1.1“Pabbajjaṁ kittayissāmi,“I shall extol going forth1.2yathā pabbaji cakkhumā;with the example of the Clear-eyed One,1.3Yathā vīmaṁsamāno so,the course of inquiry that led to1.4pabbajjaṁ samarocayi.his choice to go forth.

2.1Sambādhoyaṁ gharāvāso,‘This life at home is cramped,2.2rajassāyatanaṁ iti;a realm of dirt.’2.3Abbhokāsova pabbajjā,‘The life of one gone forth is like an open space.’2.4iti disvāna pabbaji.Seeing this, he went forth.

3.1Pabbajitvāna kāyena,Having gone forth, he shunned3.2pāpakammaṁ vivajjayi;bad deeds of body.3.3Vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā,And leaving verbal misconduct behind,3.4ājīvaṁ parisodhayi.he purified his livelihood.

4.1Agamā rājagahaṁ buddho,The Buddha went to Rājagaha,4.2magadhānaṁ giribbajaṁ;the Mountainfold of the Magadhans.4.3Piṇḍāya abhihāresi,He betook himself for alms,4.4ākiṇṇavaralakkhaṇo”.replete with excellent marks.

5.1Tamaddasā bimbisāro,Bimbisāra saw him¹5.2pāsādasmiṁ patiṭṭhito;while standing atop his longhouse.5.3Disvā lakkhaṇasampannaṁ,Noticing that he was endowed with marks,5.4imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.he said the following:

6.1“Imaṁ bhonto nisāmetha,‘Pay heed, sirs, to this one,6.2abhirūpo brahā suci;handsome, majestic, radiant;²6.3Caraṇena ca sampanno,accomplished in deportment,6.4yugamattañca pekkhati.he looks just a plough’s length in front.

7.1Okkhittacakkhu satimā,Eyes downcast, mindful,7.2nāyaṁ nīcakulāmiva;unlike one from a low family.7.3Rājadūtābhidhāvantu,Let the king’s messengers run out,7.4kuhiṁ bhikkhu gamissati”.and find where the mendicant will go.’

8.1Te pesitā rājadūtā,The messengers sent out8.2piṭṭhito anubandhisuṁ;followed right behind, thinking8.3Kuhiṁ gamissati bhikkhu,‘Where will the mendicant go?8.4kattha vāso bhavissati.Where shall he find a place to stay?’

9.1Sapadānaṁ caramāno,Wandering indiscriminately for alms,9.2guttadvāro susaṁvuto;sense doors guarded and well restrained,9.3Khippaṁ pattaṁ apūresi,aware and mindful,9.4sampajāno paṭissato.his bowl was quickly filled.

10.1Piṇḍacāraṁ caritvāna,Having wandered for alms,10.2Nikkhamma nagarā muni;the sage left the city.10.3Paṇḍavaṁ abhihāresi,He betook himself to Mount Paṇḍava,10.4Ettha vāso bhavissati.thinking, ‘Here is the place I shall stay.’

11.1Disvāna vāsūpagataṁ,Seeing that he had arrived at a place to stay,11.2Tayo dūtā upāvisuṁ;the messengers withdrew nearby,³11.3Tesu ekova āgantvā,but one of them returned11.4Rājino paṭivedayi.to inform the king.

12.1“Esa bhikkhu mahārāja,‘Great king, the mendicant12.2Paṇḍavassa puratthato;is on the east flank of Mount Paṇḍava.12.3Nisinno byagghusabhova,There he sits, like a tiger or a bull,12.4Sīhova girigabbhare”.like a lion in a mountain cave.’

13.1Sutvāna dūtavacanaṁ,Hearing the messenger’s report,13.2Bhaddayānena khattiyo;the aristocrat set out13.3Taramānarūpo niyyāsi,hurriedly in his fine chariot13.4Yena paṇḍavapabbato.toward Mount Paṇḍava.

14.1Sa yānabhūmiṁ yāyitvā,He went as far as vehicles could go,14.2Yānā oruyha khattiyo;then dismounted from his chariot,14.3Pattiko upasaṅkamma,approached on foot,14.4Āsajja naṁ upāvisi.and reaching him, drew near.

15.1Nisajja rājā sammodi,Seated, the king greeted him15.2Kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ tato;and made polite conversation.15.3Kathaṁ so vītisāretvā,When the courtesies were over,15.4Imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.he said the following:

16.1“Yuvā ca daharo cāsi,‘You are young, just a youth,16.2Paṭhamuppattiko susu;a lad in the prime of life.16.3Vaṇṇārohena sampanno,You are endowed with beauty and stature,16.4Jātimā viya khattiyo.like an aristocrat of good birth

17.1Sobhayanto anīkaggaṁ,in glory at the army’s head,17.2Nāgasaṅghapurakkhato;surrounded by a troop of elephants.17.3Dadāmi bhoge bhuñjassu,I offer you pleasures—enjoy them!⁴17.4Jātiṁ akkhāhi pucchito”.But please tell me of your birth.’

18.1“Ujuṁ janapado rāja,‘Up north, O King,18.2Himavantassa passato;on the slopes of the Himalayas,18.3Dhanaviriyena sampanno,full of wealth and strength, lies the land18.4Kosalesu niketino.of one whose abode is among the Kosalans.

19.1Ādiccā nāma gottena,Their clan is named for the Sun,⁵19.2Sākiyā nāma jātiyā;they are Sakyans by birth.19.3Tamhā kulā pabbajitomhi,I have gone forth from that family—19.4Na kāme abhipatthayaṁ.I do not yearn for sensual pleasure.

20.1Kāmesvādīnavaṁ disvā,Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures,20.2Nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato;seeing renunciation as sanctuary,20.3Padhānāya gamissāmi,I shall go on to strive;20.4Ettha me rañjatī mano”ti.that is where my mind delights.’”

20.5Pabbajjāsuttaṁ paṭhamaṁ.