Alīnasattu’s ConductAlīnasattucariya

“In the kingdom of Pañcāla, in the eminent city,“Pañcālaraṭṭhe nagaravare, the capital named Kapilā,Kapilāyaṁ puruttame; the king named JayaddisaRājā jayaddiso nāma, was furnished with virtuous qualities.Sīlaguṇamupāgato.

I was that king’s son,Tassa rañño ahaṁ putto, well educated and virtuous;Sutadhammo susīlavā; Alīnasattu of fine qualities,Alīnasatto guṇavā, I always cared for the attendants.Anurakkhaparijano sadā.

My father had gone deer huntingPitā me migavaṁ gantvā, when he came across a cannibal,porisādaṁ upāgami; who seized my father, saying,So me pitumaggahesi, ‘You are my prey, don’t move!’‘bhakkhosi mama mā cali’.

When he heard these words,Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, he was scared and trembled with fear,bhīto tasitavedhito; his thighs became stiffŪrukkhambho ahu tassa, when he saw the cannibal.disvāna porisādakaṁ.

‘Let me go, take the deer meat!’ he said,Migavaṁ gahetvā muñcassu, ‘I promise to return.’katvā āgamanaṁ puna; Having paid the brahmin,Brāhmaṇassa dhanaṁ datvā, my father said to me:pitā āmantayī mamaṁ.

‘Son, rule the realm.‘Rajjaṁ putta paṭipajja, Do not neglect this city.mā pamajji puraṁ idaṁ; I promised the cannibalKataṁ me porisādena, that I will return.’mama āgamanaṁ puna’.

I bowed to my mother and father,Mātāpitū ca vanditvā, and substituted myself.nimminitvāna attanā; Tossing my bow and sword,Nikkhipitvā dhanuṁ khaggaṁ, I approached the cannibal.porisādaṁ upāgamiṁ.

Perhaps if I have weapons in handSasatthahatthūpagataṁ, that might make him afraid.kadāci so tasissati; And that would violate my ethics,Tena bhijjissati sīlaṁ, were I to frighten him.parittāsaṁ kate mayi.

For fear of violating my ethics,Sīlakhaṇḍabhayā mayhaṁ, I said nothing hateful to him.tassa dessaṁ na byāhariṁ; Lovingly and beneficially,Mettacitto hitavādī, I said the following.idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ.

‘Kindle a great fire.‘Ujjālehi mahāaggiṁ, I will drop into it from a tree.papatissāmi rukkhato; When you know I am cooked,Tvaṁ pakkakālamaññāya, eat me, Grandfather.’bhakkhaya maṁ pitāmaha’.

And so for the sake of my ethical vowsIti sīlavataṁ hetu, I did not protect my life.nārakkhiṁ mama jīvitaṁ; And I drove out foreverPabbājesiṁ cahaṁ tassa, his attacks on living creatures.”sadā pāṇātipātikan”ti.