1.1“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,“Then again when I was1.2Brāhmaṇo saṅkhasavhayo;a brahmin named Saṅkha,1.3Mahāsamuddaṁ taritukāmo,wanting to cross the great ocean,1.4Upagacchāmi paṭṭanaṁ.I was on my way to the port.

2.1Tatthaddasaṁ paṭipathe,There I saw across the way2.2Sayambhuṁ aparājitaṁ;one self-awakened, undefeated,2.3Kantāraddhānaṁ paṭipannaṁ,walking a desert road2.4Tattāya kaṭhinabhūmiyā.whose ground was hot and rough.

3.1Tamahaṁ paṭipathe disvā,Seeing him across the way,3.2imamatthaṁ vicintayiṁ;I thought this:3.3‘Idaṁ khettaṁ anuppattaṁ,‘A field has appeared3.4puññakāmassa jantuno.for a personage desiring merit.

4.1Yathā kassako puriso,Now suppose a farmer4.2khettaṁ disvā mahāgamaṁ;seeing a fertile field4.3Tattha bījaṁ na ropeti,does not sow seed there,4.4na so dhaññena atthiko.then they are not in need of grain.

5.1Evamevāhaṁ puññakāmo,So too, if I, desiring merit,5.2Disvā khettavaruttamaṁ;seeing a supreme excellent field,5.3Yadi tattha kāraṁ na karomi,do not render service there,5.4Nāhaṁ puññena atthiko.then I am not in need of merit.

6.1Yathā amacco muddikāmo,Or suppose a minister seeking the royal seal6.2rañño antepure jane;of authority over the people of the court,6.3Na deti tesaṁ dhanadhaññaṁ,does not give them money and grain,6.4muddito parihāyati.their authority dwindles.

7.1Evamevāhaṁ puññakāmo,So too, if I, desiring merit,7.2Vipulaṁ disvāna dakkhiṇaṁ;seeing an abundantly worthy recipient,7.3Yadi tassa dānaṁ na dadāmi,do not give gifts to them,7.4Parihāyissāmi puññato’.I will dwindle in merit.’

8.1Evāhaṁ cintayitvāna,Reflecting in this way,8.2orohitvā upāhanā;I took off my sandals8.3Tassa pādāni vanditvā,and bowed to his feet,8.4adāsiṁ chattupāhanaṁ.giving him an umbrella and sandals.

9.1Tenevāhaṁ sataguṇato,Though I was a hundred times9.2Sukhumālo sukhedhito;more delicate and pampered than him,9.3Api ca dānaṁ paripūrento,fulfilling my giving,9.4Evaṁ tassa adāsahan”ti.I gave like this to him.”

10.1Saṅkhacariyaṁ dutiyaṁ.