1.1“Punāparaṁ yadā homi,“Then again when I was1.2indapatthe puruttame;in Indapatta, the capital city,¹1.3Kāmito dayito putto,I was a loved and cherished child1.4somanassoti vissuto.renowned as Somanassa.

2.1Sīlavā guṇasampanno,I was ethical, full of good qualities,2.2kalyāṇapaṭibhānavā;of fine and eloquent speech,2.3Vuḍḍhāpacāyī hirīmā,honoring elders, conscientious,2.4saṅgahesu ca kovido.and expert in the methods of inclusiveness.

3.1Tassa rañño patikaro,Now there was this charlatan renunciant²3.2ahosi kuhakatāpaso;who was favored by the king.3.3Ārāmaṁ mālāvacchañca,He made a living by cultivating3.4ropayitvāna jīvati.an orchard and flowering shrubs.

4.1Tamahaṁ disvāna kuhakaṁ,Seeing he was a charlatan,4.2thusarāsiṁva ataṇḍulaṁ;like a pile of chaff without grain,4.3Dumaṁva anto susiraṁ,like a hollow tree,4.4kadaliṁva asārakaṁ.like a plantain tree with no core, I thought:

5.1Natthimassa sataṁ dhammo,‘There is no good in him,5.2sāmaññāpagato ayaṁ;he has strayed from asceticism.5.3Hirīsukkadhammajahito,He has left the bright qualities of conscience5.4jīvitavuttikāraṇā.for the sake of making a living.’

6.1Kupito ahu paccanto,Then the borders were in turmoil6.2aṭavīhi parantihi;by wild frontier savages.6.3Taṁ nisedhetuṁ gacchanto,Before going to put an end to it,6.4anusāsi pitā mamaṁ.my father instructed me:

7.1‘Mā pamajji tuvaṁ tāta,‘My dear, do not neglect7.2jaṭilaṁ uggatāpanaṁ;the matted-hair ascetic of severe penance.7.3Yadicchakaṁ pavattehi,He is the granter of our wishes,7.4sabbakāmadado hi so’.give him all he desires.’

8.1Tamahaṁ gantvānupaṭṭhānaṁ,I went then to serve him,8.2Idaṁ vacanamabraviṁ;and said the following.8.3‘Kacci te gahapati kusalaṁ,‘I hope you are well, householder.8.4Kiṁ vā te āharīyatu’.Is there anything I can bring for you?’

9.1Tena so kupito āsi,At that he was upset with me,9.2kuhako mānanissito;that prideful charlatan.9.3‘Ghātāpemi tuvaṁ ajja,‘I’ll have you killed right now!9.4raṭṭhā pabbājayāmi vā’.Or banished from the realm!’

10.1Nisedhayitvā paccantaṁ,After putting an end to the border conflict,10.2rājā kuhakamabravi;the king said to the charlatan,10.3‘Kacci te bhante khamanīyaṁ,‘I hope you’re keeping well, sir,10.4sammāno te pavattito’.and honors were served you?’

11.1Tassa ācikkhatī pāpo,That wicked one told him11.2kumāro yathā nāsiyo;how the prince deserved execution.11.3Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,When he heard these words,11.4āṇāpesi mahīpati.the Lord of the Earth commanded:

12.1‘Sīsaṁ tattheva chinditvā,‘Cut off his head right there!12.2katvāna catukhaṇḍikaṁ;Saw his corpse into four pieces!12.3Rathiyā rathiyaṁ dassetha,And then show them from street to street:12.4sā gati jaṭilahīḷitā’.this is the fate of one who shames the ascetic.’

13.1Tattha kāraṇikā gantvā,Right away left the punishers—13.2caṇḍā luddā akāruṇā;fierce, violent and pitiless.13.3Mātu aṅke nisinnassa,They dragged me from my mother’s lap13.4ākaḍḍhitvā nayanti maṁ.and led me away.

14.1Tesāhaṁ evamavacaṁ,I said to them14.2bandhataṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ;as they bound me with tight bonds:14.3‘Rañño dassetha maṁ khippaṁ,‘Present me to the king right now,14.4rājakiriyāni atthi me’.I have an issue for the king!’

15.1Te maṁ rañño dassayiṁsu,They presented me to the king,15.2pāpassa pāpasevino;follower of the wicked one and his wicked ways.15.3Disvāna taṁ saññāpesiṁ,On seeing me, I persuaded him15.4mamañca vasamānayiṁ.and brought him under my influence.

16.1So maṁ tattha khamāpesi,He asked for my forgiveness then,16.2mahārajjamadāsi me;and offered me the kingdom.16.3Sohaṁ tamaṁ dālayitvā,But having burst the darkness asunder,16.4pabbajiṁ anagāriyaṁ.I went forth to homelessness.

17.1Na me dessaṁ mahārajjaṁ,I did not dislike great kingship,17.2kāmabhogo na dessiyo;nor did I dislike sensual enjoyment.17.3Sabbaññutaṁ piyaṁ mayhaṁ,But because omniscience is precious to me,17.4tasmā rajjaṁ pariccajin”ti.that is why I forsook kingship.”

18.1Somanassacariyaṁ dutiyaṁ.