In the present one monk kills a goose with a slingshot. When the Buddha heard of this he told a story of how the people in the land of the Kurus used to keep the precepts, rain fell on time, and the people were prosperous. When afflictions fell on a neighbouring kingdom an embassy was sent to find out the secret of the Kurus’ success. The people in Kuru were so scrupulous they had doubts about their virtue over even the smallest of faults.

1. Tava saddhañ-ca sīlañ-ca viditvāna janādhipa,
Vaṇṇaṁ añjanavaṇṇena Kāliṅgasmiṁ nimimhase ti.

Knowing your faith and your virtue, ruler of the people, we did exchange gold in Kaliṅga with the collyrium-coloured one.

In this connection, faith, because of having faith in deeds and results, he had trustworthy faith.

Virtue means restraint in virtue, non-transgression of virtue.

Gold means at that time in the country gold was said, this is an abbreviated teaching, because by this word all wrought and unwrought gold and so on, riches and crops, are comprised.

With the collyrium-coloured one, with your elephant coloured the same as a heap of collyrium.

In Kaliṅga means near the Kaliṅga king.

We did exchange means through barter we took hold of it, because of using it, or, we put it in the stomach, this is the meaning.

Se is merely a particle. I don’t understand this comment, it seems -amhāse is part of the conjugation, giving a first person plural aorist, which is also confirmed by the use of the same word again in the explanation given below.

This is what is said: we, ruler of the people, knowing your faith and your virtue, thinking: “Certainly you are a king endowed with faith and virtue, when asked you will give this collyrium-coloured elephant.” Through this, as with your own collyrium-coloured property, we will bring the king of Kaliṅga’s elephant into your presence. Having said that, we exchanged a great deal of riches and crops, we exchanged and put it in the stomach. So considering this we came here. You must know Deva Kings are often referred to as Deva. what should be done here.

2. Annabhaccā cabhaccā ca, yodha uddissa gacchati,
Sabbe te appaṭikkhippā, pubbācariyavaco idaṁ.

Dependents or non-dependents, he who comes here for my sake, all of them are acceptable, this was my former teachers’ word.

3. Dadāmi vo brāhmaṇā nāgam-etaṁ,
Rājārahaṁ rājabhoggaṁ yasassinaṁ,
Alaṅkataṁ hemajālābhichannaṁ,
Sasārathiṁ gacchatha yenakāman-ti.

This elephant I give to you, brahmin, suitable, useful for a king, famous, decorated, covered with golden chains, with a driver, go wherever you will.

In this connection, dependents or non-dependents, that person depending for his living on conjey, rice and so on, who is to be supported with food means a dependent, likewise others who are not supported are non-dependents. But here because of junction the a- element is elided, so it should be understood. I.e. in prose it would be written ca abhaccā, but because of elision and junction it is here written cabhaccā. As far as he is himself dependent or not dependent for his living, all creatures are divided into these two kinds, so it should be seen.

He who comes Lit.: goes here, which is poor English, so we have to say comes here. here for my sake, amongst those beings, whoever is a being in the world of the living, any person whatsoever, who comes on account of expectations.

All of them are acceptable, Lit: not to be refused or opposed. so those coming for my sake, even if there is a lot, all of them are accepted by that person, so he should not reject anyone, saying: “Depart, I will not give you,” this is the meaning.

This was my former teachers’ word, former teachers are said to be mother and father, this is their word. So was I trained by my mother and father, this is the explanation.

This elephant I give to you, brahmin, since this is our former teachers’ word, therefore, brahmin, I will give the elephant to you.

Suitable ... for a king means appropriate for a king.

Useful for a king means useful for a king.

Famous means endowed with a retinue, it seems depending on this elephant were elephant keepers, doctors and so on, five hundred families were living caring for the elephant. I give him to you together with these, this is the meaning.

Decorated means decorated with various kinds of elephant decorations.

Covered with golden chains means completely covered with golden chains.

With a driver means he who is his driver, elephant keeper, trainer, I give,together with him therefore together with a driver, after taking this elephant and your retinue, please go wherever you will.

 

last updated: November 2022