The Conduct of the Lotus-eatersBhisacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, in the capital citadel of Kāsi,kāsīnaṁ puravaruttame; a sister and seven brothersBhaginī ca bhātaro satta, were born in a learned family.nibbattā sotthiye kule.

I was the first-born of them all,Etesaṁ pubbajo āsiṁ, furnishing with pure conscience.hirīsukkamupāgato; Seeing rebirth as fearful,Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato, I longed for renunciation.nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ.

Sent for by my mother and father,Mātāpitūhi pahitā, my friends with one mindsahāyā ekamānasā; invited me to enjoy sensual pleasures, saying:Kāmehi maṁ nimantenti, ‘Maintain the family lineage.’‘kulavaṁsaṁ dharehi’ti.

The words they saidYaṁ tesaṁ vacanaṁ vuttaṁ, about the ways a householder can find happiness,gihīdhamme sukhāvahaṁ; were hard for me to hear,Taṁ me ahosi kaṭhinaṁ, like a heated ploughshare.tattaphālasamaṁ viya.

When I turned down their proposal,Te maṁ tadā ukkhipantaṁ, they asked me what I wished for:pucchiṁsu patthitaṁ mama; ‘My dear, what is it that you wish,‘Kiṁ tvaṁ patthayase samma, since you do not long for sensual pleasures?’yadi kāme na bhuñjasi’.

I spoke to my beneficiaries,Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ, wanting what is best.atthakāmo hitesinaṁ; ‘I wish not for the householder’s state,‘Nāhaṁ patthemi gihībhāvaṁ, I long for renunciation.’nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ’.

Hearing my words,Te mayhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, they told my mother and father.pitu mātu ca sāvayuṁ; My parents said this:Mātāpitā evamāhu, ‘Sirs, let all of us go forth!’‘sabbeva pabbajāma bho’.

So both my mother and father,Ubho mātāpitā mayhaṁ, sister and seven brothers,bhaginī ca satta bhātaro; discarding countless riches,Amitadhanaṁ chaḍḍayitvā, entered the great forest.”pāvisimhā mahāvanan”ti.