1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.

1.2Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇamahāsālo lūkho lūkhapāvuraṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.Then a certain well-to-do brahmin, shabby, wearing a shabby cloak, went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

1.3Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ brāhmaṇamahāsālaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,1.4“kiṁ nu tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, lūkho lūkhapāvuraṇo”ti?“Brahmin, why are you so shabby, wearing a shabby cloak?”

1.5“Idha me, bho gotama, cattāro puttā.“Worthy Gotama, I have four sons.1.6Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha gharā nikkhāmentī”ti.At their wives’ bidding they expelled me from my house.”

1.7“Tena hi tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imā gāthāyo pariyāpuṇitvā sabhāyaṁ mahājanakāye sannipatite puttesu ca sannisinnesu bhāsassu:“Well then, brahmin, memorize these verses and recite them to your sons when you are all seated in the council hall with a large crowd.

2.1‘Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,‘I was overjoyed when they were born,2.2yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;and wished prosperity for them.¹2.3Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,But at their wives’ bidding they chased me out,2.4sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.like hounds after hogs.

3.1Asantā kira maṁ jammā,It turns out they’re wicked, those nasty men,3.2tāta tātāti bhāsare;though they called me their dear old Dad.3.3Rakkhasā puttarūpena,They’re monsters in the shape of sons,3.4te jahanti vayogataṁ.throwing me out as I’ve grown old.

4.1Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,Like an old, useless horse4.2khādanā apanīyati;led away from its fodder,4.3Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,the elderly father of those kids4.4parāgāresu bhikkhati.begs for alms at others’ homes.

5.1Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,Even my staff is better5.2yañce puttā anassavā;than those disobedient sons,5.3Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,for it wards off a wild bull,5.4atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.and even a wild dog.

6.1Andhakāre pure hoti,It goes before me in the dark;6.2gambhīre gādhamedhati;in deep waters it finds a footing.6.3Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,By the wonderful power of this staff,6.4khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī’”ti.when I stumble, I stand firm again.’”

7.1Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavato santike imā gāthāyo pariyāpuṇitvā sabhāyaṁ mahājanakāye sannipatite puttesu ca sannisinnesu abhāsi:Having memorized those verses in the Buddha’s presence, the brahmin recited them to his sons when they were all seated in the council hall with a large crowd. …

8.1“Yehi jātehi nandissaṁ,8.2yesañca bhavamicchisaṁ;8.3Te maṁ dārehi sampuccha,8.4sāva vārenti sūkaraṁ.

9.1Asantā kira maṁ jammā,9.2tāta tātāti bhāsare;9.3Rakkhasā puttarūpena,9.4te jahanti vayogataṁ.

10.1Assova jiṇṇo nibbhogo,10.2khādanā apanīyati;10.3Bālakānaṁ pitā thero,10.4parāgāresu bhikkhati.

11.1Daṇḍova kira me seyyo,11.2yañce puttā anassavā;11.3Caṇḍampi goṇaṁ vāreti,11.4atho caṇḍampi kukkuraṁ.

12.1Andhakāre pure hoti,12.2gambhīre gādhamedhati;12.3Daṇḍassa ānubhāvena,12.4khalitvā patitiṭṭhatī”ti.

13.1Atha kho naṁ brāhmaṇamahāsālaṁ puttā gharaṁ netvā nhāpetvā paccekaṁ dussayugena acchādesuṁ.Then the brahmin’s sons led him back home, bathed him, and each clothed him with a fine pair of garments.13.2Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo ekaṁ dussayugaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.Then the brahmin, taking one pair of garments, went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.13.3Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

13.4“mayaṁ, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā nāma ācariyassa ācariyadhanaṁ pariyesāma.“Worthy Gotama, we brahmins seek a fee for our tutor.13.5Paṭiggaṇhatu me bhavaṁ gotamo ācariyadhanan”ti.May the worthy Gotama please accept my tutor’s fee!”²13.6Paṭiggahesi bhagavā anukampaṁ upādāya.So the Buddha accepted it out of sympathy.13.7Atha kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then the well-to-do brahmin said to the Buddha,13.8“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…“Excellent, worthy Gotama …13.9upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”