“The good eat properly obtained “Sāmākaciṅgūlakacīnakāni ca, millet, wild grains, broomcorn, Pattapphalaṁ mūlaphalaṁ gavipphalaṁ; greens, tubers, and squashes. Dhammena laddhaṁ satamasnamānā, They don’t lie to get what they want. Na kāmakāmā alikaṁ bhaṇanti.

But when you eat delicious food, Yadasnamāno sukataṁ suniṭṭhitaṁ, nicely cooked and prepared, and offered by others, Parehi dinnaṁ payataṁ paṇītaṁ; enjoying a dish of fine rice, Sālīnamannaṁ paribhuñjamāno, Kassapa, you eat putrefaction. So bhuñjasī kassapa āmagandhaṁ.

‘Putrefaction is not appropriate for me’—Na āmagandho mama kappatīti, so you said, O brahmin only by kin. Icceva tvaṁ bhāsasi brahmabandhu; Yet here you are enjoying a dish of fine rice, Sālīnamannaṁ paribhuñjamāno, well prepared with the flesh of fowl. Sakuntamaṁsehi susaṅkhatehi; I’m asking you this, Kassapa: Pucchāmi taṁ kassapa etamatthaṁ, what do you take to be putrefaction?” Kathaṁpakāro tava āmagandho”.

“Killing creatures, mutilation, murder, abduction; “Pāṇātipāto vadhachedabandhanaṁ, stealing, lying, cheating and fraud, Theyyaṁ musāvādo nikativañcanāni ca; learning crooked spells, adultery: Ajjhenakuttaṁ paradārasevanā, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

People here with unbridled sensuality, Ye idha kāmesu asaññatā janā, greedy for tastes, mixed up in impurity, Rasesu giddhā asucibhāvamassitā; nihilists, immoral, intractable: Natthikadiṭṭhī visamā durannayā, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

Tough, callous calumniators, Ye lūkhasā dāruṇā piṭṭhimaṁsikā, pitiless and arrogant betrayers of friends, Mittadduno nikkaruṇātimānino; misers who never give anything: Adānasīlā na ca denti kassaci, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

Anger, vanity, obstinacy, contrariness, Kodho mado thambho paccupaṭṭhāpanā, deceit, jealousy, boastfulness, Māyā usūyā bhassasamussayo ca; haughtiness, intimacy with the wicked: Mānātimāno ca asabbhi santhavo, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

The ill-behaved, debt-evaders, informants, Ye pāpasīlā iṇaghātasūcakā, business cheats and con-artists, Vohārakūṭā idha pāṭirūpikā; vile men committing sin: Narādhamā yedha karonti kibbisaṁ, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

People here who can’t stop harming living creatures, Ye idha pāṇesu asaññatā janā, taking from others, intent on hurting, Paresamādāya vihesamuyyutā; immoral, cruel, harsh, lacking regard for others: Dussīlaluddā pharusā anādarā, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

Greedy, hostile, aggressive to others, Etesu giddhā viruddhātipātino, and addicted to evil—
those beings pass into darkness,
Niccuyyutā pecca tamaṁ vajanti ye; falling headlong into hell: Patanti sattā nirayaṁ avaṁsirā, this is putrefaction, not eating meat. Esāmagandho na hi maṁsabhojanaṁ.

Not fish or flesh or fasting, Na macchamaṁsānamanāsakattaṁ, nudity or baldness, or dreadlocks or dirt, Na naggiyaṁ na muṇḍiyaṁ jaṭājallaṁ; not rough hides or serving the sacred flame, Kharājināni nāggihuttassupasevanā, or the many endless mortifications in the world, Ye vāpi loke amarā bahū tapā; not hymns or oblations,
sacrifices or seasonal observances,
Mantāhutī yaññamutūpasevanā, will cleanse a mortal not free of doubt. Sodhenti maccaṁ avitiṇṇakaṅkhaṁ.

Guarding the streams of sense impressions,
wander with faculties conquered,
Sotesu gutto viditindriyo care, standing on the teaching, delighting in sincerity and tenderness. Dhamme ṭhito ajjavamaddave rato; The wise have slipped their chains
and given up all suffering;
Saṅgātigo sabbadukkhappahīno, they don’t cling to the seen and the heard.” Na lippati diṭṭhasutesu dhīro”.

The Buddha explained this matter to him
again and again,
Iccetamatthaṁ bhagavā punappunaṁ, until the master of hymns understood it. Akkhāsi naṁ vedayi mantapāragū; It was illustrated with colorful verses Citrāhi gāthāhi munī pakāsayi, by the sage free of putrefaction,
unattached, hard to trace.
Nirāmagandho asito durannayo.

Having heard the fine words of the Buddha, Sutvāna buddhassa subhāsitaṁ padaṁ, that are free of putrefaction,
casting aside all suffering;
Nirāmagandhaṁ sabbadukkhappanūdanaṁ; humbled, he bowed to the Realized One, Nīcamano vandi tathāgatassa, and right away begged to go forth. Tattheva pabbajjamarocayitthāti.