• The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood Cariyāpiṭaka
  • The Chapter With Yudhañjaya Yudhañjayavagga
  • The Perfection of Truth (4th) Saccapāramī 4

The Fish King’s Conduct Maccharājacariya

“Then again when I was “Punāparaṁ yadā homi, a fish king in a great lake, maccharājā mahāsare; in the heat of the sun Uṇhe sūriyasantāpe, the water in the lake evaporated. sare udaka khīyatha.

Then crows and vultures, Tato kākā ca gijjhā ca, herons, hawks, and falcons, kaṅkā kulalasenakā; perched near the fish Bhakkhayanti divārattiṁ, and devoured them day and night. macche upanisīdiya.

There I had the following thought, Evaṁ cintesahaṁ tattha, being harassed with my relatives: saha ñātīhi pīḷito; ‘By what means ‘Kena nu kho upāyena, can I free my relatives from this suffering?’ ñātī dukkhā pamocaye’.

Considering the value of the Dhamma, Vicintayitvā dhammatthaṁ, I saw the truth as a support. saccaṁ addasa passayaṁ; Standing in the truth, Sacce ṭhatvā pamocesiṁ, I freed my relatives from that holocaust. ñātīnaṁ taṁ atikkhayaṁ.

Recollecting the true Dhamma, Anussaritvā sataṁ dhammaṁ, considered the ultimate goal, paramatthaṁ vicintayaṁ; I made a declaration of truth Akāsiṁ saccakiriyaṁ, that would last eternally in the world. yaṁ loke dhuvasassataṁ.

‘So long as I can recall myself, ‘Yato sarāmi attānaṁ, since I became aware, yato pattosmi viññutaṁ; I do not recall deliberately Nābhijānāmi sañcicca, harming even a single living creature. ekapāṇampi hiṁsitaṁ.

By this declaration of truth, Etena saccavajjena, may Pajjuna rain down! pajjunno abhivassatu; Thunder forth, Pajjuna! Abhitthanaya pajjunna, Disperse the trove of the crow! nidhiṁ kākassa nāsaya; Subject the crow to sorrow, Kākaṁ sokāya randhehi, and free the fish from sorrow!’ macche sokā pamocaya’.

As this excellent truth was declared, Saha kate saccavare, Pajjuna thundered forth. pajjunno abhigajjiya; In an instant the rain poured down, Thalaṁ ninnañca pūrento, soaking the uplands and valleys. khaṇena abhivassatha.

Having made such supreme effort Evarūpaṁ saccavaraṁ, for this excellent truth, katvā vīriyamuttamaṁ; I made the great cloud pour down, Vassāpesiṁ mahāmeghaṁ, relying on the force of the power of truth. saccatejabalassito; There is no-one to equal my truthfulness: Saccena me samo natthi, this is my perfection of truth.” esā me saccapāramī”ti.

Maccharājacariyaṁ dasamaṁ.