[115] 5.
Wondrous indeed is the knowledge of the Sugata (the Well-Gone One),
in that the Teacher declared of persons:
"Some there are abounding in merit,
and some there are of little merit."
This boy, discarded in the charnel ground (sīvathikā),
survived through the night on the milk of his thumb.
Neither yakkhas and spirits nor creeping creatures
would molest the boy who had made merit;
even the dogs licked his feet,
and crows and jackals circled about him.
Flocks of birds carried off the impurities of the womb,
and crows bore away the rheum of his eyes;
no one arranged any protection for him,
neither medicine nor fumigation with mustard seed;
nor did they observe the conjunction of the stars,
nor did they scatter grain of every kind.
Such was he — come to utmost distress,
brought by night and discarded in the charnel ground —
trembling like a lump of fresh butter,
only bare life remaining, his survival in doubt.
Him the One honored by devas and humans beheld,
and having seen him, the One of Vast Wisdom declared:
"This boy will belong to the foremost family
of this city, and he will be a man of wealth."
[The lay followers asked:]
"What was his observance? What then his holy life?
Of what good conduct well performed is this the result,
that, having met with such calamity,
he will enjoy such success?"
[The Blessed One answered:]
"The people made a lavish offering
to the Saṅgha of bhikkhus with the Buddha at its head;
there an alteration came over his mind (citta),
and he uttered speech that was harsh and unseemly.
Having dispelled that thought,
he afterwards regained rapture (pīti) and serene confidence;
he served the Tathāgata, dwelling in the Jetavana,
with rice-gruel for seven nights.
That was his observance, that indeed his holy life;
of that good conduct well performed this is the result:
having met with such calamity,
he will enjoy such success.
Having remained a hundred years right here,
furnished with all sensual pleasures,
with the breakup of the body he will go, in the hereafter,
to the companionship of Vāsava."
The Kumārapetavatthu, the fifth [is ended].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.