5.
The Book of the Fives
1.
The Chapter on the Jewelled Earring
351.
The Maṇikuṇḍala Birth Story (5-1-1)
In all possessions without remainder, why do you not grieve in time of sorrow?
Non-eternal are the wealthy, O lover of sensual pleasures, therefore I do not grieve in time of sorrow.
The worldly adversities are known by me, O enemy, therefore I do not grieve in time of sorrow.
A king not acting considerately is not good, whoever is a wise one prone to wrath, that is not good.
For a king who acts considerately, fame and renown increase.
The Maṇikuṇḍala Birth Story is the first.
352.
The Sujāta Birth Story (5-1-2)
Do you prattle 'Eat, eat!' to an old bull whose life has departed?
And you talk hollow nonsense, just as a fool would."
The ears remain just so, methinks the bull should rise up.
Crying at a clay stupa, are you not yourself the fool?
Pouring down as if with water, he extinguished all my anguish.
He who, for me overcome with sorrow, dispelled my sorrow for my father.
I do not grieve, I do not weep, having heard you, young man.
They turn one away from sorrow, as Sujāta did his father.
The Sujāta Birth Story is the second.
353.
The Venasākha Birth Story (5-1-3)
When benefit has passed, do not be bewildered, like one with a broken raft in the middle of the ocean.
The doer of good reaps good, the doer of evil reaps evil;
Whatever kind of seed one sows, that kind of fruit one reaps.
Do not do evil, which done, afterwards torments you.
Adorned, anointed with the essence of sandalwood, that very suffering has returned to me.
Without seeing Ubbarī, I shall die, that will be more painful for me than this.
The Venasākha Birth Story is the third.
354.
The Uraga Birth Story (5-1-4)
So too when the body is useless, when the departed one has died.
Therefore I do not grieve for this, he has gone to whatever destination is his.
As he came, so he went, what lamentation is there for that?
Therefore I do not grieve for this, he has gone to whatever destination is his.
For relatives, friends and companions, there would only be more discontent.
Therefore I do not grieve for this, he has gone to whatever destination is his.
Such is this, whoever bewails the departed.
Therefore I do not grieve for this, he has gone to whatever destination is his.
Such is this, whoever bewails the departed.
Therefore I do not grieve for this, he has gone to whatever destination is his.
The Snake Birth Story is the fourth.
355.
The Ghaṭa Birth Story (5-1-5)
Your facial complexion is serene, why do you not grieve, Ghaṭa?
Therefore, crow, I do not grieve, there is no companionship in sorrow.
Enemies become glad, for one pierced by a dart, being transformed.
Misfortune will not come to me standing there, thus I have seen the state.
Even the whole earth will not bring happiness to him.
The Ghaṭa Birth Story is the fifth.
356.
The Koraṇḍiya Birth Story (5-1-6)
Again and again, appearing to be in a hurry, Koraṇḍiya, what now is your purpose here?
Having scattered the plateaus and the mountains, therefore I throw a stone into the cavern.
I think, desiring to fill just this one cavern, Koraṇḍiya, you will leave the world of the living.
Just so you, Brahmā, these human beings of different views, you will not lead them.
Just as the earth cannot be made level by a human being, so are human beings.
The Koraṇḍiya Birth Story is the sixth.
357.
The Laṭukikā Birth Story (5-1-7)
With my wings I make a salutation to you, do not kill my little children, the weak one.
With my wings I make a salutation to you, do not kill my little children, the weak one;
Even a hundred thousand such as you, I could crush with my left foot.
I will cause you harm, O king of serpents, you who killed my little children, the weak one.
These killed the elephant, see the enemy of an enemy;
Therefore one should not make enmity, even with anyone disagreeable.
The Laṭukikā Birth Story is the seventh.
358.
The Lesser Dhammapāla Birth Story (5-1-8)
Release this Dhammapāla, cut off my hands, O king.
Release this Dhammapāla, cut off my feet, O king.
Release this Dhammapāla, cut off my head, O king.
Who do not say to the king, "Do not slay your own son."
Who do not say to the king, "Do not slay your own son."
The heir of the earth, my life is being obstructed, O king.
The Lesser Dhammapāla Birth Story is the eighth.
359.
The Golden Deer Birth Story (5-1-9)
Cut the leather strap snare, I shall not delight alone in the forest.
The strong leather snare cuts through my foot.
Having killed me first, afterwards slay the great deer.
May you, dear lady, be happy, and also this great deer.
Just as I rejoice today, having seen the great deer released.
The Golden Deer Birth Story is the ninth.
360.
The Suyonandī Birth Story (5-1-10)
Far from here is Suyonandī, desires for Tamba pierce me.
How did the meeting in heaven of her and you come about.
The boat was broken by sea-monsters, I floated on a plank.
Limbs lifted me up, the gracious one, as a mother her own son.
And with herself too, the soft-eyed one - thus, O Tamba, understand.
The Suyonandī Birth Story is the tenth.
The Jewelled Earring Chapter is the first.
Its summary:
Cave, again elephant, destroyer of prosperity, deer, highest, heaven, excellent - with these, ten.
2.
The Chapter on Beauty and Form
361.
The Vaṇṇāroha Birth Story (5-2-1)
Subāhu is not better than me, Sudāṭha, thus you speak.
Sudāṭha is not better than me, Subāhu, thus you speak.
I will now not delight in living together with you.
Would quickly break with a friend, and would generate much enmity.
But one in whom one sleeps as a son upon the breast, he indeed is a friend who cannot be divided by others.
The Vaṇṇāroha Birth Story is the first.
362.
The Sīlavīmaṃsa Birth Story (5-2-2)
Morality is better than learning, thus there is no doubt for me.
For one not endowed with morality, no benefit from learning is found.
They, having abandoned both worlds, are reborn in an unfortunate realm.
Having practised the Teaching here, they become equal in the celestial abode.
But one's own morality, pure, is for the future state and for happiness.
The Testing of Morality Birth Story is the second.
363.
The Shame Birth Story (5-2-3)
One who does not undertake better actions, one should know him thus: "He is not mine."
One not doing but speaking - the wise fully understand him.
But one in whom one sleeps as a son upon the breast, he indeed is a friend who cannot be divided by others.
One expecting the fruit develops it, bearing the manly burden.
One becomes free from anguish, sinless, drinking the flavour of joy in the Dhamma.
The Shame Birth Story is the third.
364.
The Firefly Birth Story (5-2-4)
Saw a firefly at night, and thought it to be fire.
With wrong perception, he was not able to kindle a fire.
Milking a cow from the horn, where one does not find milk.
By refutation of enemies, and by support of friends.
The protectors of the world dwell on the earth, the ground.
The Firefly Birth Story is the fourth.
365.
The Snake-Catcher Birth Story (5-2-5)
Bring ripe mangoes, let us eat your energy.
Where have you heard or seen a monkey named Sumukha?
Having entered the grain market, intoxicated, struck me who was hungry.
Indeed I, when asked, would not give, for thus I am frightened by fear.
With such a one, the wise one is worthy to unite in companionship and friendship.
The Snake-Catcher Birth Story is the fifth.
366.
The Gumbiya Birth Story (5-2-6)
Gumbiya, seeking food, placed the poison in the forest.
For them it was bitter, by that they met with death.
They are happy among the afflicted, quenched while others are burning.
This is bait and bondage, the guise of death dwelling in the cave.
Those who always avoid them, have overcome attachment in the world.
The Gumbiya Birth Story is the sixth.
367.
The Sāḷiya Birth Story (5-2-7)
By that snake this one was bitten, the evil adviser was slain.
Thus he lies slain, just as this man is slain.
Thus he lies slain, just as this man is slain.
That very dust strikes him, thus this person is destroyed.
The evil returns to that very fool, like subtle dust thrown against the wind.
The Sāḷiya Birth Story is the seventh.
368.
The Tacasāra Birth Story (5-2-8)
Yet with serene features, why do you not grieve?
Knowing him grieving and suffering, his enemies become pleased.
His enemies become unhappy, seeing his face unchanged, as before.
In whatever way, wherever one might obtain benefit, in that way, there one should strive.
Not grieving, one should endure, "Action is firm, what can I do now?"
The Tacasāra Birth Story is the eighth.
369.
The Mittavindaka Birth Story (5-2-9)
That having descended upon my head, a wheel revolves on my skull.
And the Brahma's higher mansion, for what purpose have you come here?
Thus with this perception, see me gone to disaster.
And with sixteen thirty-two, through excessive greed he encountered the wheel;
For the man destroyed by desire, the wheel revolves upon his head.
Those who covet it, they become bearers of the wheel.
The Mittavindaka Birth Story is the ninth.
370.
The Palāsa Birth Story (5-2-10)
Seated just in your lap, he will cut your vital spots."
Just as a father and mother, so will he be to me."
Having informed you, we go, its growth does not please me.
Not having understood the swan, great fear has come to me.
Considering the obstruction of that, the wise one strives for the destruction of the root.
The Palāsa Birth Story is the tenth.
The Vaṇṇāroha Chapter is the second.
3.
The Chapter on the Path
371.
The Dīghīti-Kosala Birth Story (5-3-1)
Is there indeed any method, which might release you from suffering?
There is indeed no method, which might release me from suffering.
Protects at the time of death, just so other wealth is useless.
For those who harbour such thoughts, enmity is not appeased.
For those who do not harbour such thoughts, enmity is appeased.
By non-enmity they are appeased; this is an eternal principle.
The Dīghīti-Kosala Birth Story is the first.
372.
The Young Deer Birth Story (5-3-2)
It is not good for an ascetic that you grieve for the departed.
Love arises in the heart, it is not possible not to grieve for that.
Therefore, sage, do not weep, the good have said that weeping is useless.
Let us all come together and weep, for each other's relatives.
Pouring down as if with water, he extinguished all my anguish.
He who, for me overcome with sorrow, dispelled my sorrow for my son.
I do not grieve, I do not weep, having heard you, Vāsava.
The Young Deer Birth Story is the second.
373.
The Mouse Birth Story (5-3-3)
I alone know, the mouse was destroyed in the well.
Having killed the mouse in the well, you wish to eat the barley.
Having seized this long stick, I will not give you your life."
For I was wished to be killed by my son, I was released by verses.
One should know the meaning of all, but should not apply all;
There is such a time, where learning brings benefit.
The Mouse Birth Story is the third.
374.
The Lesser Archer Birth Story (5-3-4)
Come back quickly, swiftly, help me too cross over now.
The lady might also exchange for another, I will go farther away from here.
There is no dancing or singing here, nor well-composed music;
At a time not for laughing, beautiful-waisted one, why do you laugh, lovely one?"
Having lost the fish and the piece of flesh, you brood like a miserable wretch.
Having lost both husband and lover, methinks you yourself are brooding.
Surely I, having gone from here, shall be obedient to my husband."
Evil has indeed been done by you, and you will do so again.
The Lesser Archer Birth Story is the fourth.
375.
The Pigeon Birth Story (5-3-5)
I will now make satisfaction of heart, for thus the meat and vegetables give me strength.
Come down here, crane, my friend the crow is fierce."
With hair torn off by the cook's son, smeared with the best of flour.
And a lapis lazuli at your neck, did you go to Kajaṅgala?
Having plucked feathers there, they bind a collar around the neck.
For human wealth is not easily enjoyed by birds.
The Pigeon Birth Story is the fifth.
The Half Chapter is the third.
Its summary:
Then Wheel, Palāsa, with King, Mindful, Barley, Ignorant, Pigeon - fifteen.
Then the chapter summary:
The great sage spoke verses on the holy life, freed, full of meaning and well-phrased.
The Book of Fives is concluded.