Cūḷabodhi’s ConductCūḷabodhicariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, the very virtuous Cūḷabodhi,cūḷabodhi susīlavā; seeing rebirth as fearful,Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato, I renounced worldly life.nekkhammaṁ abhinikkhamiṁ.

She who had been my partner,Yā me dutiyikā āsi, a brahmin lady with golden skin,brāhmaṇī kanakasannibhā; unconcerned with the cycle of rebirths,Sāpi vaṭṭe anapekkhā, also renounced worldly life.nekkhammaṁ abhinikkhami.

Without clinging, cutting off family,Nirālayā chinnabandhū, unconcerned with family or group,anapekkhā kule gaṇe; we walked from village to townCarantā gāmanigamaṁ, until we reached Varanasi.bārāṇasimupāgamuṁ.

There we lived alert,Tattha vasāma nipakā, mixing not with a family or group.asaṁsaṭṭhā kule gaṇe; Quiet and undisturbed,Nirākule appasadde, we both stayed in the royal park.rājuyyāne vasāmubho.

Visiting the park,Uyyānadassanaṁ gantvā, the king saw the brahmin lady.rājā addasa brāhmaṇiṁ; He approached me and asked,Upagamma mamaṁ pucchi, ‘Is she your wife? Or whose is she?’‘tuyhesā kā kassa bhariyā’.

When he said this, to himEvaṁ vutte, ahaṁ tassa, I said the following.idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ; ‘She is not my wife.‘Na mayhaṁ bhariyā esā, We share the same teaching and belief.’sahadhammā ekasāsanī’.

Infatuated with her,Tissā sārattagadhito, he had his men seize her.gāhāpetvāna ceṭake; Compelling her by forceNippīḷayanto balasā, he brought her to the royal compound.antepuraṁ pavesayi.

She who became mine by touching a water-jar,Odapattakiyā mayhaṁ, born together, one in beliefs,sahajā ekasāsanī; when he dragged her away,Ākaḍḍhitvā nayantiyā, I felt so angry.kopo me upapajjatha.

Together with the arising of anger,Saha kope samuppanne, I remembered my precepts and vows,sīlabbatamanussariṁ; and right there controlled my anger,Tattheva kopaṁ niggaṇhiṁ, I did not allow it to grow.nādāsiṁ vaḍḍhitūpari.

If anyone were to attackYadi naṁ brāhmaṇiṁ koci, that brahmin lady with a sharp knife,koṭṭeyya tiṇhasattiyā; not even for that would I violate my ethics,Neva sīlaṁ pabhindeyyaṁ, because it was solely for awakening.bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

I did not dislike the brahmin lady,Na mesā brāhmaṇī dessā, nor did I lack the strength.napi me balaṁ na vijjati; But because omniscience is precious to me,Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, that’s why I guarded my ethics.”tasmā sīlānurakkhisan”ti.