The Going Forth · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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“Pabbajjaṁ kittayissāmi, yathā pabbaji cakkhumā; Yathā vīmaṁsamāno so, pabbajjaṁ samarocayi.
“I shall extol going forth with the example of the Clear-eyed One, the course of inquiry that led to his choice to go forth.
Sambādhoyaṁ gharāvāso, rajassāyatanaṁ iti; Abbhokāsova pabbajjā, iti disvāna pabbaji.
‘This life at home is cramped, a realm of dirt.’ ‘The life of one gone forth is like an open space.’ Seeing this, he went forth.
Pabbajitvāna kāyena, pāpakammaṁ vivajjayi; Vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā, ājīvaṁ parisodhayi.
Having gone forth, he shunned bad deeds of body. And leaving verbal misconduct behind, he purified his livelihood.
Agamā rājagahaṁ buddho, magadhānaṁ giribbajaṁ; Piṇḍāya abhihāresi, ākiṇṇavaralakkhaṇo”.
The Buddha went to Rājagaha, the Mountainfold of the Magadhans. He betook himself for alms, replete with excellent marks.
Tamaddasā bimbisāro, pāsādasmiṁ patiṭṭhito; Disvā lakkhaṇasampannaṁ, imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.
Bimbisāra saw him while standing atop his longhouse. Noticing that he was endowed with marks, he said the following:
“Imaṁ bhonto nisāmetha, abhirūpo brahā suci; Caraṇena ca sampanno, yugamattañca pekkhati.
‘Pay heed, sirs, to this one, handsome, majestic, radiant; accomplished in deportment, he looks just a plough’s length in front.
Okkhittacakkhu satimā, nāyaṁ nīcakulāmiva; Rājadūtābhidhāvantu, kuhiṁ bhikkhu gamissati”.
Eyes downcast, mindful, unlike one from a low family. Let the king’s messengers run out, and find where the mendicant will go.’
Te pesitā rājadūtā, piṭṭhito anubandhisuṁ; Kuhiṁ gamissati bhikkhu, kattha vāso bhavissati.
The messengers sent out followed right behind, thinking ‘Where will the mendicant go? Where shall he find a place to stay?’
Sapadānaṁ caramāno, guttadvāro susaṁvuto; Khippaṁ pattaṁ apūresi, sampajāno paṭissato.
Wandering indiscriminately for alms, sense doors guarded and well restrained, aware and mindful, his bowl was quickly filled.
Piṇḍacāraṁ caritvāna, Nikkhamma nagarā muni; Paṇḍavaṁ abhihāresi, Ettha vāso bhavissati.
Having wandered for alms, the sage left the city. He betook himself to Mount Paṇḍava, thinking, ‘Here is the place I shall stay.’
Disvāna vāsūpagataṁ, Tayo dūtā upāvisuṁ; Tesu ekova āgantvā, Rājino paṭivedayi.
Seeing that he had arrived at a place to stay, the messengers withdrew nearby, but one of them returned to inform the king.
“Esa bhikkhu mahārāja, Paṇḍavassa puratthato; Nisinno byagghusabhova, Sīhova girigabbhare”.
‘Great king, the mendicant is on the east flank of Mount Paṇḍava. There he sits, like a tiger or a bull, like a lion in a mountain cave.’
Sutvāna dūtavacanaṁ, Bhaddayānena khattiyo; Taramānarūpo niyyāsi, Yena paṇḍavapabbato.
Hearing the messenger’s report, the aristocrat set out hurriedly in his fine chariot toward Mount Paṇḍava.
Sa yānabhūmiṁ yāyitvā, Yānā oruyha khattiyo; Pattiko upasaṅkamma, Āsajja naṁ upāvisi.
He went as far as vehicles could go, then dismounted from his chariot, approached on foot, and reaching him, drew near.
Nisajja rājā sammodi, Kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ tato; Kathaṁ so vītisāretvā, Imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.
Seated, the king greeted him and made polite conversation. When the courtesies were over, he said the following:
“Yuvā ca daharo cāsi, Paṭhamuppattiko susu; Vaṇṇārohena sampanno, Jātimā viya khattiyo.
‘You are young, just a youth, a lad in the prime of life. You are endowed with beauty and stature, like an aristocrat of good birth
Sobhayanto anīkaggaṁ, Nāgasaṅghapurakkhato; Dadāmi bhoge bhuñjassu, Jātiṁ akkhāhi pucchito”.
in glory at the army’s head, surrounded by a troop of elephants. I offer you pleasures—enjoy them! But please tell me of your birth.’
“Ujuṁ janapado rāja, Himavantassa passato; Dhanaviriyena sampanno, Kosalesu niketino.
‘Up north, O King, on the slopes of the Himalayas, full of wealth and strength, lies the land of one whose abode is among the Kosalans.
Ādiccā nāma gottena, Sākiyā nāma jātiyā; Tamhā kulā pabbajitomhi, Na kāme abhipatthayaṁ.
Their clan is named for the Sun, they are Sakyans by birth. I have gone forth from that family— I do not yearn for sensual pleasure.
Kāmesvādīnavaṁ disvā, Nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato; Padhānāya gamissāmi, Ettha me rañjatī mano”ti. Pabbajjāsuttaṁ paṭhamaṁ.
Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures, seeing renunciation as sanctuary, I shall go on to strive; that is where my mind delights.’”
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