9.
The Book of the Nines
427.
The Vulture Birth Story (1)
1.
There was a vulture who nourished his aged mother and father;
For them he brought python fat in abundance.
2.
Well-winged, endowed with strength, powerful, going far.
3.
Encircled by the ocean, circular like a wheel;
Then, dear son, turn back, do not go further from here.
4.
Looking down with bent neck, at the mountains and forests.
5.
Encircled by the ocean, circular like a wheel.
6.
And the sharp wind-crest carried away that strong bird.
7.
The bird met with disaster, having come under the control of the high winds.
8.
All met with disaster, because of the twice-born who did not heed exhortation.
9.
One who goes beyond the boundary, bloated, like the vulture who transgressed the instruction;
He indeed attains disaster, not having heeded the instruction of the elders.
The Vulture Birth Story is first.
428.
The Kosambī Birth Story (2)
10.
When the Community was being split, they did not think any further about another.
11.
As far as they wish to stretch their mouths, they do not know by what they are led.
12.
For those who harbour such thoughts, enmity is not appeased.
13.
For those who do not harbour such thoughts, enmity is appeased.
14.
By non-enmity they are appeased; this is an eternal principle.
15.
Those who understand this, thereby their quarrels are appeased.
16.
Even for those plundering the country, there is association;
17.
Having overcome all dangers, one should wander with him, glad and mindful.
18.
Like a king abandoning a conquered kingdom, one should wander alone, like an elephant in the forest.
19.
One should wander alone and not do evil deeds, living at ease, like an elephant in the forest.
The Kosambī Birth Story is second.
429.
The Great Parrot Birth Story (3)
20.
Having known the tree to be exhausted at the passing of the fruit, the birds go from there in every direction.
21.
Please tell me that, O one resembling spring, why, parrot, do you not abandon the dry tree?
22.
Whether eliminated or not eliminated, they do not give up that one, the peaceful, recollecting the principle of the good.
23.
That I am not able to abandon, being intent on livelihood, having known it to be exhausted, for this is not the principle.
24.
If you approve of this principle, you are praiseworthy among those who understand.
25.
Choose a boon, O bent-necked one, whatever you wish in your mind.
26.
May it stand shining, with branches, bearing fruit, fully grown, with sweet fruit."
27.
May it stand shining, with branches, bearing fruit, fully grown, with sweet fruit."
28.
Just as I am happy today, having seen the fruitful tree.
29.
He departed together with his wife, to the Nandana grove of the gods.
The Great Parrot Birth Story is third.
430.
The Lesser Parrot Birth Story (4)
30.
Why then is the parrot's mind delighted in a dry, hollow tree?
31.
Even knowing it to be fruitless, that same friendliness remains as before.
32.
Having left it, the birds go - what fault do you see, twice-born?
33.
Imprudent, whose wisdom is for their own benefit, they become partisans.
34.
If you approve of this principle, you are praiseworthy among those who understand.
35.
Choose a boon, O bent-necked one, whatever you wish in your mind.
36.
Like a poor man having found a treasure, I would rejoice again and again.
37.
Its branches grew, with cool shade, delightful.
38.
Just as I am happy today, having seen the fruitful tree.
39.
He departed together with his wife, to the Nandana grove of the gods.
The Lesser Parrot Birth Story is fourth.
431.
The Haritaca Birth Story (5)
40.
Is this word hollow, are you living purely?
41.
I have entered upon a wrong path, infatuated by things leading to delusion.
42.
By which one should dispel the arisen lust from the mind, why not?
43.
Lust, hate, vanity, delusion, where wisdom does not stand fast.
44.
Wise and learned too, thus is the venerable one esteemed by us.
45.
Beautiful ones connected with lust, O king.
46.
Abandon it, may there be good fortune for you, by many you are considered wise.
47.
I shall seek their root, I shall cut off lust together with its bond.
48.
Having removed sensual lust, was reborn in the Brahma world.
The Haritaca Birth Story is fifth.
432.
The Padakusalamāṇava Birth Story (6)
49.
O venerable sir being carried away, give me one little verse.
50.
In the midst of that I shall die, fear has arisen from the refuge.
51.
She crushes my head, fear has arisen from the refuge.
52.
That burns my limbs, fear has arisen from the refuge.
53.
That food eaten destroys me, fear has arisen from the refuge.
54.
That breaks my limbs, fear has arisen from the refuge.
55.
Seek the directions, O crooked-limbed ones, fear has arisen from the refuge.
56.
She throws me out from the house, fear has arisen from the refuge.
57.
He throws me out from the house, fear has arisen from the refuge.
58.
Where there is water, there it is ablaze, where there is security, from there is fear.
59.
Dwell self-guarded, fear has arisen from the refuge.
The Padakusalamāṇava Birth Story is the sixth.
433.
The Lomasakassapa Birth Story (7)
60.
If you would sacrifice a sacrifice, with the sage Lomasakassapa.
61.
I would not wish for it together with blame, thus, Seyya, understand.
62.
Whatever livelihood is by downfall, or by unrighteous conduct.
63.
This very livelihood is better, than seeking by what is not the Teaching.
64.
Not harming another in the world, even that is better than kingship.
65.
The shore of the ocean is power, women are power beyond power.
66.
Performed the vājapeyya sacrifice with the sage Lomasakassapa, one of fierce austerity, peaceful.
67.
I shall seek its root, I shall cut off lust together with its bond.
68.
I will practise austere asceticism, having abandoned sensual pleasures, let the country and Candavatī be yours alone.
The Lomasakassapa Birth Story is the seventh.
434.
The Cakkavāka Birth Story (8)
69.
Which egg-born one do the egg-born praise among humans, that birth? Please tell me that.
70.
We are considered of good nature among birds, lovely we wander upon the ocean.
71.
What food do you eat, you superior ones, and your power and beauty are not insignificant.
72.
We feed on moss, our food is without living beings, we do not do evil even for the sake of food.
73.
It was otherwise for me before, thus indeed doubt has arisen for me here."
74.
I obtain flavour to eat among human beings, like a hero having conquered the battle-front;
Yet my beauty is not such, ruddy goose, as yours.
75.
You are not satisfied with tree fruits, crow, nor with the meat that is in the midst of the cemetery.
76.
Thereupon his own nature reproaches him, reproached he gives up beauty and strength.
77.
Then one has both strength and beauty, for not all beauty comes from food.
The Cakkavāka Birth Story is the eighth.
435.
The Haliddirāga Birth Story (9)
78.
But those who endure in the village, they are nobler than you.
79.
Dear father, follow in a person? Tell me this when asked.
80.
And is willing to listen and patient, associate with him, gone from here.
81.
As if established upon the breast, associate with him, gone from here.
82.
One who does what is pure, wise, associate with him, gone from here.
83.
Such a one, dear son, do not associate with, even if there were no other human being.
84.
Avoid from afar, like a charioteer an uneven path.
85.
Do not keep company with a fool, as with an enemy always.
86.
Do not keep company with a fool, painful is the meeting with fools.
The Haliddirāga Birth Story is the ninth.
436.
The Samugga Birth Story (10)
87.
Are you, sirs, well and free from illness? For it has been a long time since your arrival here."
88.
With reference to what was this spoken by you, O seer, "From where do you come, sirs, you three persons?"
89.
She, though guarded, as if gone into your belly always, with the son of the wind, there she delighted.
90.
He saw his wife, pure, wearing a garland, there delighting with the son of the wind.
91.
Just as indeed she was guarded here like my own life, corrupted towards me, she delights in another.
92.
She, having transgressed the teaching, practised what is not the teaching - intimacy with women is of the nature of non-action.
93.
She, having transgressed the teaching, practised what is not the teaching - intimacy with women is of the nature of non-action.
94.
For these are like an abyss, a precipice; one heedless here undergoes disaster.
95.
Aspiring to this safe, highest state, one should not make intimacy with womankind.
The Samugga Birth Story is the tenth.
437.
The Pūtimaṃsa Birth Story (11)
96.
Such a companion, one should avoid from afar.
97.
She grieved for the mother of the ram, who came but went back.
98.
You who, having made an abode for the dead, look about at the wrong time.
99.
Like the rotten meat one grieves, whoever looks about at the improper time.
100.
My husband has been revived, come, you who ask about the beloved.
101.
With a great retinue, I shall come, prepare food.
102.
And what are all their names? Tell me this when asked.
103.
Such is my retinue, prepare food for them.
104.
I shall tell you, Āḷi, about health, dwell right here, do not go.
The Pūtimaṃsa Birth Story is the eleventh.
438.
The Daddara Birth Story (12)
105.
Sink your fangs into him, let him not escape from you alive.
106.
I do not see a spot on him where I might sink my fangs.
107.
Even if one were to give him the whole earth, one would indeed not please him.
108.
What function or purpose is there here for you, tell me, being asked, this matter.
109.
Having heard the man's fields of action, I do not think the partridge is happy today.
110.
Or what acknowledgment of the man having heard, do you suspect the partridge by the young man?
111.
With actors it was practised together with fishermen, and fighting with a stick in the midst of a festive gathering.
112.
Pus was drained at midnight, hands were burnt by receiving almsfood.
113.
Just as this ball of hair is seen, cattle were destroyed, what then of the lizard?
The Daddara Birth Story is the twelfth.
The Nonad Chapter is concluded.
Its summary:
The Ageless-Deathless, the Crow, the Endurance, Whence, then the Twelve, the Seeing, and the Lizard-fear.