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Jayamaïgalagàthà
Verses on the Blessings of Success
1. Bàhuü sahassam-abhinimmitasàyudhaü taü,
o Màra, the terrible one, who had created a thousand arms with weapons,
Girimekhalaü uditaghorasasenamàraü,
and had mounted on (the elephant) Girimekhala, with his army,
dànàdidhammavidhinà jitavà munindo -
did the lord of sages defeat by such things as generosity and so forth -
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
2. Màràtirekam-abhiyujjhita sabbarattiü,
o Even more terrible than Màra was the impatient and obdurate yakkha âlavaka,
ghoraü pan' âlavakam-akkhamathaddhayakkhaü,
who fought (with the Buddha) throughout the whole night,
khantãsudantavidhinà jitavà munindo -
(him) did the lord of sages defeat by his patience and self-control
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
3. Nàlàgiriü gajavaraü atimattabhåtaü,
The great elephant Nàlàgiri, who was completely intoxicated,
dàvaggicakkam-asanãva sudàruõaü taü,
fearful, like a jungle fire, a flaming discus, or a flash of lightning,
mettambusekavidhinà jitavà munindo -
did the lord of sages defeat by sprinkling (him) with the waters of friendliness -
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
4. Ukkhittakhaggam-atihatthasudàruõaü taü
With a sword that was lifted high in his outstretched hand, that very fearsome (bandit)
dhàvaü tiyojanapathaïgulimàlavantaü:
the one with a finger necklace (Aïgulimàla) ran for (the whole of) three leagues up the path:
iddhãbhisaïkhatamano jitavà munindo -
(him) did the lord of sages defeat with the psychic powers created in his mind -
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
5. Katvàna kaññham-udaraü iva gabbhinãyà,
Having made her midriff (look large) with a piece of wood, like one who is pregnant,
Ciÿcàya duññhavacanaü janakàyamajjhe:
Ciÿcà (then spoke) wicked words in the midst of a group of people:
santena somavidhinà jitavà munindo -
(her) did the lord of sages defeat by means of his gentleness and peacefulness-
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
6. Saccaü vihàya mati-Saccakavàdaketuü,
The arrogant Saccaka, who had given up the truth, and had challenged (the Buddha) to a debate,
vàdàbhiropitamanaü ati-andhabhåtaü,
with his mind fixed on his argument, completely blind to the truth,
paÿÿàpadãpajalito jitavà munindo -
(him) did the lord of sages defeat with the shining lamp of true wisdom -
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
7. Nandopanandabhujagaü vibudhaü mahiddhiü,
o Taming the wise dragon Nandopananda, who had great power,
puttena therabhujagena damàpayanto,
by way of his son (Moggallàna), who was a dragon of an elder,
iddhåpadesavidhinà jitavà munindo -
(thus) did the lord of sages defeat (him) by instructing (his son to use) psychic power -
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
8. Duggàhadiññhibhujagena sudaññhahatthaü,
He whose hand was badly bitten by the serpent of wrongly taken up views,
brahmaü visuddhijutim-iddhi-Bakàbhidhànaü,
the brahma Baka, who was clear and bright, and who possessed psychic powers,
ÿàõàgadena vidhinà jitavà munindo -
did the lord of sages defeat with the medicine of his super-knowledge -
taü tejasà bhavatu te jayamaïgalàni!
through that resplendent power may you have the blessings of success!
9. Età pi Buddhajayamaïgala-aññhagàthà,
o He who recites these eight verses each and every day,
yo vàcako dinadine sarate-m-atandã,
which are about the Buddha's (many) bless‚d successes, and remembers them with diligence,
hitvànanekavividhàni cupaddavàni,
after giving up (all) the many and various kinds of adversity,
mokkhaü sukhaü adhigameyya naro sapaÿÿo.
that wise man will (soon thereafter) attain both freedom and happiness.