“Then again when I was “Punāparaṁ yadā homi, a baby quail in Magadha, magadhe vaṭṭapotako; I was young, with wings unsprouted, Ajātapakkho taruṇo, just a scrap of meat in the nest. maṁsapesi kulāvake.

With food she brought in her beak Mukhatuṇḍakenāharitvā, my mother nurtured me. mātā posayatī mamaṁ; I survived through her touch, Tassā phassena jīvāmi, for I had no physical strength. natthi me kāyikaṁ balaṁ.

One year, in the hot season, Saṁvacchare gimhasamaye, the forest caught fire. davaḍāho padippati; It came towards us, Upagacchati amhākaṁ, a conflagration with a blackened trail. pāvako kaṇhavattanī.

The fire roared and rumbled Dhamadhamāiti evaṁ, with great crests of flame, saddāyanto mahāsikhī; gradually burning Anupubbena jhāpento, closer to me. aggi mamamupāgami.

Alarmed and terrified at the fierce fire, Aggivegabhayātītā, my mother and father tasitā mātāpitā mama; abandoned me in the nest, Kulāvake maṁ chaḍḍetvā, saving themselves. attānaṁ parimocayuṁ.

I beat my feet and wings, Pāde pakkhe pajahāmi, but I had no physical strength. natthi me kāyikaṁ balaṁ; When unable to leave, Sohaṁ agatiko tattha, I thought this there: evaṁ cintesahaṁ tadā.

‘Those to whom I ought to run, ‘Yesāhaṁ upadhāveyyaṁ, scared and trembling with fear, bhīto tasitavedhito; have escaped, leaving me behind. Te maṁ ohāya pakkantā, How should I act today? kathaṁ me ajja kātave.

There is the quality of virtue in the world, Atthi loke sīlaguṇo, truth, purity, and mercy. saccaṁ soceyyanuddayā; By this truth I will make Tena saccena kāhāmi, a supreme declaration of truth.’ saccakiriyamuttamaṁ.

Inspired by the power of Dhamma, Āvejjetvā dhammabalaṁ, recollecting the former Victors, saritvā pubbake jine; relying on the power of truth, Saccabalamavassāya, I made a declaration of truth. saccakiriyamakāsahaṁ.

‘I have wings that do not fly! Santi pakkhā apatanā, I have feet that do not walk! santi pādā avañcanā; Mother and father have fled! Mātāpitā ca nikkhantā, Jātaveda the fire: go back!’ jātaveda paṭikkama’.

As I declared this truth Sahasacce kate mayhaṁ, the great crested flames Mahāpajjalito sikhī; withdrew sixteen leagues, Vajjesi soḷasakarīsāni, as if they had come to water. Udakaṁ patvā yathā sikhī; There is no-one to equal my truthfulness: Saccena me samo natthi, this is my perfection of truth.” Esā me saccapāramī”ti.

Vaṭṭapotakacariyaṁ navamaṁ.