PSALMS OF THE BRETHREN

Canto III.
Psalms of three Verses

CLXXI
Paccaya

Translated from the Pali by Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys Davids.

Public Domain

[Pali]

 

Reborn in this Buddha-age at the city of Rohi, in a nobleman's family, he was named Paccaya.^[1] Inheriting the estate at his father's death, he decreed to hold a great ceremonial oblation, and a great assembly foregathered.

[159] At that congress, the Master, seated on a throne in a jewelled pavilion made by (his ancestor) Vessavana,^[2] taught the Norm, while all the people gazed at him. Even the great multitude understood the doctrine, but rāja Paccaya went further. For impelled by earlier causes, he renounced his estate and left the world. And even as he had vowed in Kassapa Buddha's time, so now, entering his cell, he vowed to attain before he left it again. And now at last, insight growing, and knowledge attaining full maturity, he attained arahantship.

Thereupon, celebrating his achievement, he thus confessed aññā:

[222] Five days have now gone by since I went forth,
A learner, and my mind not perfected.^[3]
Then in the heart of me within my cell
Retired uprose unfaltering resolve:

[223] I will not eat nor will I drink again,
Nor from this lodging let me issue forth,
Nor will I even lie upon my side,
While yet the dart of Craving lies undrawn.^[4]

[224] Thus steadfast I abiding - O behold
And mark the forward stride of energy:
The Threefold Wisdom have I made my own,
And all the Buddha bids us do is done!

 

---

^[1] Neither rāja nor city is found elsewhere. Pacchaya (pronounce thus) was the name of the elephant of Vessantara, a Sākiyan ancestor (Jāt., vi. 485, text).

^[2] Cf. p. 189, n. 1 Jāt., vi. 265 ff. (text).

^[3] A phrase of the Nikāyas (Majjh., i. 4; Saṃy., i. 121, v. 145).

^[4] A resolve enjoined on learners (Majjh., i. 480; Ang., i. 50; Saṃy., ii. 28).