Saṅkhacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, Brāhmaṇo saṅkhasavhayo; Mahāsamuddaṁ taritukāmo, Upagacchāmi paṭṭanaṁ.

“Then again when I was a brahmin named Saṅkha, wanting to cross the great ocean, I was on my way to the port.

Tatthaddasaṁ paṭipathe, Sayambhuṁ aparājitaṁ; Kantāraddhānaṁ paṭipannaṁ, Tattāya kaṭhinabhūmiyā.

There I saw across the way one self-awakened, undefeated, walking a desert road whose ground was hot and rough.

Tamahaṁ paṭipathe disvā, imamatthaṁ vicintayiṁ; ‘Idaṁ khettaṁ anuppattaṁ, puññakāmassa jantuno.

Seeing him across the way, I thought this: ‘A field has appeared for a personage desiring merit.

Yathā kassako puriso, khettaṁ disvā mahāgamaṁ; Tattha bījaṁ na ropeti, na so dhaññena atthiko.

Now suppose a farmer seeing a fertile field does not sow seed there, then they are not in need of grain.

Evamevāhaṁ puññakāmo, Disvā khettavaruttamaṁ; Yadi tattha kāraṁ na karomi, Nāhaṁ puññena atthiko.

So too, if I, desiring merit, seeing a supreme excellent field, do not render service there, then I am not in need of merit.

Yathā amacco muddikāmo, rañño antepure jane; Na deti tesaṁ dhanadhaññaṁ, muddito parihāyati.

Or suppose a minister seeking the royal seal of authority over the people of the court, does not give them money and grain, their authority dwindles.

Evamevāhaṁ puññakāmo, Vipulaṁ disvāna dakkhiṇaṁ; Yadi tassa dānaṁ na dadāmi, Parihāyissāmi puññato’.

So too, if I, desiring merit, seeing an abundantly worthy recipient, do not give gifts to them, I will dwindle in merit.’

Evāhaṁ cintayitvāna, orohitvā upāhanā; Tassa pādāni vanditvā, adāsiṁ chattupāhanaṁ.

Reflecting in this way, I took off my sandals and bowed to his feet, giving him an umbrella and sandals.

Tenevāhaṁ sataguṇato, Sukhumālo sukhedhito; Api ca dānaṁ paripūrento, Evaṁ tassa adāsahan”ti.

Though I was a hundred times more delicate and pampered than him, fulfilling my giving, I gave like this to him.”

Saṅkhacariyaṁ dutiyaṁ.