In the Minor Collection

By one wishing to exercise kingship, what function done is best?"

The heedless one has urged me, the heedful one, a father his son.

Then one should have duties performed, that is the religious duty, they say, O warrior.

Whatever one lustful and corrupt would do, that one should not do again thereafter.

All wealth perishes, that is called the king's misery.

In a man established in industriousness and energy, not envious, I delight."

The wretched one, great king, delights, she who breaks the wheel.

Dispel misfortune, great king, be the dwelling of good fortune.

The lord of Kāsi, cuts the root and the top of enemies.

He, having made energy in what is good, sets his mind on industriousness.

For one who is energetic, not negligent, the deities stand by.

And strive in duties, a lazy one does not find happiness.

It is able to make friends happy, and for the suffering of enemies."

By one wishing to exercise kingship, what function done is best?"

The gain of what is not obtained, and the protection of what is obtained.

Not gamblers, not cheats, dear son, not drunkards, not destroyers.

As a charioteer would control a chariot, he should have your duties performed.

One should not make deposits or give loans through reliance on others.

One should restrain one deserving restraint, one should encourage one deserving encouragement.

Let not unrighteous officials destroy your wealth and country.

For action done with haste, the fool feels remorse afterwards.

For through wrath many prosperous families have gone to ruin.

For women and men, let there not be painful consequences for you.

All wealth perishes, that is called the king's misery.

Now you should see, a doer of merit, not addicted to drink, not causing ruin;

Be moral, great king, the immoral one falls into misfortune."

Now you tell us, Jambuka, the highest power among powers."

Among these, physical power by name, is called the last power.

And the power of councillors, long-lived one, is called the third power.

All these, the wise one overpowers.

Supported by the power of wisdom, the wise one gains benefit.

Against his will, by force, another proceeds to take it.

The unwise lord of Kāsi, even with all of it, does not live.

A man endowed with wisdom here, even amidst suffering, finds happiness.

Without approaching one very learned, not discriminating what is righteous.

Exerts himself at the right moment, the fruit of his action succeeds.

For one who acts with weariness, the right purpose does not ripen.

For one who acts without weariness, the right purpose ripens.

These, dear son, you should practise, do not ruin yourself through inaction;

For through inaction the imprudent one sinks like a hut made of reeds."

Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.

Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.

Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.

Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.

Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.

Having practised the Teaching here, O king, you will go to heaven.

By well-practised deeds they attained heaven, do not be negligent in the Teaching, O king.

Associating with the wise, beautiful one, the wise know that completely by oneself."

Bulls among charioteers, you stand, who are you, how do they know you in the human world?"

We have come here for seeing the thoroughly restrained sages, to ask questions."

I ask you, demon of great majesty, how do they know you in the human world?"

He, the king of gods, has arrived here today, for seeing the thoroughly restrained sages."

I pay homage to you, noble ones, with a confident mind, you who are the foremost among humans here in the world of the living."

Step back from here, Thousand-eyed One, the odour of the sages is impure, king of gods."

Like a fragrant garland of variegated flowers, we desire this odour, venerable sir;

For the gods here do not perceive it as repulsive."

He, the king of gods, crusher of the titan hosts, wishes for an opportunity to ask a question.

Of the three kings, lords of men, and of Vāsava, the lord of the gods?"

The son of a teacher, well-disciplined in appearance, he will answer their questions."

Koṇḍañña, this is the nature among humans, that to the senior this burden comes."

For I shall explain each and every thing to you, having known by myself this world and the next."

Asked the first question, whatever was longed for."

Whose harsh speech spoken here should one endure, tell me, Koṇḍañña, this meaning."

One should endure harsh speech spoken by all, the good have said this patience is the highest."

How should one bear the speech of an inferior, tell me, Koṇḍañña, this meaning."

Whoever here should endure the speech of an inferior, the good have said this patience is the highest."

The good wander in deformed forms, therefore one should bear the speech of all."

Which a patient good person could obtain, for enmities are pacified by the power of patience."

Just as there were Daṇḍakī and Nāḷikera, and also Ajjuna and King Kalābu;

Tell me the destination of those great evil-doers, where were those harassers of sages reborn?"

He suffers in the hell named Kukkuḷa, sparks fall upon his body.

That Nāḷikera, dogs in the hereafter, having assembled, eat while he is trembling.

Having harassed the Resplendent One, Gotama, the patient one, the austere ascetic, the long-time practitioner of the holy life.

Having been reborn in the Kalābu Avīci, he suffers, in great torment, painful and frightening.

Should practise the Teaching towards ascetics and brahmins, one acting thus goes to the heavenly state."

What sort of person do they call virtuous, what sort of person do they call wise;

What sort of person do they call a good person, what sort of person does fortune not forsake?"

Does not speak falsehood for one's own sake, such a one they call virtuous.

One does not neglect the beneficial matter when the time has come, such a one they call wise.

Attentively does the function for one who is suffering, such a one they call a good person.

One who treats kindly, speaks kindly and smoothly, such a one fortune does not forsake."

Morality and fortune and the principle of the good, and wisdom - which do they say is more excellent?"

Morality and fortune and the principle of the good, become followers of the wise."

How acting, for what reason acting, what conduct, associating with what, does one obtain wisdom here;

Tell us now the practice for wisdom, how acting does a mortal become wise?"

One should attentively listen to the well-spoken words, acting thus a mortal becomes wise.

Thus the one with insight abandons desire for sensual pleasures that are suffering and great peril.

Having laid aside the rod towards all beings, blameless, he goes to the supreme state."

And for the risen King of Kāliṅga, sensual lust has been abandoned by all of you."

Make leave for assistance, so that we may attain your destination."

Pervade the body with extensive rapture, so that you may attain my destination."

We pervade the body with extensive rapture, so that we may attain your destination."

Be delighted in meditative absorption, always concentrated, this is the foremost delight of one gone forth."

They, filled with joy, giving thanks, the famous gods departed to the city of the gods.

Whoever, having become desirous, should listen to these, would obtain the distinction from before to after;

Having obtained the distinction from before to after, one should go beyond the sight of the King of Death."

Anuruddha was the Mountain, and Kaccāyana was Devala.

Nārada was the Elder Udāyī, the assembly was the Buddha's assembly;

Sarabhaṅga was the Lord of the World, thus remember the Jātaka."

Having won over the heavenly maiden Alambusā in the Sudhammā.

Go to entice the sage, Isisinga, O Alambusā.

The elder delighting in Nibbāna, block his paths."

Go to entice the sage, there are other nymphs too.

Let there be a turn for them too, let them too go for enticement."

Such excellent ones indeed, in the sorrowless Nandana grove.

As you understand, woman beautiful in all limbs.

By your own beauty and form, you will bring him under your control."

But I fear to assail him, for the brahmin is of risen radiance.

Having fallen into the round of rebirths through delusion, therefore my hairs bristle."

Wishing to mingle with Isisinga, Alambusā.

Covered with bimbī creeper buds, all around for half a yojana.

She approached Isisinga as he was polishing the fire-altar."

With variegated bracelets on your hands, adorned with jewelled earrings.

With thighs composed, a great illusion, a maiden lovely to behold.

Walking, lovely, they captivate my mind.

Your beautiful waist is broad, like the plank of an axle.

Full of dark eye ointment, it is seen from afar.

Milk-bearing, not fallen, breasts like half gourds.

With white covering, lovely, resembling the fourth sense.

Twice-born, arisen from flawless gums, your teeth are beautiful to see.

Long and broad, your eyes are beautiful to see.

Your hairs growing on the head, fragrant with sandalwood.

And the exertion of seers, of the restrained austere ascetics.

Who are you, or whose son are you? How may we know you?"

Come, my dear, let us delight together, both of us in our hermitage;

Come, I will embrace you, be skilled in pleasures."

Wishing to mingle with Isisinga, Alambusā.

Having approached unexpectedly, he fondled her in those excellent braids;

When he had fallen from the holy life, as was expected, then she was pleased.

Having understood her thought, Maghavā, elephant among gods.

Covered with fifty canopies, spread with a thousand cloths.

As if for just a moment, she held him for three years.

Saw green trees, all around the fire-hall.

Having looked all around, weeping, he shed tears.

Who indeed, through service, formerly enticed my mind?

Full of various treasures, like a ship upon the ocean."

I conquered mind with mind, but you, heedless, do not understand."

'Women like lotus flowers, you should understand those, young man.'

Thus my father instructed me, as he was compassionate towards me.

In the forest devoid of humans, today I grieve alone.

Either I shall become such again, or death will come to me."

Alambusā grasped the feet of Isisinga with her head.

A great benefit was accomplished by me, for the glorious Thirty-three;

By you the entire celestial city was shaken then."

May you, dear lady, be happy, go, maiden, as you please."

Having raised my joined palms, from that place she departed.

With fifty canopies above, spread over with a thousand;

Having mounted that very divan, went to the presence of the gods.

Delighted, glad at heart, pleased, the lord of the gods gave a boon."

May I not go as a seductress of sages, this boon I would wish for, Sakka."

How then, having abandoned wealth and possessions, did you go forth, leaving home, O wise one?"

Having seen the great result of merit, through faith I have gone forth, O king."

Tell me, being asked, this matter, having heard, confidence will arise in me."

Carrying a great snake with a grown body, going along rejoicing."

Where is this dreadful-bodied one being led, what will you do with the serpent, O sons of hunters?"

Sweet and fat and soft flesh, you do not know the flavour, O son of Videha."

We shall eat the meat rejoicing, for we indeed are enemies of serpents.

I give you sixteen oxen, release this serpent from bondage."

We shall do that word of yours, Āḷāra, and be our friend, O son of Videha."

And he, the serpent king, freed from bondage, departed facing east for a moment.

Then I followed behind him, having raised joined palms with ten fingers.

For painful is meeting again with the cruel ones, go beyond the sight of the Bhoja's sons.

Spread all over with rose-apple trees and rattan reeds, he entered, having crossed over fear, delighted.

He attended on me like a son to a father, speaking words pleasant to the heart, pleasant to the ear.

And I have attained my own supernormal power, Āḷāra, see my dwellings;

With abundant food, with plentiful food and drink, like the Masakkasāra of Vāsava."

The ground with low grass and little dust, pleasing, where they give up sorrow.

Ripe and half-ripe and fruiting, fully bloomed, bearing fruits in all seasons.

With silver door-bolts, made of gold, lofty, it shines like lightning in the sky.

Full of maidens adorned, wearing golden arm-bracelets, O king.

With a thousand pillars, of incomparable splendour, where his wife, the queen, was.

A beautiful gem endowed with genuine qualities, unprompted, she spread out a seat.

'Let the venerable one sit down here on this seat, for the venerable one is a certain one among my teachers.'

Washed my feet, O lord of men, like a wife to her husband, her dear lord.

Offered delightful food with various curries and diverse vegetables.

Beyond that, he approached me with great, divine sensual pleasures, not few.

Āḷāra, let these be at your pleasure, I give them to you, let them attend upon you."

'How was this obtained by the serpent, and by what means, how did you attain this foremost mansion?'"

I ask you, king of serpents, about this matter, how did you attain this foremost mansion?"

Through my own actions, non-evil, through merit, this mansion was obtained by me."

Tell me, king of serpents, this matter, how was this mansion obtained by you?"

He, having recognised life as brief, non-eternal, subject to change.

My house was like a well, and ascetics and brahmins were satisfied.

Clothing, sleeping place, food and drink, attentively we gave gifts there.

By that very means this mansion was obtained by me, with abundant food, with plentiful food and drink";

"With dancing and singing, endowed with beauty, long-lasting but not eternal in the future.

O fanged-weapon one, dependent on what did you come within reach of the hand of paupers?

O fanged-weapon one, dependent on what did you come to distress among the paupers?"

And the teachings of the good, well proclaimed, are difficult to transgress like the ocean's shore.

Then came sixteen sons of hunters, having taken a rope and a firm snare.

Such suffering I endured, not disrupting the Observance."

You are developed in splendour and wisdom, aspiring to what, O noble one, do you practise austere asceticism?"

Longing for the human realm, therefore having exerted, I practise austere asceticism."

Well-anointed with red sandalwood, like a king of gandhabbas you illuminate the directions.

I ask you, king of serpents, about this matter, by what is the human world better than here?"

And I, having obtained the human realm, will make an end of birth and death."

Having taken leave, I depart, O serpent, I have been away from home for long, O lord of men."

I wonder, did anyone not curse you? For dear to me is the sight of you, Āḷāra."

Even better than that is this for me, for your mind, O serpent, is devoted to me."

Having taken it, go to your own abode, having obtained wealth, release that gem."

Having seen the danger in the types of sensual pleasure, through faith I have gone forth, O king.

Having seen this too, I have gone forth, O king, unmistakable indeed is asceticism - it is better."

And having heard the serpent and you, dear one, I will make merit not trifling."

And having heard the serpent and me, O king, make merit not trifling."

Grey hair has arisen on my head, I now approve of the going forth."

Seven hundred are your wives, how will they fare?"

And desiring heaven for him, therefore I shall go forth."

That while I am wailing, without attachment you go forth, O lord.

That while I am wailing, without attachment you go forth, O lord."

That you go forth without attachment to us who are aged, O lord.

They too, sweet-spoken, not seeing you, methinks undergo suffering."

With all of you who are charming, even after standing for a long time, there is the nature of destruction."

That while we are wailing, without attachment you go forth, O lord."

And desiring heaven, therefore I shall go forth."

That while I am wailing, without attachment you go forth, O lord.

That while I am with child in my womb, without attachment you go forth, O lord.

May I, a widow alone, not see sufferings afterwards."

To a son of superior beauty, having left him, I shall go forth."

Ascend the excellent mansion, without attachment I shall go."

Whom not to be killed shall I slay, while relatives are looking on?"

Your father said to me, dear son, 'Without attachment I shall go.'"

Now that Sutasoma has gone forth, what shall I do now?"

I will seize you even by the hand, for you shall not go against our will."

Do not make an obstacle for me, who am aspiring for heaven."

Now that Sutasoma has gone forth, what shall I do with this?"

And the earth is conquered by you, delight, do not go forth, O lord."

And the earth is conquered by me, having left that, I shall go forth."

I give all that to you, delight, do not go forth, O lord."

And desiring heaven, therefore I shall go forth."

Though there are many obstacles for me, today indeed I shall go forth."

I too shall go forth, I do not endeavour to remain without you."

"Now that Sutasoma has gone forth, what shall we do now?"

In such a very small life, there is no time to be negligent.

In such a very small life, the blind fools are negligent.

Bound by the bondage of craving, they increase the class of titans."

Methinks the hair of our famous King of the Dhamma has been cut."

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by women's quarters.

Where the king wandered about, surrounded by the congregation of kinsmen."

Wearing the ochre robe, like an elephant he wanders alone."

Let not sensual pleasures destroy you, for charming indeed is the city of Sudassana.

You shall go to the celestial city, the residence of those who do meritorious deeds."