Ayogharacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, kāsirājassa atrajo; Ayogharamhi saṁvaḍḍho, nāmenāsi ayogharo.

“Then again when I was the true-born son of the king of Kāsi, I grew up in an iron house, so I was named Ayoghara.

‘Dukkhena jīvito laddho, saṁpīḷe patiposito; Ajjeva putta paṭipajja, kevalaṁ vasudhaṁ imaṁ’.

‘Your life has been a painful one, as you’ve been raised in confinement. Today, my son, rule the entirety of this land.’

Saraṭṭhakaṁ sanigamaṁ, sajanaṁ vanditva khattiyaṁ; Añjaliṁ paggahetvāna, idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ.

Having bowed to the citizens of country and town, the king and his people, I raised my cupped palms and said the following.

‘Ye keci mahiyā sattā, hīnamukkaṭṭhamajjhimā; Nirārakkhā sake gehe, vaḍḍhanti sakañātibhi.

‘All the creatures of this earth— low, middle, or high— are unprotected in their own home, in which they grew up with their families.

Idaṁ loke uttariyaṁ, saṁpīḷe mama posanaṁ; Ayogharamhi saṁvaḍḍho, appabhe candasūriye.

It was unique in the world to be raised in confinement. I grew up in an iron house, scarcely lit by sun or moon.

Pūtikuṇapasampuṇṇā, muccitvā mātukucchito; Tato ghoratare dukkhe, puna pakkhittayoghare.

Filled with rotting carcass, I escaped my mother’s womb. Then to a viler suffering I was tossed in an iron house.

Yadihaṁ tādisaṁ patvā, dukkhaṁ paramadāruṇaṁ; Rajjesu yadi rajjāmi, pāpānaṁ uttamo siyaṁ.

Having fallen into such appallingly dreadful suffering, if I desired kingships, I’d be the worst of the worst.

Ukkaṇṭhitomhi kāyena, rajjenamhi anatthiko; Nibbutiṁ pariyesissaṁ, yattha maṁ maccu na maddiye’.

I’m fed up with the body, I have no need for kingship. I shall seek quenching where Death will not crush me.’

Evāhaṁ cintayitvāna, viravante mahājane; Nāgova bandhanaṁ chetvā, pāvisiṁ kānanaṁ vanaṁ.

Reflecting in this way, as the great crowd wailed, like a bull elephant bursting his ropes, I entered the forest grove.

Mātāpitā na me dessā, napi me dessaṁ mahāyasaṁ; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā rajjaṁ pariccajin”ti.

I had no dislike of my parents, nor did I dislike the great fame. But because omniscience is precious to me, that is why I forsook kingship.”

Ayogharacariyaṁ tatiyaṁ.