The Buffalo King’s ConductMahiṁsarājacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, a buffalo who roamed the forest,mahiṁso pavanacārako; large in body and strong,Pavaḍḍhakāyo balavā, big and scary to see.mahanto bhīmadassano.

In a cave, a craggy hillside,Pabbhāre giridugge ca, at a tree root or a waterhole,rukkhamūle dakāsaye; there’d be somewhere for buffalos,Hotettha ṭhānaṁ mahiṁsānaṁ, in one place or another.koci koci tahiṁ tahiṁ.

Wandering the mighty forest,Vicaranto brahāraññe, I saw a fine spot.ṭhānaṁ addasa bhaddakaṁ; Having gone there,Taṁ ṭhānaṁ upagantvāna, I stood and lay to rest.tiṭṭhāmi ca sayāmi ca.

Then a monkey came along,Athettha kapimāgantvā, wicked, ignoble, and nimble.pāpo anariyo lahu; On my shoulder, forehead, and eyebrows,Khandhe nalāṭe bhamuke, he peed and pooed.mutteti ohadeti taṁ.

Not just that day, but a second,Sakimpi divasaṁ dutiyaṁ, a third, and a fourth;tatiyaṁ catutthampi ca; he soiled me all the time,Dūseti maṁ sabbakālaṁ, he was harrying me.tena homi upadduto.

Seeing me being harried,Mamaṁ upaddutaṁ disvā, a spirit said to me:yakkho maṁ idamabravi; ‘Kill that vile, wicked thing‘Nāsehetaṁ chavaṁ pāpaṁ, with your horns and hooves.’siṅgehi ca khurehi ca’.

When he spoke, I saidEvaṁ vutte, tadā yakkhe, this to that spirit:ahaṁ taṁ idamabraviṁ; ‘Why would you smear me‘Kiṁ tvaṁ makkhesi kuṇapena, with a wicked, ignoble carcass?pāpena anariyena maṁ.

If I were upset with himYadihaṁ tassa pakuppeyyaṁ, I would degrade myself,tato hīnataro bhave; violating my ethics,Sīlañca me pabhijjeyya, and being criticized by sensible people.viññū ca garaheyyu maṁ.

Better to die from purityHīḷitā jīvitā vāpi, than live in shame.parisuddhena mataṁ varaṁ; How could I, for the sake of life,Kyāhaṁ jīvitahetūpi, harm another?’kāhāmi paraheṭhanaṁ’.

Thinking of me, this oneMamevāyaṁ maññamāno, will do the same to others,aññepevaṁ karissati; and for that they will kill him.Teva tassa vadhissanti, Then I shall be free.sā me mutti bhavissati.

Forgiving disrespectHīnamajjhimaukkaṭṭhe, from the low, middle and high,sahanto avamānitaṁ; the wise one gainsEvaṁ labhati sappañño, their heart’s desire.”manasā yathāpatthitan”ti.