1.1“Nīce kulamhi jātohaṁ,I was born in a low-class family.1.2daliddo appabhojano;We were poor, with little to eat.1.3Hīnakammaṁ mamaṁ āsi,My job was lowly—1.4ahosiṁ pupphachaḍḍako.I threw out the old flowers.

2.1Jigucchito manussānaṁ,Shunned by people,2.2paribhūto ca vambhito;I was disregarded and held in contempt.2.3Nīcaṁ manaṁ karitvāna,I humbled my heart2.4vandissaṁ bahukaṁ janaṁ.and paid respects to many people.

3.1Athaddasāsiṁ sambuddhaṁ,Then I saw the Buddha3.2bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhataṁ;at the fore of the mendicant Saṅgha.3.3Pavisantaṁ mahāvīraṁ,The great hero3.4magadhānaṁ puruttamaṁ.was entering the capital city of the Magadhans.

4.1Nikkhipitvāna byābhaṅgiṁ,I dropped my flail4.2vandituṁ upasaṅkamiṁ;and approached to pay homage.4.3Mameva anukampāya,Out of sympathy for me,4.4aṭṭhāsi purisuttamo.the supreme man stood still.

5.1Vanditvā satthuno pāde,When I had paid homage at the Teacher’s feet,5.2ekamantaṁ ṭhito tadā;I stood to one side5.3Pabbajjaṁ ahamāyāciṁ,and requested the going forth5.4sabbasattānamuttamaṁ.from the one supreme among all beings.

6.1Tato kāruṇiko satthā,Consequently, the Teacher, being compassionate,6.2sabbalokānukampako;having sympathy for the whole world,6.3‘Ehi bhikkhū’ti maṁ āha,said to me, “Come, monk!”6.4sā me āsūpasampadā.That was my ordination.

7.1Sohaṁ eko araññasmiṁ,Staying alone in the wilderness,7.2viharanto atandito;meditating tirelessly,7.3Akāsiṁ satthu vacanaṁ,I have completed what the Teacher taught,7.4yathā maṁ ovadī jino.just as the victor advised me.

8.1Rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ,In the first watch of the night,8.2Pubbajātimanussariṁ;I recollected my past lives.8.3Rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ,In the middle watch,8.4Dibbacakkhuṁ visodhayiṁ;I purified my clairvoyance.8.5Rattiyā pacchime yāme,In the last watch,8.6Tamokhandhaṁ padālayiṁ.I shattered the mass of darkness.

9.1Tato ratyā vivasāne,At the end of the night,9.2sūriyassuggamanaṁ pati;as the sunrise drew near,9.3Indo brahmā ca āgantvā,Indra and the Divinity came9.4maṁ namassiṁsu pañjalī.and revered me with joined hands.

10.1‘Namo te purisājañña,“Homage to you, O thoroughbred!10.2namo te purisuttama;Homage to you, supreme among men!10.3Yassa te āsavā khīṇā,Since your defilements are ended,10.4dakkhiṇeyyosi mārisa’.you, good fellow, are worthy of a religious donation.”

11.1Tato disvāna maṁ satthā,Consequently, having seen me honored11.2devasaṅghapurakkhataṁ;by the assembly of gods,11.3Sitaṁ pātukaritvāna,the Teacher smiled11.4imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.and said the following:

12.1‘Tapena brahmacariyena,“By fervor and spiritual practice,12.2saṁyamena damena ca;by restraint and by self-control:12.3Etena brāhmaṇo hoti,that’s how to become a brahmin,12.4etaṁ brāhmaṇamuttaman’”ti.this is the supreme brahmin.”

12.5… Sunīto thero …

12.6Dvādasakanipāto niṭṭhito.

13.0Tatruddānaṁ

13.1Sīlavā ca sunīto ca,13.2therā dve te mahiddhikā;13.3Dvādasamhi nipātamhi,13.4gāthāyo catuvīsatīti.