13. Satkāravarga
The Chapter about Honour
(19 Verses)
[13.1]
[stm. + sim.]
Phalaṁ vai kadaliṁ hanti, phalaṁ veṇuṁ phalaṁ naḍam,
satkāraḥ kāpuruṣaṁ hanti, svagarbho ’śvatarīṁ yathā.
The fruit indeed destroys the banana, the bamboo, the reed, honour destroys a bad person, just as its own offspring destroys a mule.
[13.2]
[stm.]
Yāvad eva hy anarthāya jñāto bhavati bāliśaḥ,
hanti bālasya śuklāṁśaṁ, mūrdhānaṁ cāsya pātayet.
Only to his ruination does a fool have learning, it destroys the fool’s good fortune, it would split open his head.
[13.3]
[stm.]
Asanto lābham icchanti satkāraṁ caiva bhikṣuṣu,
āvāseṣu ca mātsaryaṁ, pūjāṁ parakuleṣu ca.
Bad people wish for gains and honour amongst the monastics, selfish control over the living quarters, and worship amongst other families.
[13.4–13.5a-b I have divided the following three verses differently to Bernhard, as it seems more coherent to follow the division as is found in the Pāḷi parallel. ]
[stm.]
“Mām eva nityaṁ jānīyur gṛhī pravrajitas tathā,
mama prativaśāś ca syuḥ, kṛtyākṛtyeṣu keṣu cit,”
iti bālasya saṁkalpā, icchāmānābhivardhakāḥ.
“A householder and one who has gone forth alike should always acknowledge me alone, let them be under my influence, in anything to be done and not done,” such are the intentions of a fool, his desires and conceit increase.
[13.5cd–13.6]
[adm.]
Anyā hi lābhopaniṣad, anyā Nirvāṇagāminī,
etaj jñātvā yathābhūtaṁ Buddhānāṁ śrāvakaḥ sadā
satkāraṁ nābhinandeta, vivekaṁ anubṛṁhayet.
For the means to gains is one thing, the way leading to Nirvāṇa another, always knowing this, as it is, a disciple of the Buddhas should not take delight in honour, but be devoted to seclusion.
[13.7]
[adm.]
Na vyāyamente sarvatra, nānyeṣāṁ puruṣo bhavet,
nānyāṁ niḥśritya jīveta, dharmeṇa na vaṇik caret.
One should not endeavour everywhere, one should not be a person belonging to others, Lit: A person should not be for others, meaning be under their control, their influence. one should not live relying on another, As anyām is in the feminine, it indicates that another refers to a woman. a merchant should not live unrighteously.
[13.8]
[adm.]
Svalābhaṁ nāvamanyeta, nānyeṣāṁ spṛhako bhavet,
anyeṣāṁ spṛhako bhikṣuḥ samādhiṁ nādhigacchati.
One should not despise one’s own gains, I.e. one own’s gains, however small, are still enough to live on. Be content with that. one should not be envious of others, the monastic who is envious of others does not attain concentration.
[13.9]
[stm. + sim.]
Sukhaṁ jīvitum icchec cec chramaṇyārtheṣv avekṣavān,
ahir mūṣakadurgaṁ vā seveta śayanāsanam.
If one who reflects upon the goals of the ascetic life wishes to live happily, he should use his dwelling as a snake uses a mouse hole.
[13.10]
[adm.]
Sukhaṁ jīvitum icchec cec chramaṇyārtheṣv avekṣavān
itaretareṇa saṁtuṣyed, ekadharmaṁ ca bhāvayet.
If one who reflects upon the goals of the ascetic life wishes to live happily he should be content with anything whatsoever, and he should cultivate one thing.
[13.11]
[adm.]
Sukhaṁ jīvitum icchec cec chramaṇyārtheṣv avekṣavān,
Sāṁghikaṁ nāvamanyeta cīvaraṁ pānabhojanam.
If one who reflects upon the goals of the ascetic life wishes to live happily, he should not despise the robes, drinks and food belonging to the Saṁgha.
[13.12]
[stm.]
Alpajñāto ’pi ced bhavati śīleṣu susamāhitaḥ,
vidvāṁsas taṁ praśaṁsanti śuddhājīvam atandritam.
Even if one well-composed in virtue is little known, the wise praise that one of pure livelihood who is diligent.
[13.13.i]
[stm.]
Traividyaḥ syāt sa ced bhikṣur, mṛtyuhantā nirāsravaḥ,
alpajñātam iti jñātvā, hy avajānanty ajānakāḥ.
If one might be a monastic with three knowledges, a destroyer of death, without pollutants, the ignorant knowing: He is little known, despise him.
[13.13.ii]
[stm.]
Sa ced bhavati traividyo, mṛtyuhāyī nirāsravaḥ,
jñātvālpajñāta iti tam avajānanty ajānakāḥ.
If one has three knowledges, a destroyer of death, without pollutants, the ignorant knowing: He is little known, despise him.
[13.14]
[stm.]
Sa cet tv ihānnapānasya lābhī bhavati pudgalaḥ,
pāpadharmāpi ced bhavati, sa teṣāṁ bhavati pūjitaḥ.
But if there is a person here who receives food and drinks, even if he is of a wicked nature, he is worshipped by them.
[13.15–13.16]
[adm.]
Bahūn amitrāṁ labhate, saṁghāṭīpravṛtaḥ sadā,
lābhī yo hy annapānasya, vastraśayyāsanasya ca,
etad ādīnavaṁ jñātvā, satkāreṣu mahābhayam,
alpajñāto hy anutsukaḥ smṛto bhikṣuḥ parivrajet.
He obtains many enemies, the one always wrapped in an outer robe, who receives food and drinks, clothes, bedding and lodging, knowing this disadvantage, the great danger in honours, little known, without longing, the monastic should wander forth mindfully.
[13.17]
[adm.]
Nāyam anaśanena jīvate, nāhāro hṛdayasya śāntaye,
āhāraḥ sthitaye tu vidyate, taj jñātvā hi careta eṣaṇām.
One does not live by fasting, nor is food for peace of mind, but food exists for sustaining, knowing this, one should wander, seeking alms.
[13.18]
[stm.]
Paṅkas tv iti yo hi vindate,
nityaṁ vandanamānanā kule
sūkṣmaḥ śalyo duruddharaḥ,
satkāraḥ kāpuruṣeṇa dustyajaḥ.
But the one for whom honour is a swamp finds that constantly being respected and revered in a family is a subtle dart, hard to extract, honour is hard for a bad person to let go of.
Satkāravargaḥ, 13.
The Chapter about Honour, the Thirteenth