Somanassa’s ConductSomanassacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, in Indapatta, the capital city,indapatthe puruttame; I was a loved and cherished childKāmito dayito putto, renowned as Somanassa.somanassoti vissuto.

I was ethical, full of good qualities,Sīlavā guṇasampanno, of fine and eloquent speech,kalyāṇapaṭibhānavā; honoring elders, conscientious,Vuḍḍhāpacāyī hirīmā, and expert in the methods of inclusiveness.saṅgahesu ca kovido.

Now there was this charlatan renunciantTassa rañño patikaro, who was favored by the king.ahosi kuhakatāpaso; He made a living by cultivatingĀrāmaṁ mālāvacchañca, an orchard and flowering shrubs.ropayitvāna jīvati.

Seeing he was a charlatan,Tamahaṁ disvāna kuhakaṁ, like a pile of chaff without grain,thusarāsiṁva ataṇḍulaṁ; like a hollow tree,Dumaṁva anto susiraṁ, like a plantain tree with no core, I thought:kadaliṁva asārakaṁ.

‘There is no good in him,Natthimassa sataṁ dhammo, he has strayed from asceticism.sāmaññāpagato ayaṁ; He has left the bright qualities of conscienceHirīsukkadhammajahito, for the sake of making a living.’jīvitavuttikāraṇā.

Then the borders were in turmoilKupito ahu paccanto, by wild frontier savages.aṭavīhi parantihi; Before going to put an end to it,Taṁ nisedhetuṁ gacchanto, my father instructed me:anusāsi pitā mamaṁ.

‘My dear, do not neglect‘Mā pamajji tuvaṁ tāta, the matted-hair ascetic of severe penance.jaṭilaṁ uggatāpanaṁ; He is the granter of our wishes,Yadicchakaṁ pavattehi, give him all he desires.’sabbakāmadado hi so’.

I went then to serve him,Tamahaṁ gantvānupaṭṭhānaṁ, and said the following.Idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ; ‘I hope you are well, householder.‘Kacci te gahapati kusalaṁ, Is there anything I can bring for you?’Kiṁ vā te āharīyatu’.

At that he was upset with me,Tena so kupito āsi, that prideful charlatan.kuhako mānanissito; ‘I’ll have you killed right now!‘Ghātāpemi tuvaṁ ajja, Or banished from the realm!’raṭṭhā pabbājayāmi vā’.

After putting an end to the border conflict,Nisedhayitvā paccantaṁ, the king said to the charlatan,rājā kuhakamabravi; ‘I hope you’re keeping well, sir,‘Kacci te bhante khamanīyaṁ, and honors were served you?’sammāno te pavattito’.

That wicked one told himTassa ācikkhatī pāpo, how the prince deserved execution.kumāro yathā nāsiyo; When he heard these words,Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, the Lord of the Earth commanded:āṇāpesi mahīpati.

‘Cut off his head right there!‘Sīsaṁ tattheva chinditvā, Saw his corpse into four pieces!katvāna catukhaṇḍikaṁ; And then show them from street to street:Rathiyā rathiyaṁ dassetha, this is the fate of one who shames the ascetic.’sā gati jaṭilahīḷitā’.

Right away left the punishers—Tattha kāraṇikā gantvā, fierce, violent and pitiless.caṇḍā luddā akāruṇā; They dragged me from my mother’s lapMātu aṅke nisinnassa, and led me away.ākaḍḍhitvā nayanti maṁ.

I said to themTesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ, as they bound me with tight bonds:bandhataṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ; ‘Present me to the king right now,‘Rañño dassetha maṁ khippaṁ, I have an issue for the king!’rājakiriyāni atthi me’.

They presented me to the king,Te maṁ rañño dassayiṁsu, follower of the wicked one and his wicked ways.pāpassa pāpasevino; On seeing me, I persuaded himDisvāna taṁ saññāpesiṁ, and brought him under my influence.mamañca vasamānayiṁ.

He asked for my forgiveness then,So maṁ tattha khamāpesi, and offered me the kingdom.mahārajjamadāsi me; But having burst the darkness asunder,Sohaṁ tamaṁ dālayitvā, I went forth to homelessness.pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ.

I did not dislike great kingship,Na me dessaṁ mahārajjaṁ, nor did I dislike sensual enjoyment.kāmabhogo na dessiyo; But because omniscience is precious to me,Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, that is why I forsook kingship.”tasmā rajjaṁ pariccajin”ti.