Bhisacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, kāsīnaṁ puravaruttame; Bhaginī ca bhātaro satta, nibbattā sotthiye kule.

“Then again when I was in the capital citadel of Kāsi, a sister and seven brothers were born in a learned family.

Etesaṁ pubbajo āsiṁ, hirīsukkamupāgato; Bhavaṁ disvāna bhayato, nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ.

I was the first-born of them all, furnishing with pure conscience. Seeing rebirth as fearful, I longed for renunciation.

Mātāpitūhi pahitā, sahāyā ekamānasā; Kāmehi maṁ nimantenti, ‘kulavaṁsaṁ dharehi’ti.

Sent for by my mother and father, my friends with one mind invited me to enjoy sensual pleasures, saying: ‘Maintain the family lineage.’

Yaṁ tesaṁ vacanaṁ vuttaṁ, gihīdhamme sukhāvahaṁ; Taṁ me ahosi kaṭhinaṁ, tattaphālasamaṁ viya.

The words they said about the ways a householder can find happiness, were hard for me to hear, like a heated ploughshare.

Te maṁ tadā ukkhipantaṁ, pucchiṁsu patthitaṁ mama; ‘Kiṁ tvaṁ patthayase samma, yadi kāme na bhuñjasi’.

When I turned down their proposal, they asked me what I wished for: ‘My dear, what is it that you wish, since you do not long for sensual pleasures?’

Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ, atthakāmo hitesinaṁ; ‘Nāhaṁ patthemi gihībhāvaṁ, nekkhammābhirato ahaṁ’.

I spoke to my beneficiaries, wanting what is best. ‘I wish not for the householder’s state, I long for renunciation.’

Te mayhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, pitu mātu ca sāvayuṁ; Mātāpitā evamāhu, ‘sabbeva pabbajāma bho’.

Hearing my words, they told my mother and father. My parents said this: ‘Sirs, let all of us go forth!’

Ubho mātāpitā mayhaṁ, bhaginī ca satta bhātaro; Amitadhanaṁ chaḍḍayitvā, pāvisimhā mahāvanan”ti.

So both my mother and father, sister and seven brothers, discarding countless riches, entered the great forest.”

Bhisacariyaṁ catutthaṁ.