12. Narasīhagāthā
Verses about a Lion of a Man
Cakkavaraṅkitarattasupādo,
Having beautiful feet marked with a fine wheel,
lakkhaṇamaṇḍita-āyatapaṇhī,
his long heels are a characteristic mark,
cāmarachattavibhūsitapādo,
his feet decorated with chowrie and sunshade,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [01]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Sakyakumāravaro sukhumālo,
An excellent and graceful Sakyan prince,
lakkhaṇacittikapuṇṇasarīro,
with a body full of characteristic marks,
lokahitāya gato naravīro,
a hero who has come for the world’s benefit,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [02]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Puṇṇasasaṅkanibho mukhavaṇṇo,
Just like the full moon is his beautiful face,
Devanarāna’ piyo naranāgo,
dear to gods and men, a Nāga amongst men,
mattagajindavilāsitagāmī,
walking like a charming lord of elephants,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [03]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Khattiyasambhava-aggakulīno,
Born into a leading noble family,
devamanussanamassitapādo,
gods and men revere his feet,
sīlasamādhipatiṭṭhitacitto,
having virtue and concentration established in his mind,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [04]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Āyatatuṅgasusaṇṭhitanāso,
Having a long, prominent and well-formed nose,
gopakhumo abhinīlasunetto,
cow-like eyelashes, beautiful deep black eyes,
indadhanū-abhinīlabhamūko,
his deep black eyebrows (are just like) Indra’s bow,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [05]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Vaṭṭasumaṭṭasusaṇṭhitagīvo,
Having a round, sizeable, and well-formed neck,
sīhahanū migarājasarīro,
a lion’s jaw, a body like the king of beasts,
kañcanasucchavi-uttamavaṇṇo,
beautiful golden skin, of supreme colour,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [06]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Siniddhasugambhiramañjusaghoso,
Having a very deep, charming, and sweet voice,
hiṅgulabandhusurattasujivho,
with a beautiful tongue, red like vermillion,
vīsativīsatisetasudanto,
with twenty by twenty beautiful white teeth,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [07]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Añjanavaṇṇasunīlasukeso,
Having beautiful, glossy, black-coloured hair,
kañcanapaṭṭavisuddhanalāṭo,
a forehead like a plate of purified gold,
osadhipaṇḍarasuddhasu-uṇṇo,
and hair between the brows like a pure white star,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho. [08]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.
Gacchati nīlapathe viya cando,
Like the moon going along the dark night path,
tāragaṇāpariveṭhitarūpo,
surrounded by a body of stars,
sāvakamajjhagato Samaṇindo,
is the Lord of Ascetics in the midst of his disciples,
esa hi tuyha’ pitā narasīho ti. [09]
that indeed is your father, a lion of a man.