12. Narasīhagāthā
Verses about a Lion of a Man



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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.