The Deity Dhamma’s ConductDhammadevaputtacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, of great retinue and psychic power,mahāpakkho mahiddhiko; a great spirit named Dhamma,Dhammo nāma mahāyakkho, I had sympathy for the whole world.sabbalokānukampako.

Establishing the populaceDasakusalakammapathe, in the ten ways of skillful deeds,samādapento mahājanaṁ; I wandered from village to town,Carāmi gāmanigamaṁ, with friends and associates.samitto saparijjano.

A wicked, miserly spiritPāpo kadariyo yakkho, promoting the ten wicked waysdīpento dasa pāpake; was also wandering the earthSopettha mahiyā carati, with friends and associates.samitto saparijjano.

The righteous and unrighteous,Dhammavādī adhammo ca, we were each other’s foe.ubho paccanikā mayaṁ; Slamming chariot poles,Dhure dhuraṁ ghaṭṭayantā, we collided together.samimhā paṭipathe ubho.

A dreadful quarrel ensuedKalaho vattatī bhesmā, between the good and the ill,kalyāṇapāpakassa ca; a great war loomedMaggā okkamanatthāya, aiming to push the other off the road.mahāyuddho upaṭṭhito.

If I had been upset with him,Yadihaṁ tassa kuppeyyaṁ, if I had broken my asceticism,yadi bhinde tapoguṇaṁ; I could have reduced him to dust,Sahaparijanaṁ tassa, together with his companions.rajabhūtaṁ kareyyahaṁ.

Nevertheless, for the sake of guarding my ethics,Api cāhaṁ sīlarakkhāya, I quelled my heart.nibbāpetvāna mānasaṁ; I left the road with my folk,Saha janenokkamitvā, giving it to the wicked one.pathaṁ pāpassa dāsahaṁ.

As soon as I stepped down off the path,Saha pathato okkante, and I had quelled my mind,katvā cittassa nibbutiṁ; the earth opened upVivaraṁ adāsi pathavī, for that wicked spirit.”pāpayakkhassa tāvade”ti.