1.1“Paripuṇṇakāyo suruci,“O Blessed One, your body’s perfect,1.2Sujāto cārudassano;you’re radiant, handsome, lovely to behold;1.3Suvaṇṇavaṇṇosi bhagavā,golden colored,1.4Susukkadāṭhosi vīriyavā.with teeth so white; you’re strong.

2.1Narassa hi sujātassa,The characteristics2.2ye bhavanti viyañjanā;of a handsome man,2.3Sabbe te tava kāyasmiṁ,the marks of a great man,2.4mahāpurisalakkhaṇā.are all found on your body.

3.1Pasannanetto sumukho,Your eyes are clear, your face is fair,3.2brahā uju patāpavā;you’re formidable, upright, majestic.3.3Majjhe samaṇasaṅghassa,In the midst of the Saṅgha of ascetics,3.4ādiccova virocasi.you dazzle like the sun.

4.1Kalyāṇadassano bhikkhu,You’re a mendicant fine to see,4.2kañcanasannibhattaco;with skin that shines like lustrous gold.4.3Kiṁ te samaṇabhāvena,But with such excellent appearance,4.4evaṁ uttamavaṇṇino.what do you want with the ascetic life?

5.1Rājā arahasi bhavituṁ,You’re fit to be a king,5.2cakkavattī rathesabho;a wheel-turning monarch, chief of charioteers,5.3Cāturanto vijitāvī,victorious in the four quarters,5.4jambusaṇḍassa issaro.lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.

6.1Khattiyā bhogī rājāno,Aristocrats, nobles, and kings6.2anuyantā bhavanti te;ought follow your rule.6.3Rājābhirājā manujindo,Gotama, may you reign6.4rajjaṁ kārehi gotama”.as king of kings, lord of mankind!”

7.1“Rājāhamasmi sela,“I am a king, Sela”,7.2(selāti bhagavā)said the Buddha to Sela,7.3Dhammarājā anuttaro;“the supreme king of the teaching.7.4Dhammena cakkaṁ vattemi,By the teaching I roll forth the wheel7.5Cakkaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ”.which cannot be rolled back.”¹

8.1“Sambuddho paṭijānāsi,“You claim to be awakened,”8.2(iti selo brāhmaṇo)said Sela the brahmin,8.3Dhammarājā anuttaro;“the supreme king of the teaching.8.4‘Dhammena cakkaṁ vattemi’,‘I roll forth the teaching’:8.5Iti bhāsatha gotama.so you say, Gotama.

9.1Ko nu senāpati bhoto,Then who is your general,²9.2sāvako satthuranvayo;the disciple who follows the Teacher’s way?9.3Ko tetamanuvatteti,Who keeps rolling the wheel9.4dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ”.of the teaching you rolled forth?”

10.1“Mayā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ,“By me the wheel was rolled forth,”10.2(selāti bhagavā)said the Buddha,10.3Dhammacakkaṁ anuttaraṁ;“the supreme wheel of the teaching.10.4Sāriputto anuvatteti,Sāriputta, taking after the Realized One,10.5Anujāto tathāgataṁ.keeps it rolling on.³

11.1Abhiññeyyaṁ abhiññātaṁ,I have known what should be known,⁴11.2bhāvetabbañca bhāvitaṁ;and developed what should be developed,11.3Pahātabbaṁ pahīnaṁ me,and given up what should be given up:11.4tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇa.and so, brahmin, I am a Buddha.

12.1Vinayassu mayi kaṅkhaṁ,Dispel your doubt in me—12.2adhimuccassu brāhmaṇa;make up your mind, brahmin!12.3Dullabhaṁ dassanaṁ hoti,The sight of a Buddha12.4sambuddhānaṁ abhiṇhaso.is hard to find again.⁵

13.1Yesaṁ ve dullabho loke,I am a Buddha, brahmin,13.2pātubhāvo abhiṇhaso;the supreme surgeon,13.3Sohaṁ brāhmaṇa buddhosmi,one of those whose appearance in the world13.4sallakatto anuttaro.is hard to find again.

14.1Brahmabhūto atitulo,A manifestation of divinity, unequaled,14.2mārasenappamaddano;crusher of Māra’s army;14.3Sabbāmitte vase katvā,having subdued all my opponents,14.4modāmi akutobhayo”.I rejoice, fearing nothing from any quarter.”

15.1“Idaṁ bhonto nisāmetha,“Pay heed, sirs, to what15.2yathā bhāsati cakkhumā;is spoken by the Clear-eyed One.15.3Sallakatto mahāvīro,The surgeon, the great hero,15.4sīhova nadatī vane.roars like a lion in the jungle.

16.1Brahmabhūtaṁ atitulaṁ,A manifestation of divinity, unequaled,16.2mārasenappamaddanaṁ;crusher of Māra’s army;16.3Ko disvā nappasīdeyya,who would not be inspired by him,16.4api kaṇhābhijātiko.even one born in a dark class?⁶

17.1Yo maṁ icchati anvetu,Those who wish may follow me;17.2yo vā nicchati gacchatu;those who don’t may go.17.3Idhāhaṁ pabbajissāmi,Right here, I’ll go forth in his presence,17.4varapaññassa santike”.the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

18.1“Etañce ruccati bhoto,“Sir, if you endorse18.2sammāsambuddhasāsanaṁ;the teaching of the Buddha,18.3Mayampi pabbajissāma,we’ll also go forth in his presence,18.4varapaññassa santike”.the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

19.1“Brāhmaṇā tisatā ime,“These three hundred brahmins19.2yācanti pañjalīkatā;with cupped palms held up, ask:19.3‘Brahmacariyaṁ carissāma,‘May we lead the spiritual life19.4bhagavā tava santike’”.in your presence, Blessed One?’”

20.1“Svākkhātaṁ brahmacariyaṁ,“The spiritual life is well explained,”20.2(selāti bhagavā)said the Buddha,20.3Sandiṭṭhikamakālikaṁ;“apparent in the present life, immediately effective.20.4Yattha amoghā pabbajjā,Here the going forth isn’t in vain20.5Appamattassa sikkhato”.for one who trains with diligence.”

21.1“Yaṁ taṁ saraṇamāgamha,“This is the eighth day since21.2ito aṭṭhame cakkhuma;we went for refuge, O Clear-eyed One.21.3Sattarattena bhagavā,In these seven days, Blessed One,21.4dantāmha tava sāsane.we’ve become tamed in your teaching.

22.1Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā,You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher,⁷22.2tuvaṁ mārābhibhū muni;you are the sage who has overcome Māra;22.3Tuvaṁ anusaye chetvā,you have cut off the underlying tendencies,22.4tiṇṇo tāresimaṁ pajaṁ.you’ve crossed over, and you bring humanity across.

23.1Upadhī te samatikkantā,You have transcended attachments,23.2āsavā te padālitā;your defilements are shattered;23.3Sīhova anupādāno,like a lion free of grasping,23.4pahīnabhayabheravo.with fear and dread given up.

24.1Bhikkhavo tisatā ime,These three hundred mendicants24.2tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā;stand with cupped palms raised.24.3Pāde vīra pasārehi,Stretch out your feet, great hero:24.4nāgā vandantu satthuno”ti.let these giants bow to the Teacher.”

24.5… Selo thero ….