“While walking, ascetic, you say ‘I’ve stopped.’ “Gacchaṁ vadesi samaṇaṭṭhitomhi, And I have stopped, but you tell me I’ve not. Mamañca brūsi ṭhitamaṭṭhitoti; I’m asking you this, ascetic: Pucchāmi taṁ samaṇa etamatthaṁ, how is it you’ve stopped and I have not?” ‘Kathaṁ ṭhito tvaṁ ahamaṭṭhitomhi’”.

“Aṅgulimāla, I have forever stopped—“Ṭhito ahaṁ aṅgulimāla sabbadā, I’ve laid aside violence towards all creatures. Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ; But you can’t stop yourself <j>from harming living creatures; Tuvañca pāṇesu asaññatosi, that’s why I’ve stopped, but you have not.” Tasmā ṭhitohaṁ tuvamaṭṭhitosi”.

“Oh, at long last a renowned great seer, “Cirassaṁ vata me mahito mahesī, an ascetic has followed me into this deep wood. Mahāvanaṁ samaṇo paccapādi; Now that I’ve heard your verse on Dhamma, Sohaṁ cajissāmi sahassapāpaṁ, I shall discard a thousand evils.” Sutvāna gāthaṁ tava dhammayuttaṁ”.

With these words, <j>the bandit hurled his sword and weapons Icceva coro asimāvudhañca, down a cliff into an abyss. Sobbhe papāte narake anvakāsi; He venerated the Holy One’s feet, Avandi coro sugatassa pāde, and asked the Buddha for the going forth right away. Tattheva pabbajjamayāci buddhaṁ.

Then the Buddha, the compassionate great seer, Buddho ca kho kāruṇiko mahesi, the teacher of the world with its gods, Yo satthā lokassa sadevakassa; said to him, “Come, monk!” “Tamehi bhikkhū”ti tadā avoca, And with that he became a monk. Eseva tassa ahu bhikkhubhāvo.

“He who once was heedless, “Yo ca pubbe pamajjitvā, but turned to heedfulness, pacchā so nappamajjati; lights up the world, Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, like the moon freed from clouds. abbhā muttova candimā.

Someone whose bad deed Yassa pāpaṁ kataṁ kammaṁ, is supplanted by the good, kusalena pidhīyati; lights up the world, Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, like the moon freed from clouds. abbhā muttova candimā.

A young mendicant Yo have daharo bhikkhu, devoted to the Buddha’s teaching, yuñjati buddhasāsane; lights up the world, Somaṁ lokaṁ pabhāseti, like the moon freed from clouds. abbhā muttova candimā.

May even my enemies <j>hear a Dhamma talk! Disāpi me dhammakathaṁ suṇantu, May even my enemies <j>devote themselves to the Buddha’s teaching! Disāpi me yuñjantu buddhasāsane; May even my enemies associate with those good men Disāpi me te manuje bhajantu, who establish others in the Dhamma! Ye dhammamevādapayanti santo.

May even my enemies <j>hear Dhamma at the right time, Disā hi me khantivādānaṁ, from those who teach acceptance, avirodhappasaṁsinaṁ; praising acquiescence; Suṇantu dhammaṁ kālena, and may they follow that path! tañca anuvidhīyantu.

For then they’d never wish harm Na hi jātu so mamaṁ hiṁse, upon myself or others. aññaṁ vā pana kiñcanaṁ; Having arrived at ultimate peace, Pappuyya paramaṁ santiṁ, they’d look after creatures firm and frail. rakkheyya tasathāvare.

For irrigators guide the water, Udakañhi nayanti nettikā, and fletchers straighten arrows; Usukārā namayanti tejanaṁ; carpenters carve timber—Dāruṁ namayanti tacchakā, but the astute tame themselves. Attānaṁ damayanti paṇḍitā.

Some tame by using the rod, Daṇḍeneke damayanti, some with goads, and some with whips. aṅkusebhi kasāhi ca; But the unaffected one tamed me Adaṇḍena asatthena, without rod or sword. ahaṁ dantomhi tādinā.

My name is ‘Harmless’, ‘Ahiṁsako’ti me nāmaṁ, though I used to be harmful. hiṁsakassa pure sato; The name I bear today is true, Ajjāhaṁ saccanāmomhi, for I do no harm to anyone. na naṁ hiṁsāmi kiñcanaṁ.

I used to be a bandit, Coro ahaṁ pure āsiṁ, the notorious Aṅgulimāla. aṅgulimāloti vissuto; Swept away in a great flood, Vuyhamāno mahoghena, I went to the Buddha for refuge. buddhaṁ saraṇamāgamaṁ.

I used to have blood on my hands, Lohitapāṇi pure āsiṁ, the notorious Aṅgulimāla. aṅgulimāloti vissuto; See the refuge I’ve found—Saraṇagamanaṁ passa, the conduit to rebirth is eradicated. bhavanetti samūhatā.

I’ve done many of the sort of deeds Tādisaṁ kammaṁ katvāna, that lead to a bad destination. bahuṁ duggatigāminaṁ; The result of my deeds has already struck me, Phuṭṭho kammavipākena, so I enjoy my food free of debt. anaṇo bhuñjāmi bhojanaṁ.

Fools and simpletons Pamādamanuyuñjanti, devote themselves to negligence. bālā dummedhino janā; But the wise protect diligence Appamādañca medhāvī, as their best treasure. dhanaṁ seṭṭhaṁva rakkhati.

Don’t devote yourself to negligence, Mā pamādamanuyuñjetha, or delight in erotic intimacy. mā kāmaratisanthavaṁ; For if you’re diligent and practice absorption, Appamatto hi jhāyanto, you’ll attain ultimate happiness. pappoti paramaṁ sukhaṁ.

It was welcome, not unwelcome, Svāgataṁ nāpagataṁ, the advice I got was good. netaṁ dummantitaṁ mama; Of the well-explained teachings, Savibhattesu dhammesu, I arrived at the best. yaṁ seṭṭhaṁ tadupāgamaṁ.

It was welcome, not unwelcome, Svāgataṁ nāpagataṁ, the advice I got was good. netaṁ dummantitaṁ mama; I’ve attained the three knowledges, Tisso vijjā anuppattā, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.” kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ.

“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root, Araññe rukkhamūle vā, on mountains, or in caves—pabbatesu guhāsu vā; it used to be that wherever I stood, Tattha tattheva aṭṭhāsiṁ, my mind was anxious. ubbiggamanaso tadā.

But now I lie down happily and stand up happily, Sukhaṁ sayāmi ṭhāyāmi, I live my life happily, sukhaṁ kappemi jīvitaṁ; out of Māra’s reach; Ahatthapāso mārassa, the teacher had sympathy for me. aho satthānukampito.

I used to be of brahmin birth, Brahmajacco pure āsiṁ, highborn on both sides, udicco ubhato ahu; now I’m a son of the Holy One, Sojja putto sugatassa, the Teacher, King of Dhamma. dhammarājassa satthuno.

I am rid of craving, free of grasping, Vītataṇho anādāno, my sense doors are guarded and well-restrained. guttadvāro susaṁvuto; I’ve destroyed the root of gloom, Aghamūlaṁ vadhitvāna, and attained the ending of defilements. patto me āsavakkhayo.

I’ve served the teacher Pariciṇṇo mayā satthā, and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions. kataṁ buddhassa sāsanaṁ; The heavy burden is laid down, Ohito garuko bhāro, the conduit to rebirth is eradicated.” bhavanetti samūhatā”ti.

… Aṅgulimālo thero ….