King Sivi’s ConductSivirājacariya

“In the city called Ariṭṭha“Ariṭṭhasavhaye nagare, I was the aristocrat named Sivi.sivināmāsi khattiyo; Seated in my finest longhouse,Nisajja pāsādavare, I then had the following thought:evaṁ cintesahaṁ tadā.

‘Whatever human gifts there are,‘Yaṁ kiñci mānusaṁ dānaṁ, none may be found that I have not given.adinnaṁ me na vijjati; Even if someone were to ask for my eye,Yopi yāceyya maṁ cakkhuṁ, I would give it without wavering.’dadeyyaṁ avikampito’.

Knowing my thoughts,Mama saṅkappamaññāya, Sakka the lord of gods,sakko devānamissaro; sitting in the assembly of godsNisinno devaparisāya, said the following.idaṁ vacanamabravi.

‘Seated in his finest longhouse,‘Nisajja pāsādavare, the mighty King Sivisivirājā mahiddhiko; is thinking of manifold giftsCintento vividhaṁ dānaṁ, and cannot see any he would not give.adeyyaṁ so na passati.

Is this true or not?Tathaṁ nu vitathaṁ netaṁ, Come, let us test him.handa vīmaṁsayāmi taṁ; Wait a whileMuhuttaṁ āgameyyātha, until I know his mind.’yāva jānāmi taṁ manaṁ’.

Appearing as a frail old man,Pavedhamāno palitasiro, with grey hair and wrinkled skin,Valigatto jarāturo; feeble and blind,Andhavaṇṇova hutvāna, he approached the king.Rājānaṁ upasaṅkami.

Then, stretching outSo tadā paggahetvāna, his left and right arms,vāmaṁ dakkhiṇabāhu ca; he raised his cupped palms to his headSirasmiṁ añjaliṁ katvā, and said the following.idaṁ vacanamabravi.

‘Great king, I have a request for you.‘Yācāmi taṁ mahārāja, Under your just rule the kingdom has flourished,dhammika raṭṭhavaḍḍhana; and the renown of your love of givingTava dānaratā kitti, has risen among gods and humans.uggatā devamānuse.

Both my eyes, by which I find my way,Ubhopi nettā nayanā, are ruined and become blind.andhā upahatā mama; Give me just one eye,Ekaṁ me nayanaṁ dehi, while you too get by with one.’tvampi ekena yāpaya’.

After hearing his wordsTassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, I was thrilled, my mind elated,haṭṭho saṁviggamānaso; so with cupped palms, inspired,Katañjalī vedajāto, I said the following.idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ.

‘Just now I was reflecting on this‘Idānāhaṁ cintayitvāna, when I came here from the longhouse.pāsādato idhāgato; Understanding my mind,Tvaṁ mama cittamaññāya, you have come to ask for an eye.nettaṁ yācitumāgato.

Oh! My wish has come true!Aho me mānasaṁ siddhaṁ, My intention is fulfilled!saṅkappo paripūrito; Today I shall give to a supplicantAdinnapubbaṁ dānavaraṁ, a fine gift never before given.’ajja dassāmi yācake.

‘Come Sivaka, stand up,Ehi sivaka uṭṭhehi, do not hesitate or waver.mā dandhayi mā pavedhayi; Pluck out even both eyesUbhopi nayanaṁ dehi, and give them to the supplicant.’uppāṭetvā vaṇibbake’.

And then, urged on by me,Tato so codito mayhaṁ, Sivaka did as I said.sivako vacanaṁ karo; Extracting both eyes,Uddharitvāna pādāsi, he presented them to the trembling supplicant.tālamiñjaṁva yācake.

‘While planning to give, while giving,Dadamānassa dentassa, and after I had given,dinnadānassa me sato; my mind did not falter,Cittassa aññathā natthi, because it was solely for awakening.bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

It was not because I disliked my eyes,Na me dessā ubho cakkhū, or that I disliked myself,attā na me na dessiyo; but because omniscience is precious to me,Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, that is why I gave away my eyes.’”tasmā cakkhuṁ adāsahan”ti.