“Then again when I was the very virtuous Cūḷabodhi, seeing rebirth as fearful, I renounced worldly life.
She who had been my partner, a brahmin lady with golden skin, unconcerned with the cycle of rebirths, also renounced worldly life.
Without clinging, cutting off family, unconcerned with family or group, we walked from village to town until we reached Varanasi.
There we lived alert, mixing not with a family or group. Quiet and undisturbed, we both stayed in the royal park.
Visiting the park, the king saw the brahmin lady. He approached me and asked, ‘Is she your wife? Or whose is she?’
When he said this, to him I said the following. ‘She is not my wife. We share the same teaching and belief.’
Infatuated with her, he had his men seize her. Compelling her by force he brought her to the royal compound.
She who became mine by touching a water-jar, born together, one in beliefs, when he dragged her away, I felt so angry.
Together with the arising of anger, I remembered my precepts and vows, and right there controlled my anger, I did not allow it to grow.
If anyone were to attack that brahmin lady with a sharp knife, not even for that would I violate my ethics, because it was solely for awakening.
I did not dislike the brahmin lady, nor did I lack the strength. But because omniscience is precious to me, that’s why I guarded my ethics.”
Cūḷabodhi’s Conduct
Cp 14 · Cūḷabodhicariya
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Collection & context
- CariyāpiṭakaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.