Soṇa the Astute’s ConductSoṇapaṇḍitacariya

“Then again when I was“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, in the city of Brahmavaḍḍhana,nagare brahmavaḍḍhane; I was reborn thereTattha kulavare seṭṭhe, in a fine, wealthy, and eminent family.mahāsāle ajāyahaṁ.

Even so, I saw that the worldTadāpi lokaṁ disvāna, had become blind, smothered in darkness.Andhībhūtaṁ tamotthaṭaṁ; My mind recoiled from rebirth,Cittaṁ bhavato patikuṭati, as if harshly pricked by a goad.Tuttavegahataṁ viya.

Seeing the many forms of wickedness,Disvāna vividhaṁ pāpaṁ, I thought to myself:evaṁ cintesahaṁ tadā; ‘When shall I leave the house‘Kadāhaṁ gehā nikkhamma, and enter the forest?’pavisissāmi kānanaṁ’.

Then too my relatives invited meTadāpi maṁ nimantesuṁ, to enjoy the pleasures of the senses.kāmabhogehi ñātayo; I told them of my desire, saying,Tesampi chandamācikkhiṁ, ‘Do not invite me to such things!’‘mā nimantetha tehi maṁ’.

My younger brother,Yo me kaniṭṭhako bhātā, who was named Nanda the astute,nando nāmāsi paṇḍito; followed my ethical practices,Sopi maṁ anusikkhanto, and chose to go forth.pabbajjaṁ samarocayi.

I, Soṇa, and Nanda,Ahaṁ soṇo ca nando ca, and both my mother and father,ubho mātāpitā mama; then discarded our richesTadāpi bhoge chaḍḍetvā, and entered the great forest.”pāvisimhā mahāvanan”ti.