18.
The Book of the Fifties
526.
The Niḷinikā Birth Story (1)
1.
Come, Niḷinikā, go, bring that brahmin to me."
2.
How shall I go to the forest frequented by elephants?"
3.
By a wooden raft vehicle, thus go, Niḷinikā.
4.
By your own beauty and form, you will bring him under your control."
5.
This charming hermitage of Isisinga is seen.
6.
Methinks he tends the fire for us, Isisinga of great supernormal power."
7.
Isisinga, frightened, entered the hermitage with its leaf-roof.
8.
Displaying her limbs, and revealing what is secret.
9.
Having gone forth from the hermitage, spoke these words.
10.
Even when thrown far, it returns, it does not go leaving it behind."
11.
There are many such trees, whose fruit has gone thus;
Even when thrown far, it returns, it does not go leaving me behind."
12.
Let the venerable one sit down here on this seat, let the venerable one eat roots and fruits from here."
13.
Tell me, being asked, this matter, has your head entered into a sheath?"
14.
He, having fallen upon me, suddenly approached, and having pushed me aside, he tore off my head.
15.
You are able to remove this itch, being entreated, may you do the brahmin's benefit."
16.
I shall make for you some astringent application, so that you may become supremely happy."
17.
Remove the itch by rubbing with your soft one, so that I might become supremely happy."
18.
Are roots and fruits abundant for you, do fierce beasts not harm you?"
19.
On its bank is my charming hermitage, oh, may you see my hermitage.
20.
Sung for all around by kimpurisas, oh, may you see my hermitage.
21.
That, endowed with such pieces of land, oh, may you see my hermitage.
21.
And hunters come to that place, may they not take away my roots and fruits from there."
23.
Let us both go to that hermitage, until father comes from the roots and fruits."
24.
Ask them about my hermitage, they will lead you to my presence."
25.
The fire too has not been lit by you, why do you brood like a fool?
26.
And there is a chair for me and water, you delight here as the supreme one from before.
27.
You do not speak to me today, my son, what has been lost, or what mental suffering is there?"
28.
Neither too tall nor too short, with very dark hair as his covering, sir.
29.
Two paired swellings born on his chest, resembling golden tinduka fruits, luminous.
30.
They shine as the young man walks about, and the thread which is the restraint of the matted hair.
31.
They tinkle as the young man walks about, like a flock of tiriṭi birds in the rainy season.
32.
They shine, stuck between his loins, with a hundred spokes, like lightning in the sky.
33.
Untouched they make constant play, alas dear father, what tree fruits are those?"
34.
His head in two parts, well divided in form, oh, would that my matted hair were thus!
35.
Like a blue water-lily stirred by the wind, just so this hermitage is fragrant.
36.
It gives off fragrance, stirred by the wind, like a forest in full bloom at the height of summer.
37.
And when thrown it comes back again to his hand, alas dear father, what tree fruit is that?"
38.
When opened they gladden the mind, surely he did not eat vegetables with them.
39.
His cry is delightful, sweet-voiced like a cuckoo, pleasant to the heart, it captivates my mind.
40.
I wish, dear sir, to see him again, for the young man was my friend before.
41.
By that very means the young man, having mounted over me, pressed the opened thigh with his buttocks.
42.
His arms are soft, with hair like collyrium, and his variegated round fingers are beautiful.
43.
Embracing with soft arms, of beautiful form, he attended upon me, giving delight.
44.
Soft hands, having touched me with them, he has gone from here, by that they burn me, dear father.
45.
Surely he does not strike trees with an axe, for there are no calluses on his hands.
46.
That I did, thereby there was happiness for me, and he said 'I am happy', O Brahmin.
47.
Wearied in appearance, having delighted in the water, again and again we go to the leaf hut.
48.
Nor would I eat your roots and fruits, until I see that practitioner of the holy life.
49.
Lead me to that direction quickly, dear son, lest I die at your hermitage.
50.
Lead me to that forest quickly, dear father, before I give up life at your hermitage."
51.
In this ancient residence of sages, one should not reach such discontent.
52.
And this contemptible one, for what reason is he devoted, who does not even know from where I have come.
53.
That same friend, not meeting, decays through not living together.
54.
Like a ripened crop by a great flood, you will quickly abandon this austere ascetic practice."
55.
Like a ripened crop by a great flood, you will quickly abandon this heat of asceticism."
56.
A wise man should not resort to them, having approached her, the practitioner of the holy life perishes."
The Niḷinikā Birth Story is first.
527.
The Ummādantī Birth Story (2)
57.
Who is seen like a flame of fire from afar, a blaze in the sky like on a mountain peak?
58.
Tell me quickly, being asked right here, whether she is unattached or has a husband."
59.
That man is yours alone, O protector of the earth, night and day diligent in your welfare.
60.
This is the wife of that Abhipāraka, Ummādantī by name, O king."
61.
For then, looking at me, she who drives mad made me a madman."
62.
Two full moons on that day I thought there were, having seen her dressed in red like a pigeon's foot.
63.
Stretching herself, she captivates my mind, like a kimpurisi born in the forest on the mountain.
64.
A woman wearing a single garment, like a frightened hind, looks at me.
65.
With rounded fingers, with gentle and skilled touch, attend to me from the head.
66.
Embrace me with soft arms, like a creeper embracing a tree grown in the great forest.
67.
Bring her face near to my face, as a drunkard brings a bowl of liquor to a drunkard.
68.
From then on, of my own mind, I know not anyone.
69.
I do not sleep by day and night, like one defeated for a thousand.
70.
For one night or two nights, I would become Abhipāraka;
Having delighted with Ummādantī, then I would be King Sivi."
71.
'The king's mind is fixed on Ummadantī, I give her to you, let her attend upon you.'"
72.
And there would be great vexation of your mind, having given your dear Ummadantī without seeing her."
73.
Since Ummadantī was given to you by me, enjoy exceedingly, O king, let go of craving."
74.
Beings see him doing this, and those men on earth who are engaged in practice.
75.
And there would be great vexation of your mind, having given your dear Ummadantī without seeing her."
76.
Go indeed to Ummadantī, venerable sir, as a lion approaches the cave of a rock."
77.
Nor, even if deluded and intoxicated by pleasure, do they practise evil deeds."
78.
I am your slave together with sons and wife, do as you please, master."
79.
He does not live a long life by that, even the gods would look upon him with contempt because of his evil.
80.
The receivers and the donors too there, they perform an action with pleasant fruit only."
81.
And there would be great vexation of your mind, having given your dear Ummadantī without seeing her."
82.
Since Ummadantī was given to you by me, enjoy exceedingly, O king, let go of craving."
83.
'Just as this is for me, so for others' - whoever knows thus, he has understood the Teaching.
84.
And there would be great vexation of your mind, having given your dear Ummadantī without seeing her."
85.
With what is dear I give you what is dear, O lord of men, those who give what is dear, O lord, obtain what is dear."
86.
For I would not endeavour to murder the rule by what is not the rule."
87.
I abandon her to all the people, O Sibyā, released by me, then you may call her."
88.
And great would be the blame against you, nor would there be any faction for you in the city."
89.
Let this come to me, O protector of the earth, do as you please, Sivi."
90.
Glory and prosperity depart from him, just as well-rained water from dry ground."
91.
I shall bear all with my chest, just as the earth for the immovable and the trembling."
92.
Alone I shall bear this burden, established in the Teaching, not abandoning anything."
93.
Devoted, I give you Ummadantī, as a king gives wealth to brahmins at a sacrifice."
94.
Gods and ancestors all would blame, and I would see evil in the future life."
95.
Since Ummadantī was given to you by me, enjoy exceedingly, O king, let go of craving."
96.
And the teachings of the good, well proclaimed, are difficult to transgress like the ocean's shore."
97.
Offerings made to you, O king, are indeed of great fruit, by my wish accept Ummadantī."
98.
Who else would be a bringer of safety for you here, what two-footed man in the world of the living at dawn?"
99.
May you, protected by the Teaching, live long, and teach me the Teaching, O protector of the Teaching."
100.
I will teach you the Teaching, practised by the good.
101.
Good is not betraying friends, happiness is the non-doing of evil.
102.
May humans dwell in happiness, in their own homes with cool shade.
103.
Those who, having known, act themselves, hear these similes of mine, you.
104.
All of them go crookedly, when the leader has gone crookedly.
105.
If he practises what is not the Teaching, how much more the other generation;
The whole country sleeps in suffering, if the king is not righteous.
106.
All the cows go straight, when the leader has gone straight.
107.
If he practises the Teaching, how much more the other generation;
The whole country sleeps in happiness, if the king is righteous.
108.
Or to conquer this entire earth, Abhipāraka.
109.
Cattle, slaves, and unwrought gold, cloth, and yellow sandalwood.
110.
Not for the sake of that would I act unrighteously, for I was born a bull among the Sivis.
111.
He, reflecting on the Teaching itself, therefore is not subject to the control of his own mind."
112.
You will exercise kingship for a long time, for such is your wisdom.
113.
Having neglected the Teaching, a warrior lord passes away from the kingdom.
114.
Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.
115.
116.
117.
118.
119.
120.
121.
122.
Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.
123.
By well-practised deeds they attained heaven, do not be negligent in the Teaching, O king."
The Ummādantī Birth Story is second.
528.
The Great Bodhi Birth Story (3)
124.
Why the hook and the bowl, and the double robe too, brahmin;
You appear to be in a hurry, which direction do you desire?"
125.
I do not know of barking by the tawny dog.
126.
Having heard you, together with your wife, faithless towards me, lord."
127.
I am exceedingly pleased with this, dwell here, brahmin, do not go."
128.
Now it is all red, it is time for me to depart.
129.
Before there is expulsion, I go away by myself.
130.
Even if one were to dig into it, the water would smell of mud.
131.
One should attend upon the devoted, like one desiring water at a lake.
132.
That is the quality of a bad person, who does not associate with one who associates.
133.
He is indeed the lowest of humans, like a monkey dependent on a branch.
134.
By this friends grow old, and by asking at the wrong time.
135.
One should request a request at the proper time, thus friends do not decay.
136.
Having informed you, we go, before we become disagreeable to you."
137.
You do not heed the word of us, your mindful attendants;
Thus we entreat you, may you again make a turn."
138.
Either for you, great king, or for me, O increaser of the realm;
Perhaps we might see each other, after the passing of days and nights."
139.
Unwillingly one does what is not to be done, or even what is to be done;
In what is to be done unwillingly, who here is defiled by evil?
140.
If your word is true, sir, the monkey was well destroyed by me.
141.
You would not censure me, for such is your doctrine."
142.
Supernormal power and the state of disaster, action good and evil;
A person who carries out his command, the Lord is defiled by that.
143.
If your word is true, sir, the monkey was well destroyed by me.
144.
You would not censure me, for such is your doctrine."
145.
The evil done in the past, that debt he is released from;
Released from the ancient debt, who here is defiled by evil?
146.
If your word is true, sir, the monkey was well destroyed by me.
147.
You would not censure me, for such is your doctrine."
148.
And from where matter comes into being, there indeed it returns;
Only here does the soul live, after death, after death it perishes.
149.
When the world is being annihilated, who here is defiled by evil?
150.
If your word is true, sir, the monkey was well destroyed by me.
151.
You would not censure me, for such is your doctrine."
152.
One would kill mother and father, and also the eldest brother;
One would kill sons and wife, if such were the purpose.
153.
One should not break a branch of that tree, for a betrayer of friends is evil.
154.
My need was for provisions too, the monkey was well destroyed by me.
155.
If your word is true, sir, the monkey was well destroyed by me.
156.
You would not censure me, for such is your doctrine."
157.
And one who holds to past deeds, and an annihilationist, and a man who knows political science.
158.
Such a one would do evil, and also cause another to do it;
Association with bad persons, ends in suffering, yielding bitterness.
159.
Having killed a ram, a she-goat and a goat, having terrified them, he flees wherever he wishes.
160.
Those who abstain from food and those who sleep on the bare ground, dust and dirt, striving in the squatting posture;
And periodic eating and abstaining from drinking, those of evil conduct claiming to be Worthy Ones.
161.
Such a one would do evil, and also cause another to do it;
Association with bad persons, ends in suffering, yielding bitterness.
162.
Those who described as hollow both the actions of others and one's own actions.
163.
Such a one would do evil, and also cause another to do it;
Association with bad persons, ends in suffering, yielding bitterness.
164.
A king would not support a carpenter, nor would he have machines made.
165.
Therefore he has machines made, a king supports a carpenter.
166.
This world would be annihilated, this generation would perish.
167.
Therefore crops ripen, and the country is protected for a long time.
168.
All of them go crookedly, when the leader has gone crookedly.
169.
If he practises what is not the Teaching, how much more the other generation;
The whole country sleeps in suffering, if the king is not righteous.
170.
All the cows go straight, when the leader has gone straight.
171.
If he practises the Teaching, how much more the other generation;
The whole country sleeps in happiness, if the king is righteous.
172.
He does not know its flavour, and its seed perishes.
173.
He does not know its flavour, and his country perishes.
174.
He knows its flavour, and its seed does not perish.
175.
He knows its flavour, and his country does not perish.
176.
That king, a warrior, is opposed by all medicinal plants.
177.
In exacting tribute and taxes, he is hostile to the treasury.
178.
Harming the exalted, the king is hostile to his army.
179.
The unrighteous warrior, he is hostile to heaven.
180.
He brings forth a cruel state, and is hostile to his sons.
181.
And one should not harm the sages, one should treat children and wife righteously.
182.
He causes his rivals to tremble, like Indra, the lord of the titans."
The Great Bodhi Birth Story is third.
The Fifty Section is concluded.
Its summary:
And the third is named Bodhisirī, thus three beautiful ones were spoken of by the conqueror.