Exploring the Path - Pāli Course

“Samaṇā’ti bhoti supi,

‘samaṇā’ti pabujjhasi

“ ‘Samana’ you say when falling asleep,

‘Samana’ you say when waking up.

Samaṇāneva kittesi,

samaṇī nūna bhavissasi.

You’re praising only the Samanas.

Surely you will be a Samana”

Vipulaṃ annañca pānañca,

samaṇānaṃ pavecchasi.

So much food and drink

Do you bestow on Samanas

Rohinī dāni pucchāmi,

kena te samaṇā piyā?

Now Rohini I ask you:

‘Why the Samanas are so dear to you’?

Akammakāmā alasā,

paradattūpajīvino;

They are lazy, not dutiful and

Living on what is given by others.

Āsaṃsukā sādukāmā,

kena te samaṇā piyā?”

Full of expectations, wishing sweet things:

‘Why are Samanas so dear to you’?”

“Cirassaṃ vata maṃ tāta,

samaṇānaṃ paripucchasi;

“Truly for a long time

You have been questioning me about Samanas.

Tesaṃ te kittayissāmi,

paññāsīlaparakkamaṃ.

Now I shall praise their wisdom,

Their moral conduct and their efforts.

Kammakāmā analasā,

kammaseṭṭhassa kārakā.

They desire to perform their work,

are assiduous, Doers of the highest work,

Rāgaṃ dosaṃ pajahanti,

Tena me samaṇā piyā.

Dispelling craving and aversion:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Tīṇi pāpassa mūlāni,

dhunanti sucikārino;

Doers of the pure deeds,

They shake away and cut off the three roots of evil.

Sabbaṃ pāpaṃ pahīnesaṃ,

Tena me samaṇā piyā.

All the evil falls away from them:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Kāyakammaṃ suci nesaṃ,

vacīkammañca tādisaṃ;

Their actions are pure,

Pure as well their speech,

Manokammaṃ suci nesaṃ,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

Pure also are their mental activities:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Bahussutā dhammadharā,

Ariyā dhammajīvino;

There they are of ample learning, upholders of Dhamma

And living the holy life in accordance to Dhamma

Atthaṃ dhammañca desenti,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

They teach Dhamma along with its meaning:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Bahussutā dhammadharā,

Ariyā dhammajīvino;

They are of ample learning, upholders of the Dhamma,

Living the holy life in in accordance to Dhamma,

Ekaggacittā satimanto,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

Their concentrated minds are full of awareness:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Dūraṅgamā satimanto,

mantabhāṇī anuddhatā;

Wandering far they uphold awareness,

They speak in moderation, without any agitation,

Dukkhassantaṃ pajānanti,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

They comprehend properly the end of suffering:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Yasmā gāmā pakkamanti,

na vilokenti kiñcanaṃ

Wandering through villages,

They do not look around at anything,

Anapekkhāva gacchanti,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

Without yearning do they wander,

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Na tesaṃ koṭṭhe openti,

na kumbhiṃ na khaḷopiyaṃ;

They do not store up belongings in a depository,

Nor in a pot, not in a basket,

Pariniṭṭhitamesānā,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

Accepting what is prepared,

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Na te hiraññaṃ gaṇhanti,

na suvaṇṇaṃ na rūpiyaṃ,

They do not accept a billion,

Neither gold nor silver,

Paccuppannena yāpenti,

tena me samaṇā piyā.

Living in the present moment:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’

Nānākulā pabbajitā,

nānājanapadehi ca;

From different families they have renounced the world

And come from different places,

Aññamaññaṃ piyāyanti,

tena me samaṇā piyā.” …

They love and respect each other in highest esteem:

‘That is why they are dear to me!’” …