Kururāja’s ConductKururājacariya

“Then again when I reigned“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, in Indapatta, the capital city,indapatthe puruttame; as the king named DhanañjayaRājā dhanañcayo nāma, I was blessed with the ten skillful deeds.kusale dasahupāgato.

From the realm of KaliṅgaKaliṅgaraṭṭhavisayā, brahmins came to mebrāhmaṇā upagañchu maṁ; requesting the royal elephantĀyācuṁ maṁ hatthināgaṁ, that was lucky and deemed auspicious.dhaññaṁ maṅgalasammataṁ.

‘Our nation is suffering from drought,‘Avuṭṭhiko janapado, food is scarce and famine abounds,dubbhikkho chātako mahā; please give the noble elephantDadāhi pavaraṁ nāgaṁ, of midnight hue named Añjana.’nīlaṁ añjanasavhayaṁ’.

‘When supplicants come to me‘Na me yācakamanuppatte, it is unbefitting to refuse.paṭikkhepo anucchavo; Let not my vow be broken,Mā me bhijji samādānaṁ, I shall give the mighty elephant.’dassāmi vipulaṁ gajaṁ’.

Taking the elephant by the trunk,Nāgaṁ gahetvā soṇḍāya, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel,bhiṅgāre ratanāmaye; I sprinkled water on the hand,Jalaṁ hatthe ākiritvā, and gave the elephant to the brahmins.brāhmaṇānaṁ adaṁ gajaṁ.

When I had given the elephant,Tassa nāge padinnamhi, my ministers said,amaccā etadabravuṁ; ‘Why did you give the noble elephant‘Kiṁ nu tuyhaṁ varaṁ nāgaṁ, to the supplicants?yācakānaṁ padassasi.

He was lucky and endowed with the auspicious,Dhaññaṁ maṅgalasampannaṁ, supreme victor in battle.saṅgāmavijayuttamaṁ; Now you have given the elephant,Tasmiṁ nāge padinnamhi, how shall you govern the realm?’kiṁ te rajjaṁ karissati’.

‘I would give the entire realm‘Rajjampi me dade sabbaṁ, and my physical body as well.sarīraṁ dajjamattano; Omniscience is precious to me,Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, which is why I gave away the elephant.’”tasmā nāgaṁ adāsahan’”ti.