The Wise Hare’s ConductSasapaṇḍitacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, a hare who roamed the forest,Sasako pavanacārako; eating grass, leaves, vegetables, and fruit,Tiṇapaṇṇasākaphalabhakkho, refraining from harming others,Paraheṭhanavivajjito.

a monkey, a jackal,Makkaṭo ca siṅgālo ca, a young otter and Isuttapoto cahaṁ tadā; lived in the same neighborhoodVasāma ekasāmantā, and were seen together morning and evening.sāyaṁ pāto ca dissare.

I advised themAhaṁ te anusāsāmi, regarding good and bad deeds:kiriye kalyāṇapāpake; ‘Shun bad deeds,‘Pāpāni parivajjetha, and cling to the good.’kalyāṇe abhinivissatha’.

Seeing the full moonUposathamhi divase, on the sabbath day,candaṁ disvāna pūritaṁ; I pointed it out to them, saying,Etesaṁ tattha ācikkhiṁ, ‘Today is the sabbath.‘divaso ajjuposatho.

Prepare giftsDānāni paṭiyādetha, for one worthy of offerings.dakkhiṇeyyassa dātave; Having given to one worthy of offerings,Datvā dānaṁ dakkhiṇeyye, observe the sabbath day.’upavassathuposathaṁ’.

Saying ‘good!’ to me,Te me sādhūti vatvāna, they prepared giftsyathāsatti yathābalaṁ; according to their capacity and means,Dānāni paṭiyādetvā, and sought out one worthy of offerings.dakkhiṇeyyaṁ gavesisuṁ.

As I was sitting I thought aboutAhaṁ nisajja cintesiṁ, what sort of gift would suit one worthy of offerings:dānaṁ dakkhiṇanucchavaṁ; ‘If I were to find a worthy recipient,‘Yadihaṁ labhe dakkhiṇeyyaṁ, what gift would i give?kiṁ me dānaṁ bhavissati.

I have no sesame or mung beans,Na me atthi tilā muggā, no beans or rice or ghee.māsā vā taṇḍulā ghataṁ; I feed only on grass,Ahaṁ tiṇena yāpemi, but that’s not something I can give.na sakkā tiṇa dātave.

If someone worthy of gifts comes,Yadi koci eti dakkhiṇeyyo, seeking alms near me,Bhikkhāya mama santike; I shall give my own self:Dajjāhaṁ sakamattānaṁ, they shall not leave empty-handed.’Na so tuccho gamissati’.

Knowing my thoughts,Mama saṅkappamaññāya, Sakka in the guise of a brahminsakko brāhmaṇavaṇṇinā; approached my lairĀsayaṁ me upāgacchi, in order to test my giving.dānavīmaṁsanāya me.

Seeing him I was elated,Tamahaṁ disvāna santuṭṭho, and said the following.idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ; ‘It is so good that you have come‘Sādhu khosi anuppatto, to me looking for food.ghāsahetu mamantike.

Today I shall give to youAdinnapubbaṁ dānavaraṁ, a fine gift never before given.ajja dassāmi te ahaṁ; You are furnished with virtue,Tuvaṁ sīlaguṇūpeto, unattached to harming others.ayuttaṁ te paraheṭhanaṁ.

Come, light a fire,Ehi aggiṁ padīpehi, having gathered different sticks.nānākaṭṭhe samānaya; I shall cook myself,Ahaṁ pacissamattānaṁ, you shall eat me roasted.’pakkaṁ tvaṁ bhakkhayissasi’.

‘Good!’ he said happily,‘Sādhū’ti so haṭṭhamano, and gathered different sticks.nānākaṭṭhe samānayi; Building a great pyre,Mahantaṁ akāsi citakaṁ, he placed an ember in the recess.katvā aṅgāragabbhakaṁ.

He lit such a fire thereAggiṁ tattha padīpesi, that would quickly grow big.yathā so khippaṁ mahā bhave; Shaking my dusty limbs,Phoṭetvā rajagate gatte, I withdrew to one side.ekamantaṁ upāvisiṁ.

When the great pile of sticksYadā mahākaṭṭhapuñjo, was burning and blazing,āditto dhamadhamāyati; I leapt up and fell on it,Taduppatitvā papatiṁ, in the midst of the fiery flames.majjhe jālasikhantare.

Like divingYathā sītodakaṁ nāma, into cool water,Paviṭṭhaṁ yassa kassaci; allaying distress and fever,Sameti darathapariḷāhaṁ, bringing satisfaction and joy.Assādaṁ deti pīti ca.

That’s how it wasTatheva jalitaṁ aggiṁ, when I entered the burning flame.paviṭṭhassa mamaṁ tadā; It allayed distress and fever,Sabbaṁ sameti darathaṁ, just like cool water.yathā sītodakaṁ viya.

Outer skin and inner, flesh and sinews,Chaviṁ cammaṁ maṁsaṁ nhāruṁ, bones, and heart with cords:Aṭṭhiṁ hadayabandhanaṁ; my whole entire bodyKevalaṁ sakalaṁ kāyaṁ, I gave to the brahmin.”Brāhmaṇassa adāsahan”ti.