[from V. The Third Recital]
[Tatiyasaṅgīti]
[The Conversion of Asoka - 1]
276-291 = Mhv. 33-48
Rājābhisitto so ’soko kumāraṁ Tissam-avhayaṁ, Mhv:
kaniṭṭhaṁ sa Mhv:
The consecrated King Asoka also consecrated the prince called Tissa, who was his younger brother of the same Mother, to the vice-sovereignty.
Pitā saṭṭhisahassāni brāhmaṇe brahmapakkhike
bhojesi, so pi te yeva tīṇi vassāni bhojayi. [277]
His Father (Bindusāra) had fed sixty-thousand brāhmaṇas of the brāhmaṇa faction, and for three years he also fed them.
Disvānupasamaṁ tesaṁ Asoko pi nivesane: Mhv:
But having seen they were not quiet in his house Asoka, said:
“Viceyya dānaṁ dassan”-ti amacce sannipātayi. Mhv:
“After investigating the donation I will give,” and gathered his ministers.
Ānāpayitvā ExtMhv:
The wise one, after having the various sectarians brought separately
vīmaṁsitvā nisajjāya bhojāpetvā visajjayi. Written m.c. for
and investigated on their seat, after feeding them, sent them away.
* * *
Kāle vātāyanagato santaṁ racchāgataṁ yatiṁ,
Nigrodhasāmaṇeraṁ so disvā, cittaṁ pasādayi. [280]
One time, while stood at the window, after seeing a peaceful striver, The word in Pāḷi is
Bindusārassa puttānaṁ sabbesaṁ jeṭṭhabhātuno,
Sumanassa kumārassa putto so hi kumārako. [281]
The young man was the son of prince Sumana, the eldest brother of all of Bindusāra’s children.
Asoko Pitarā dinnaṁ rajjaṁ Ujjeniyaṁ hi so
hitvā, gato Pupphapuraṁ Bindusāre gilānake, [282]
Asoka had left the sovereignty of Ujjenī, given by his Father, and gone to the City of Flowers when Bindusāra was sick,
katvā puraṁ sakāyattaṁ, mate Pitari, bhātaraṁ
and after taking possession of the city, with the death of his Father,
ghātetvā jeṭṭhakaṁ, ExtMhv:
after killing (all) his elder brothers, he took sovereignty over the noble city.
* * *
Sumanassa kumārassa devī, tan-nāmikā tato,
Prince Sumana’s queen, of the same name (Sumanā),
gabbhinī, nikkhamitvāna pācinadvārato bahi, [284]
being pregnant, after fleeing from there to outside the eastern gate,
caṇḍālagāmam-agamā, tattha nigrodhadevatā
went to an outcastes’ village, and there a banyan-tree god
tam āmantiya nāmena, māpetvāna gharaṁ Mhv:
called her by name, and after building a house gave it (to her).
Tadahe va varaṁ puttaṁ vijāyitvā, sutassa sā
On the same day, after the noble son was born, to her son
Nigrodho ti akā nāmaṁ, devatānuggahānugā. [286]
she gave the name Nigrodha, because of the assistance of the god.
Disvāna Mhv:
maññanto taṁ, upaṭṭhāsi sattavassāni sādhukaṁ. [287]
After seeing (her), the elder outcaste, honouring her like his mistress, attended on her properly for seven years.
Taṁ Mahāvaruṇo Thero tadā disvā kumārakaṁ
The Elder Mahāvaruṇa, having seen that the boy
upanissayasampannaṁ Arahā, pucchi Mātaraṁ [288]
was endowed with the supporting conditions for Worthiness, asked his Mother
pabbājesi, khuragge so Arahattaṁ apāpuṇi.
to let him go forth, and in the shaving house I.e. as he was being prepared for ordination. he attained Worthiness.
Dassanāyopagacchanto so tato Mātudeviyā [289]
While going from there to see his divine Mother,
dakkhiṇena ca dvārena Mhv:
after entering the supreme city by the south gate,
taṅ-gāmagāmimaggena yāti rājaṅgaṇe tadā. [290]
he went by the road along the highway through village after village.
Santāya ExtMhv:
The Lord of the World gained faith through (seeing) his peaceful posture,
pubbe tu sannivāsena pemañ-casmiṁ ajāyatha. [291]
but love arose in him because of a previous life (spent) together.