, let all of us go forth!’

Te mayhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, pitu mātu ca sāvayuṁ; Mātāpitā evamāhu, ‘sabbeva pabbajāma bho’.

Hearing my words,Te mayhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, they told my mother and father .pitu mātu ca sāvayuṁ; My parents said this:Mātāpitā evamāhu, ‘Sirs, let all of us go forth!’‘sabbeva pabbajāma bho’.

So both my mother and father,*In Ja 488 he renounced only after the parents died.sister and seven brothers,discarding countless riches,entered the great forest.”*This is only the preliminary to the Jātaka. They eventually are reduced to eating only lotus stalks, hence the title.

Ubho mātāpitā mayhaṁ, bhaginī ca satta bhātaro; Amitadhanaṁ chaḍḍayitvā, pāvisimhā mahāvanan”ti.

So both my mother and father,*In Ja 488 he renounced only after the parents died.Ubho mātāpitā mayhaṁ, sister and seven brothers,bhaginī ca satta bhātaro; discarding countless riches,Amitadhanaṁ chaḍḍayitvā, entered the great forest.”*This is only the preliminary to the Jātaka. They eventually are reduced to eating only lotus stalks, hence the title.pāvisimhā mahāvanan”ti.