Kururājacariya

“Punāparaṁ yadā homi, indapatthe puruttame; Rājā dhanañcayo nāma, kusale dasahupāgato.

“Then again when I reigned in Indapatta, the capital city, as the king named Dhanañjaya I was blessed with the ten skillful deeds.

Kaliṅgaraṭṭhavisayā, brāhmaṇā upagañchu maṁ; Āyācuṁ maṁ hatthināgaṁ, dhaññaṁ maṅgalasammataṁ.

From the realm of Kaliṅga brahmins came to me requesting the royal elephant that was lucky and deemed auspicious.

‘Avuṭṭhiko janapado, dubbhikkho chātako mahā; Dadāhi pavaraṁ nāgaṁ, nīlaṁ añjanasavhayaṁ’.

‘Our nation is suffering from drought, food is scarce and famine abounds, please give the noble elephant of midnight hue named Añjana.’

‘Na me yācakamanuppatte, paṭikkhepo anucchavo; Mā me bhijji samādānaṁ, dassāmi vipulaṁ gajaṁ’.

‘When supplicants come to me it is unbefitting to refuse. Let not my vow be broken, I shall give the mighty elephant.’

Nāgaṁ gahetvā soṇḍāya, bhiṅgāre ratanāmaye; Jalaṁ hatthe ākiritvā, brāhmaṇānaṁ adaṁ gajaṁ.

Taking the elephant by the trunk, and a bejeweled ceremonial vessel, I sprinkled water on the hand, and gave the elephant to the brahmins.

Tassa nāge padinnamhi, amaccā etadabravuṁ; ‘Kiṁ nu tuyhaṁ varaṁ nāgaṁ, yācakānaṁ padassasi.

When I had given the elephant, my ministers said, ‘Why did you give the noble elephant to the supplicants?

Dhaññaṁ maṅgalasampannaṁ, saṅgāmavijayuttamaṁ; Tasmiṁ nāge padinnamhi, kiṁ te rajjaṁ karissati’.

He was lucky and endowed with the auspicious, supreme victor in battle. Now you have given the elephant, how shall you govern the realm?’

‘Rajjampi me dade sabbaṁ, sarīraṁ dajjamattano; Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ, tasmā nāgaṁ adāsahan’”ti.

‘I would give the entire realm and my physical body as well. Omniscience is precious to me, which is why I gave away the elephant.’”

Kururājacariyaṁ tatiyaṁ.