Temiyacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, kāsirājassa atrajo; Mūgapakkhoti nāmena, temiyoti vadanti maṁ.

“Then again when I was the true-born son of the king of Kāsi, Mūgapakkha was my name, they called me Temiya.

Soḷasitthisahassānaṁ, na vijjati pumo tadā; Ahorattānaṁ accayena, nibbatto ahamekako.

None of the sixteen thousand court women had given birth to a male. After many days and nights I was born, the only one.

Kicchā laddhaṁ piyaṁ puttaṁ, abhijātaṁ jutindharaṁ; Setacchattaṁ dhārayitvāna, sayane poseti maṁ pitā.

To my father I was a dear son born with difficulty, a light-bringer of impeccable lineage. Holding a white parasol over my bed, my father provided for me.

Niddāyamāno sayanavare, Pabujjhitvānahaṁ tadā; Addasaṁ paṇḍaraṁ chattaṁ, Yenāhaṁ nirayaṁ gato.

Sleeping on the fine bed, then having awoken, I saw the pale umbrella, by which I had gone to hell.

Saha diṭṭhassa me chattaṁ, tāso uppajji bheravo; Vinicchayaṁ samāpanno, ‘kathāhaṁ imaṁ muñcissaṁ’.

At the sight of the umbrella a terrible dread arose in me. I reached the decision, ‘How can I be free of this?’

Pubbasālohitā mayhaṁ, devatā atthakāminī; Sā maṁ disvāna dukkhitaṁ, tīsu ṭhānesu yojayi.

A former blood-relation of mine, a goddess wishing to help, saw my suffering and enjoined me to three states.

‘Mā paṇḍiccayaṁ vibhāvaya, Bālamato bhava sabbapāṇinaṁ; Sabbo taṁ jano ocināyatu, Evaṁ tava attho bhavissati’.

‘Don’t show intelligence, be as a fool to all creatures, let all folk scorn you, thus you will achieve your goal.’

Evaṁ vuttāyahaṁ tassā, idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ; ‘Karomi te taṁ vacanaṁ, yaṁ tvaṁ bhaṇasi devate; Atthakāmāsi me amma, hitakāmāsi devate’.

When she had spoken, I said the following. ‘I shall do your bidding, just as you say, goddess. You want what’s best for me, mom, you desire my welfare, goddess.’

Tassāhaṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, sāgareva thalaṁ labhiṁ; Haṭṭho saṁviggamānaso, tayo aṅge adhiṭṭhahiṁ.

After hearing her words, I was like one lost at sea reaching the shore. I was thrilled, my mind elated, and I resolved on three factors.

Mūgo ahosiṁ badhiro, pakkho gativivajjito; Ete aṅge adhiṭṭhāya, vassāni soḷasaṁ vasiṁ.

I became deaf, and dumb, and crippled, unable to walk. Resolving on these factors, I lived for sixteen years.

Tato me hatthapāde ca, jivhaṁ sotañca maddiya; Anūnataṁ me passitvā, ‘kāḷakaṇṇī’ti nindisuṁ.

Then they rubbed my hands and feet, my tongue and ears as well, and seeing no defect in me, denounced me as ‘black-ear’.

Tato jānapadā sabbe, senāpatipurohitā; Sabbe ekamanā hutvā, chaḍḍanaṁ anumodisuṁ.

Due to that, the entire country, including the generals and priests, with one mind cheered as I was discarded.

Sohaṁ tesaṁ matiṁ sutvā, haṭṭho saṁviggamānaso; ‘Yassatthāya tapociṇṇo, so me attho samijjhatha’.

When I heard of their decision I was thrilled, my mind elated, ‘The goal for which I lived fervently I have achieved.’

Nhāpetvā anulimpitvā, veṭhetvā rājaveṭhanaṁ; Chattena abhisiñcitvā, kāresuṁ puraṁ padakkhiṇaṁ.

Bathed and oiled, with my turban wrapped, anointed, they held the umbrella as they paraded me around the city.

Sattāhaṁ dhārayitvāna, uggate ravimaṇḍale; Rathena maṁ nīharitvā, sārathī vanamupāgami.

After the seventh day holding the umbrella, when the sun’s orb had risen, I was taken out by chariot, until the charioteer came to a wood.

Ekokāse rathaṁ katvā, sajjassaṁ hatthamuccito; Sārathī khaṇatī kāsuṁ, nikhātuṁ pathaviyā mamaṁ.

Leaving the chariot in the open, the bridled horse released from his hand, the charioteer dug a pit to bury me in the ground.

Adhiṭṭhitamadhiṭṭhānaṁ, tajjento vividhakāraṇā; Na bhindiṁ tamadhiṭṭhānaṁ, bodhiyāyeva kāraṇā.

I was afraid for the many different resolves that I had undertaken, so I did not break that resolve, because it was solely for awakening.

Mātāpitā na me dessā, attā me na ca dessiyo; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā vatamadhiṭṭhahiṁ.

I had no dislike of my parents, nor did I dislike myself. But because omniscience is precious to me, that is why I resolved on my vow.

Ete aṅge adhiṭṭhāya, Vassāni soḷasaṁ vasiṁ; Adhiṭṭhānena me samo natthi, Esā me adhiṭṭhānapāramī”ti.

Having resolved the three factors, I lived for sixteen years. There is no one to equal my resolve: this is my perfection of resolve.”

Temiyacariyaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.