Cariyāpiṭaka 32

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The Conduct Leading to Buddhahood

The Chapter With Yudhañjaya

The Perfection of Truth (6th)

Sutasoma’s Conduct

1 “Then again when I was

Sutasoma, Lord of the Earth,

captured by a cannibal

I remembered my promise to a brahmin.

2 A hundred aristocrat warriors

he strung up by their hands.

Having drained their blood,

he brought me for sacrifice.

3 The cannibal asked me,

‘What do you wish for—release?

I shall act as you think,

so long as you will return.’

4 I promised him that I

would return at dawn.

I went to the delightful city

and then renounced kingship.

5 Recollecting the true Dhamma,

fostered by former Victors,

I gave money to the brahmin,

and returned to the cannibal.

6 I had no doubt

that he was going to kill me.

Protecting my truthful speech,

I went to give up my life.

There is no one to equal my truthfulness:

this is my perfection of truth.”