Cariyāpiṭaka 23

The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

The Chapter With Yudhañjaya

The Perfection of Renunciation (3rd)

Ayoghara’s Conduct

1 “Then again when I was

the true-born son of the king of Kāsi,

I grew up in an iron house,

so I was named Ayoghara.

2 ‘Your life has been a painful one,

as you’ve been raised in confinement.

Today, my son, rule

the entirety of this land.’

3 Having bowed to the citizens of country and town,

the king and his people,

I raised my cupped palms

and said the following.

4 ‘All the creatures of this earth—

low, middle, or high—

are unprotected in their own home,

in which they grew up with their families.

5 It was unique in the world

to be raised in confinement.

I grew up in an iron house,

scarcely lit by sun or moon.

6 Filled with rotting carcass,

I escaped my mother’s womb.

Then to a viler suffering

I was tossed in an iron house.

7 Having fallen into such

appallingly dreadful suffering,

if I desired kingships,

I’d be the worst of the worst.

8 I’m fed up with the body,

I have no need for kingship.

I shall seek quenching

where Death will not crush me.’

9 Reflecting in this way,

as the great crowd wailed,

like a bull elephant bursting his ropes,

I entered the forest grove.

10 I had no dislike of my parents,

nor did I dislike the great fame.

But because omniscience is precious to me,

that is why I forsook kingship.”