“I shall extol going forth “Pabbajjaṁ kittayissāmi, with the example of the Clear-eyed One, yathā pabbaji cakkhumā; the course of inquiry that led to Yathā vīmaṁsamāno so, his choice to go forth. pabbajjaṁ samarocayi.

‘This life at home is cramped, Sambādhoyaṁ gharāvāso, a realm of dirt.’ rajassāyatanaṁ iti; ‘The life of one gone forth is like an open space.’ Abbhokāsova pabbajjā, Seeing this, he went forth. iti disvāna pabbaji.

Having gone forth, he shunned Pabbajitvāna kāyena, bad deeds of body. pāpakammaṁ vivajjayi; And leaving verbal misconduct behind, Vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā, he purified his livelihood. ājīvaṁ parisodhayi.

The Buddha went to Rājagaha, Agamā rājagahaṁ buddho, the Mountainfold of the Magadhans. magadhānaṁ giribbajaṁ; He betook himself for alms, Piṇḍāya abhihāresi, replete with excellent marks. ākiṇṇavaralakkhaṇo”.

Bimbisāra saw him Tamaddasā bimbisāro, while standing atop his longhouse. pāsādasmiṁ patiṭṭhito; Noticing that he was endowed with marks, Disvā lakkhaṇasampannaṁ, he said the following: imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.

‘Pay heed, sirs, to this one, “Imaṁ bhonto nisāmetha, handsome, majestic, radiant; abhirūpo brahā suci; accomplished in deportment, Caraṇena ca sampanno, he looks just a plough’s length in front. yugamattañca pekkhati.

Eyes downcast, mindful, Okkhittacakkhu satimā, unlike one from a low family. nāyaṁ nīcakulāmiva; Let the king’s messengers run out, Rājadūtābhidhāvantu, and find where the mendicant will go.’ kuhiṁ bhikkhu gamissati”.

The messengers sent out Te pesitā rājadūtā, followed right behind, thinking piṭṭhito anubandhisuṁ; ‘Where will the mendicant go? Kuhiṁ gamissati bhikkhu, Where shall he find a place to stay?’ kattha vāso bhavissati.

Wandering indiscriminately for alms, Sapadānaṁ caramāno, sense doors guarded and well restrained, guttadvāro susaṁvuto; his bowl was quickly filled, Khippaṁ pattaṁ apūresi, aware and mindful. sampajāno paṭissato.

Having wandered for alms, Piṇḍacāraṁ caritvāna, the sage left the city. Nikkhamma nagarā muni; He betook himself to Mount Paṇḍava, Paṇḍavaṁ abhihāresi, thinking, ‘Here is the place I shall stay.’ Ettha vāso bhavissati.

Seeing that he had arrived at a place to stay, Disvāna vāsūpagataṁ, the messengers withdrew nearby, Tayo dūtā upāvisuṁ; but one of them returned Tesu ekova āgantvā, to inform the king. Rājino paṭivedayi.

‘Great king, the mendicant “Esa bhikkhu mahārāja, is on the east flank of Mount Paṇḍava. Paṇḍavassa puratthato; There he sits, like a tiger or a bull, Nisinno byagghusabhova, like a lion in a mountain cave.’ Sīhova girigabbhare”.

Hearing the messenger’s report, Sutvāna dūtavacanaṁ, the aristocrat set out Bhaddayānena khattiyo; hurriedly in his fine chariot Taramānarūpo niyyāsi, towards Mount Paṇḍava. Yena paṇḍavapabbato.

He went as far as vehicles could go, Sa yānabhūmiṁ yāyitvā, then dismounted from his chariot, Yānā oruyha khattiyo; approached on foot, Pattiko upasaṅkamma, and reaching him, drew near. Āsajja naṁ upāvisi.

Seated, the king greeted him Nisajja rājā sammodi, and made polite conversation. Kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ tato; When the courtesies were over, Kathaṁ so vītisāretvā, he said the following: Imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.

‘You are young, just a youth, “Yuvā ca daharo cāsi, a lad in the prime of life. Paṭhamuppattiko susu; You are endowed with beauty and stature, Vaṇṇārohena sampanno, like an aristocrat of good birth Jātimā viya khattiyo.

in glory at the army’s head, Sobhayanto anīkaggaṁ, surrounded by a troop of elephants. Nāgasaṅghapurakkhato; I offer you pleasures—enjoy them! Dadāmi bhoge bhuñjassu, But please tell me of your birth.’ Jātiṁ akkhāhi pucchito”.

‘Up north, O King, “Ujuṁ janapado rāja, on the slopes of the Himalayas, Himavantassa passato; full of wealth and strength, lies the land Dhanaviriyena sampanno, of one whose abode is among the Kosalans. Kosalesu niketino.

Their clan is named for the Sun, Ādiccā nāma gottena, they are Sakyans by birth. Sākiyā nāma jātiyā; I have gone forth from that family—Tamhā kulā pabbajitomhi, I do not yearn for sensual pleasure. Na kāme abhipatthayaṁ.

Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures, Kāmesvādīnavaṁ disvā, seeing renunciation as sanctuary, Nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato; I shall go on to strive; Padhānāya gamissāmi, that is where my mind delights.’” Ettha me rañjatī mano”ti.

Pabbajjāsuttaṁ paṭhamaṁ.