The Dragon Campeyyaka’s ConductCampeyyanāgacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, Campeyyaka, a dragon of great psychic power,campeyyako mahiddhiko; I was just,Tadāpi dhammiko āsiṁ, furnished with precepts and vows.sīlabbatasamappito.

Then the snake-charmer who caught meTadāpi maṁ dhammacāriṁ, lived righteously,upavutthaṁ uposathaṁ; observing the Sabbath,Ahituṇḍiko gahetvāna, and he made me perform at the royal gate.rājadvāramhi kīḷati.

Whatever color he thought of—Yaṁ yaṁ so vaṇṇaṁ cintayi, blue, yellow, or red—nīlaṁva pītalohitaṁ; I conformed to his wish,Tassa cittānuvattanto, taking the appearance of his thought.homi cintitasannibho.

I could turn dry land to water,Thalaṁ kareyyamudakaṁ, and water to dry land.udakampi thalaṁ kare; If I were upset with himYadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ, I could reduce him to ash in an instant.khaṇena chārikaṁ kare.

If I was under the sway of my thoughts,Yadi cittavasī hessaṁ, I would have fallen from my ethics.parihāyissāmi sīlato; But one who has fallen from their ethicsSīlena parihīnassa, does not succeed at the highest goal.uttamattho na sijjhati.

Gladly, let this body be broken!Kāmaṁ bhijjatuyaṁ kāyo, Let it be scattered in this very place!idheva vikirīyatu; Not even for that would I break my ethics,Neva sīlaṁ pabhindeyyaṁ, if it were being scattered like hay.”vikirante bhusaṁ viyā”ti.