Psalms of the Brethren CCX: Kassapa of Uruvela

Beholding all the wondrous works achieved
By the high powers of glorious Gotama,
At first, natheless, myself I humbled not,
Being deceived by envy and by pride.

But He, Driver of men, who knew my thought
And my intent, took me at length to task.
Thereby anguish befell me, I was seized
By thrill mysterious, hair-raising dread.

And then the gifts that erst accrued to me
As famed ascetic poor and worthless seemed.
All these I thereupon esteemed as nought,
And in the Conqueror’s Order was enrolled.

Once well content with sacrifice, ’bove all
Concerned within these worlds once more to live
Now have I set myself to extirpate
All passion, all ill will, illusion too.

How erst I lived I know; the heavenly eye,
Purview celestial, have I clarified;
Power supernormal, reading others’ thought,
Hearing ineffable, have I achieved.

And the great Quest for which I left the world,
Forsaking home, a homeless life to lead,
Even that quest, that high reward I’ve won,
For every fetter now is broken down.