PSALMS OF THE BRETHREN
Canto I.
Psalms of Single Verses
LXXVI
Piyañjaha
Translated from the Pali by Mrs. C.A.F. Rhys Davids.
Public Domain
He was reborn in this Buddha-age at Vesālī, in the family of a Licchavi noble (rāja). When grown up he was ever mad for war and an unconquered fighter, ever sacrificing what was near and dear, so that he became known as Piyañjaha — Love-renouncing. But when the Master came to Vesālī, Piyañjaha found faith in him, entered the Order, dwelt in the forest, developed insight and won arahantship. As arahant he thought, 'How different is worldly success from Ariyan success!' and by this insight confessing aññā, he uttered this verse:
[76] Where men are arrogant, see thou lie low.[1]
Where they are low in mind, lift up the heart.
Dwell thou where other folk care not to dwell,
Wherein men find delight, take thou no joy.
[1] In the text the inflexion used is the third person singular of the older optative in a: he, one, should lie low.
