English
Because of the reason we became witnesses, I think it is for the sake of the one impaled on the stake. 578. “We became witnesses to each other, and he was quickly released from the stake; Righteously practicing the Dhamma, he would be released from that hell; The deed would be otherwise karmically effective. 579. “And having approached Kappitaka, and having shared with him at the right time; Sit down and ask him yourself, he will explain this matter to you. 580. “Having approached that bhikkhu, ask him, being desirous of the truth and not with a malicious mind; He will explain to you the Dhamma, both heard and unheard, all will know how to act, as he understands.” 581. So, having secretly conversed there, and made an unhuman witness; He went to the Licchavis, and then spoke to the assembled council. 582. “May the sirs listen to my one word, I shall choose a boon, I shall obtain a benefit; A man impaled, of cruel deeds, with a raised staff, of a murderous nature. 583. “For twenty nights now, since he was impaled, he neither lives nor dies; I shall release him now, may the Sangha permit as it deems fit.” 584. “Release this and other things quickly, who would blame you for doing so; Do as you understand, as you deem fit, the Sangha permits.” 585. He approached that place, and released the impaled man quickly; He said to him, ‘Do not fear, friend,’ and attended to the healers. 586. And having approached Kappitaka, and shared with him at the proper time; The Licchavi himself, sitting close by, questioned him, seeking the reason. 587. “A man impaled, of cruel deeds, with a raised staff, of a murderous nature; For twenty nights now, since he was impaled, he neither lives nor dies. 588. “He has been released by me now, by the word of that yakkha, venerable sir; Might there be some reason, by which he would not go to hell? 589. “Tell me, venerable sir, if there is a cause, we shall hear a trustworthy word of cause; There is no destruction of those deeds, without experiencing them here, there is no cessation.” 590. “If he were to practice the Dhamma, diligently, day and night, without heedlessness; He would be released from that hell, the kamma would be other than to be experienced.” 591. “This man’s purpose is known, now have compassion on me too, venerable sir; Instruct me, advise me, O greatly wise one, so that I may not to hell.’’ Today itself, go to the Buddha for refuge, and to the Dhamma and the Sangha, with a clear mind; And likewise, the five precepts of training, undertake them unbroken and complete. From taking life, quickly abstain, in the world, avoid what is not given; Be not a drinker of intoxicants, and speak no lies, and with your own spouse, be content; And this noble eight-factored excellent (path), undertake this wholesome (path) leading to happiness. Robes and alms-food, requisites, lodging and seats; Food, drink, edibles, clothes, beds, and seats; Give to the upright ones, with a mind greatly purified. And monks endowed with virtue, free from passion, learned; Satisfy them with food and drink, always merit grows. And thus practicing these principles, diligently, day and night, heedful; You shall be freed from that hell, and your karma will be otherwise experienced. Today itself, I go to the Buddha for refuge, and to the Dhamma and the Sangha, with a clear mind; And likewise, the five precepts of training, I undertake them unbroken and complete. From taking life, I quickly abstain, in the world, I avoid what is not given; I am not a drinker of intoxicants, and I speak no lies, and with my own spouse, I am content; And this noble eight-factored excellent (path), I undertake this wholesome (path) leading to happiness. Robes and alms-food, requisites, lodging and seats; Food, drink, edibles, clothes, beds, and seats. And to monks endowed with virtue, free from passion, learned; I give without wavering, delighted in the Buddha's teaching. Such was the Licchavi Ambasakkara, a certain lay follower in Vesālī; Faithful, gentle, and a doer for monks, he then diligently attended to the Sangha. And Sūlāvuta, having become healthy, free and happy, went forth into homelessness; Bh having approached a monk, a supreme one who had prepared, both attained the fruits of recluseship. 603. Such is the service of good people, it is greatly fruitful for the wise who understand; Sūlāvuta touched the highest fruit, but Ambasakkara touched the lesser fruit. The Story of the Ambasakkara Petas, the first. 2. The Story of the Serīsaka Petas 604. Listen to the meeting of the yakkha and the merchants that took place then; And how they spoke to each other, all of you listen to that good speech. 605. He who was King Pāyāsi by name, a glorious one who had attained the company of earth-dwelling deities; He, rejoicing in his own mansion, as a non-human, addressed humans. 606. "In a crooked forest, a desolate place, in a wilderness with little water and little food; In a very difficult path in the middle of a desert, humans with lost minds due to fear of the crooked path. 607. "There are no fruits or roots here, there is no sustenance, where then is food? Except for dust and sand, hot and terrible. 608. "This is a parched, burning wasteland, like the other world, without iron; This is an ancient abode of cruel ones, a land cursed. 609. "'Then by what appearance, hoping for what, have you entered this place suddenly, together, out of greed, fear, or delusion?'" 610. "We are caravan leaders from Magadha and Aṅga, having loaded various goods; We go to the land of Sindhu-Sovīra, desiring wealth, seeking profit. 611. "Unable to endure thirst by day, and considering the welfare of our conveyances; With this speed we all came, traveling the road at night, at an improper time. 612. "We went astray, missed the path, blinded and lost in the forest; In a very difficult path in the middle of a desert, we do not know the direction, our minds deluded. 613. "And seeing this, never seen before, this excellent mansion and you, yakkha; Hoping for further life, having seen delighted, joyful, and elated.” 614. “Across the ocean and this desert, the path of reeds and the thorny track; The rivers and the mountain strongholds, you go to various lands for wealth. 615. “Having rushed into the territory of others, observing the people of foreign lands; Whatever you have heard or seen, we would like to hear that wonder from you, dear ones.” 616. “More wondrous than this, O Prince, we have neither heard nor seen; Everything was beyond human, seeing that one of peerless beauty, we are not sated. 617. “Lotus ponds flow in the sky, abundant with garlands, many white lotuses; And these trees are always laden with fruit, exceedingly fragrant, they waft sweet scents. 618. “Pillars of lapis lazuli, a hundred cubits high, and long-armed pillars of coral; Pillars of musāragalla and red arsenic, these pillars are made of radiant gems. 619. “A thousand-pillared mansion of immeasurable splendor, above them is this beautiful palace; Interspersed with jewels, mixed with golden altars, and beautifully covered with golden plates. 620. “This is made of pure refined gold, well-polished, provided with palace stair-steps; Strong and beautiful and well-constructed, exceedingly worthy of contemplation, delightful. 621. “Within the jeweled interior, much food and drink, surrounded by a host of celestial nymphs; Resounding with drums, lutes, and musical instruments, you are saluted with praise and homage. 622. “You rejoice, awakening the host of women, in the delightful and excellent palace-mansion; Inconceivable, endowed with all virtues, like King Vessavaṇa in the lotus pond. 623. “Are you a god, or a yakkha, or the king of gods, or a human being? The merchants, the caravan leaders, ask you, tell us, what is your name, O yakkha?” 624. “My name is Serīsaka, a yakkha, a guardian of the desert, on the desert path; I protect this region, a servant of King Vessavaṇa.” 625. “Obtained by chance Is this born of ripening, or self-made, or given by gods? The merchants, the caravan leaders, ask you, "How did you obtain this delightful thing?" 626. It is not obtained by chance, nor born of ripening for me, nor self-made, nor indeed given by gods; By my own deeds, blameless, by merits, I obtained this delightful thing. 627. What was your vow, what was your holy life? Of what well-practiced deed is this the result? The merchants, the caravan leaders, ask you, "How did you obtain this mansion?" 628. "Pāyāsi" was my name, when I ruled the kingdom of Kosala; I was a nihilist, a miser, of evil conduct, and an annihilationist at that time. 629. But there was an ascetic, Kumārakassapa, learned, a charming speaker, noble; He then spoke a discourse on Dhamma to me, he dispelled my wrong views. 630. Having heard his discourse on Dhamma, I declared myself a lay follower; I abstained from taking life, I avoided taking what is not given in the world; I drank no intoxicants, nor did I speak falsely, and I was content with my own wife. 631. That was my vow, that was my holy life, of that well-practiced deed is this the result; By those very deeds, blameless, by merits, I obtained this mansion. 632. Truly, wise people spoke the truth, the words of the learned are not otherwise; Wherever a meritorious doer goes, there he rejoices, desiring pleasures. 633. Wherever there is sorrow and lamentation, and killing and bondage and affliction; There a doer of evil deeds goes, he is never freed from suffering. 634. The people were as if bewildered, at this moment, as if confused; For these people and for you, prince, why was there discontent? 635. And these Sirīsa groves, dear one, divine, fragrant scents waft forth; They waft into this mansion, day and night, dispelling darkness. 636. And indeed, after a hundred years of these, one *sipāṭikā* fruit ripens. A human hundred years has passed,