PSALMS OF THE BRETHREN
Canto I.
Psalms of Single Verses
XXVI
Abhaya
Translated from the Pali by Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys Davids.
Public Domain
[Pali]
He was reborn in this Buddha-age as the son of King Bimbisāra. The circumstances of his rebirth will be set forth later.[1] Nāṭaputta the Jain leader taught him a dilemma to set the 'Samana Gotama,' but in the Master's reply he recognized the defeat of the Jain and the supreme enlightenment of the Exalted One. Thereafter, when the king died, Abhaya grew anxious and left the world for the Order. Through the preaching of the Sutta on the parable of the hole in the yoke, he reached the First Path; again, stirring up insight, he realized arahantship.[2] Thereupon, glorying in that which he had won, he confessed aññā saying:
[26] Of him, the Buddha, kin o' th' sun, I heard
The word most eloquent, and hearing pierced
The subtle truth of things, as 'twere the tip
Of hair by cunning bowman's art transfixed.[3]
[1] See Sisters, p. 80 (where the printer altered the name to Abhaya). The dilemma episode occupies the Abhayarājakumāra Sutta (58) of the Majjh. Nik.
[2] I.e., the fruition of the Fourth, or Topmost, Path. This Sutta is probably that of the turtle and the floating trap (Saṃy., v. 455; Majjh. iii. 169).
[3] The typical test of skill with the bow (Dhp. Com., i., p. 288).
