Ja 290 The Story about the Enquiry into Virtue (3s)

In the present a brahmin seeks to find out if the king favours him for his birth, or for his goodness, so he starts stealing a penny a day from the king. When the king finds out he decides to punish him, until the brahmin explains his actions. The Buddha tells a story of similar happenings in a past life.

−−⏑−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
1. Sīlaṁ kireva kalyāṇaṁ, sīlaṁ loke anuttaraṁ,
Virtue, it seems, is lovely, virtue in the world is unsurpassed,

−⏑−⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−⏑−⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Passa ghoraviso nāgo, sīlavāti na haññati.
Look at the poisonous snake, being virtuous he is not hurt.

−−−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−⏑⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
2. Sohaṁ sīlaṁ samādissaṁ loke anumataṁ sivaṁ,
I will undertake that blessèd virtue approved of in the world,

⏑⏑⏑−⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−⏑−⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
Arⁱyavuttisamācāro yena vuccati sīlavā.
Through being noble in behaviour one is called virtuous.

−−−⏑¦⏑−−−¦¦−−⏑⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka pathyā
3. Ñātīnañ-ca piyo hoti, mittesu ca virocati,
Being dear to his relatives, he shines brightly amongst his friends,

−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑−¦¦⏑⏑−⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka bhavipulā
Kāyassa bhedā sugatiṁ upapajjati sīlavā ti.
The virtuous at body’s break up arises in a good state.

Tattha, {2.429} sīlan-ti ācāro.
In this connection, virtue means (virtuous) behaviour.

Kirā ti anussavatthe nipāto.
It seems, this is a particle with the meaning of hearsay.

Kalyāṇan-ti sobhanaṁ.
Lovely means beautiful.

Sīlaṁ kireva kalyāṇan-ti evaṁ paṇḍitā vadantī ti attho.
Virtue, it seems, is lovely, so the wise say, this is the meaning.

Passā ti attānam-eva vadati.
Look, he speaks to himself.

Na haññatī ti param-pi na viheṭheti, parehi pi na viheṭhīyati.
He is not hurt means he does not harass another, and he is not harassed by others.

Samādissan-ti samādiyissāmi.
I will undertake means I will undertake. It appears that samādissaṁ is short m.c. for samādiyissaṁ, which is the middle form. samādiyissāmi being the active form.

Anumataṁ sivan-ti,
Blessed (virtue) approved of,

khemaṁ nibbhayan-ti, evaṁ paṇḍitehi sampaṭicchitaṁ.
safe and fearless, so it is welcomed by the wise.

Yena vuccatī ti,
Through being … he is called,

yena sīlena sīlavā puriso,
through whatever virtue that person is virtuous,

ariyānaṁ Buddhādīnaṁ paṭipattiṁ samācaranto,
behaving according to the practice of the noble Buddhas and so on,

ariyavuttisamācāro ti vuccati,
through being noble in behaviour is said,

tam-ahaṁ samādiyissāmī, ti attho.
that (behaviour) I will undertake, this is the meaning.

Virocatī ti pabbatamatthake aggikkhandho viya virocati.
He shines brightly means he shines brightly like a bonfire of the top of a mountain.

last updated: November 2022