The Perfection of Resolve
“Then again when I was
the true-born son of the king of Kāsi,
Mūgapakkha was my name, [1]
they called me Temiya.
None of the sixteen thousand court women
had given birth to a male.
After many days and nights
I was born, the only one.
To my father I was a dear son born with difficulty,
a light-bringer of impeccable lineage.
Holding a white parasol over my bed,
my father provided for me.
Sleeping on the fine bed,
then having awoken,
I saw the pale umbrella,
by which I had gone to hell. [2]
At the sight of the umbrella
a terrible dread arose in me.
I reached the decision,
‘How can I be free of this?’
A former blood-relation of mine,
a goddess wishing to help, [3]
saw my suffering
and enjoined me to three states.
‘Don’t show intelligence,
be as a fool to all creatures,
let all folk scorn you,
thus you will achieve your goal.’
When she had spoken,
I said the following.
‘I shall do your bidding,
just as you say, goddess.
You want what’s best for me, mom, [4]
you desire my welfare, goddess.’
After hearing her words,
I was like one lost at sea reaching the shore.
I was thrilled, my mind elated,
and I resolved on three factors.
I became deaf, and dumb,
and crippled, unable to walk.
Resolving on these factors,
I lived for sixteen years.
Then they rubbed my hands and feet,
my tongue and ears as well,
and seeing no defect in me,
denounced me as ‘black-ear’. [5]
Due to that, the entire country,
including the generals and priests,
with one mind
cheered as I was discarded.
When I heard of their decision
I was thrilled, my mind elated,
‘The goal for which I lived fervently
I have achieved.’
Bathed and oiled, [6]
with my turban wrapped,
anointed, they held the umbrella
as they paraded me around the city.
After the seventh day holding the umbrella,
when the sun’s orb had risen,
I was taken out by chariot,
until the charioteer came to a wood.
Leaving the chariot in the open,
the bridled horse released from his hand,
the charioteer dug a pit
to bury me in the ground.
I was afraid for the many different
resolves that I had undertaken,
so I did not break that resolve,
because it was solely for awakening.
I had no dislike of my parents,
nor did I dislike myself.
But because omniscience is precious to me,
that is why I resolved on my vow.
Having resolved the three factors,
I lived for sixteen years.
There is no-one to equal my resolve:
this is my perfection of resolve.”
