Animal Kingdom I (extracts from the root text rearranged) Dan Martin, tr.
INSECTS, WORMS, SPIDERS
WOODWORM
pe ta ming gis bslus te bsko ba nyan dus de dus de tshe gces par dor // bslus: C blus. bsko ba: C sgo ba. de dus de tshe: C de tshe. gces par dor: C gces pa 'dor. 1. Fooled by its name and hearing the digging, at that very time the woodworm abandons its dear life.
LEECH
padmas khrag ngoms chu yi nad 'dug sha yi phyir mi 'brang // padmas: C bad pas (i.e., pad pas). nad: C nang. sha yi: C sha'i. 'brang: C 'breng. 2. The leech craves blood. It doesn't go after meat that is in the water.
SPIDER
ci yang mi dgos shing skogs bar gyi sdom gyi spyod 'gros khyod kyis ltos // 3. Consider the way of life of the spider in the cracks of the tree bark. He needs [to do] nothing at all.
FLY
rnga yab lag na thogs bzhin 'ja' ti dug sbrang phyir mi skrod // 4. It is an incompetent who, while holding the yaktail fan, doesn't shoo away the poison fly.
BEE
sbrang rgod lto ru zos nas 'bras bu med par 'dod pa de ni shin tu blun // 5. Thinking there will be no result from swallowing a wild bee is very foolish.
FISH & SEA CREATURES
MAKARA
chu srin kha ru gru chu ded dpon 'di yi spyod pa de ltos dang // 6. Consider the actions of this sea captain of a small boat in the mouth of the makara.
OYSTER
mu tig phreng ba lto ru zo shig 'di yis don gnyis 'grub par 'gyur // 7. Eat the rosary of pearls, and thereby the two benefits [for oneself and others] will be accomplished.
LIZARDS
SNAKE
gcig la gcig brtan gshog pa med kyang gser sbrul mkha' la 'phur // 8. One relying on the other, even though they don't have wings, the golden snakes fly in the sky.
snal chu mthong tshe thag pa sbrul du 'dzin pa'i 'khrul pa ldog // snal chu: C rnal 'ju. ldog: C zlog. 9. When you see the yak snot, the delusion of holding the rope as a snake is reversed.
ma gi ta yod sal [~sa la] brang 'gros lta bar mi nus so // 10. In a land where there is magita [herb], no chest-travelers can be seen.
sbrul gyi tshong mthong len mkhan tsandan la ni ser sna skye mi 'gyur // tshong: C tshang. tsandan: C tsan dan. 11. The one who has a look at the snake nest won't have avarice for the sandalwood.
POISON SNAKE
dug sdul rke bcad nus pa med pa rnal 'byor pa yis gzigs // 12. The poison snake, its waist cut — Look at it, yogi! — is disabled.
dug sbrul pang du byung tshe do gal yod par spang bar bya // 13. When a venomous snake appears on your lap, very carefully get rid of it.
bor ba'i phyi skogs la ni ltos 'gro chags pa'i blo mi skye // ltos 'gro: C lto 'gros. 14. It doesn't occur to the stomach-goer [snake] to care about the molten skin it leaves behind.
dug sbrul phag dang glang po'i spyod 'gros khyod kyis da ltos shig // 15. You must now consider the story of the poisonous snake, the pig and the elephant.
TURTLE
rus sbal khog pa pha lam rdzas kyi rdo rjes bcag pa ngo mtshar che // 16. That the stomach [shell] of the turtle should be able to cut the vajra of diamond substance is a great marvel.
'gro bar ma nus khar gzhong nang gi rus sbal tshi chad 'gyur // 17. Unable to go anywhere, the turtle in the brass basin tires itself out.
zla ba bco lnga ma rgyas bar du rus sbal las skyes sgo nga smin mi 'gyur // 18. Until the increase of the 15th day of the month, the egg that gives birth to the turtle doesn't mature.
rlan bral rus sbal rgya mtshor mthong tshe de dus gzhan mi dran // 19. When the moistureless turtle sees the ocean it doesn't think about other things.
yan lag nang du bskums pas phyi ru dgra dang bral ba'i rus sbal thabs la mkhas // 20. The turtle, without enemies on the outside when it contracts its limbs within, knows skilful means.
rus sbal rlan las skyes kyang rgya mtsho mthong na de dus rab tu dga' // 21. Even though the turtle was born from moisture, if it sees the ocean, that's when it's overjoyed.
sems can rus sbal mig 'di btsums na gsal bas dbye bar 'phags pa yin // rus sbal: C rul rbal. btsums: C btsum. gsal bas: C gsal bar. 'phags: C 'phangs. 22. Although the animal turtle sees clearly when it squints its eyes, open is more sublime.
rus sbal spu yi kha dog ci 'dra da res khod kyis mo gsham bu la dris // 23. What color is the turtle's hair? That is a question for the barren woman's child.
rus sbal rgyab kyi ri mo sus bris 'di yi mkhan po gang yin lo // rus sbal: C rul rbal. sus bris: C nam bris. 'di yi: C 'di'i. 24. I've heard it asked, Who drew the design on the turtle's back? Who is its maker (artist)?
nor bu'i phung po mthong tshe rus sbal la ni gces par 'dzin pa'i blo mi skye // rus sbal: C rus rbal. gces par: C ces par. 25. When it sees a heap of jewels, the turtle doesn't find them valuable.
rgya mtsho'i rba rlabs 'khrugs dus thabs ldan rus sbal gting du 'bros // 26. When the waves of the ocean are tossing, the capable turtle flees to the depths.
BIRDS
'brug gi sgra med rma bya'i mngal du sgo nga chags mi 'gyur // 27. Without the thunderclap the egg will not form in the womb of the peacock.
gzan du pha lam sgug pa'i bya de gang yin su yis mthong bar 'gyur // 28. This bird that gulps diamonds for feed, what is it? Who has seen it?
bye phrug lus la khrag [khrab] chags de dus rma bya'i gnod yun ran // 29. When the armor has formed on the chick's body, then injury from the peacock is far off.
ka la pingka'i sgra gdangs gter gyi steng du sgrogs na snyan // 30. The song of the kalaviṅka bird, when it's sounded on top of a treasure, sounds nice.
rgya las grol nas 'dab chags rma bya rjes su zlog mi 'gyur // 31. Free from the snare, the peacock fowl won't come back to it again.
mdzes sdug rma bya'i thul pa phud na de yis thar pa thob par 'gyur // 32. Who, to make it nice and beautiful, preens the peacock's feathers, that one will attain freedom.
khyu mchog 'og tu zhon nas seng ge'i 'o ma da 'thung shig // 33. When riding on the khyu mchog ['herd leader'], drink lion milk.
sgo nga'i nang nas byung ba'i bye phrug mkha' la lta ba de ci sems // 34. The chick that emerged from inside the egg, looking to the sky, what is it thinking?
rma bya btsan dug za ba bya gzhan rnams kyis thun mong ma yin no // 35. The peacock's consumption of aconite is not something it has in common with other birds.
sgong skyes tshang du bskyur nas phru gu mi gso 'dab chags khu byug drung // 36. It is close to the cuckoo, a bird that doesn't raise its children, only abandons them in the nests of the egg-born.
gzings la gnas pa'i bya rog 'di las 'phur sa gud na med // 37. The crow that lives on a ship has no place else to fly.
mdongs rgyas pa yi rma bya dregs pas myos pa 'di ni ting 'dzin bzang // 38. The peacock, its spots expanded, is drunk with haughtiness. This is a good samādhi.
chu bya'i phru gu 'di la sgo nga'i nang du rgya mtsho'i snang ba 'char bar 'gyur // 39. To the waterbird chick inside the egg the appearance of the ocean will appear.
brag las skyes pa'i chu bya mtsho la snyag // 40. The waterbird, who was born among the rocks, runs for the lake.
'dab bzangs rgyal po'i mchu la rtsi yod chu bo'i nang gi 'o ma 'du // 41. On the beak of the king of fowls is an essence. It gathers the milk inside the water.
gcig tu gyur pas ri rab drung du rma bya'i mdongs mi gsal // 42. Since they become one, the peacock's 'eyes' are not clear next to Mt. Meru.
gzan la bcum pa rgya khra 'di yis man ngag thams cad bstan nas song // 43. This rgya khra [falcon], food in its crop, teaches all the precepts and goes away.
nya btang ba yi skyar mo de dus mkha' la dgra yi 'jigs pa bral // 44. The heron that has dropped the fish flies without fear in the sky.
mi 'gyur mkha' la lding ba'i bya tri 'di la gdams pa yod // 45. The bya tri [falcon or hawk] soaring in unchanging space has a precept.bya tri: D bya sri. phyin na: D song na.
MAMMALS
DOMESTIC MAMMALS
GENERAL
dud 'gro'i khong du gser 'gyur rtsi zos rtswa gzhan dag dang khyad par med // 46. In the animal's stomach, having eaten gold-making elixir, it could just as well have been some other grass.
DOG
rdo yi shul du 'brang ba'i khyi yi spyod 'gros 'di la khyod kyis yang yang ltos // rdo yi: C rdo'i. 'brang ba'i: C 'brengs pa'i. 'gros: C 'gres (?). 47. Consider once and again the behavior of the dog who follows after the place where the stone was.
HORSE
rta mchog thur du rgyug pa skyes bu 'di yis gdams ngag bstan nas song // thur du: C mthur du. gdams ngag: C bdam ngag. 48. This man who fast races the best horse, he teaches the precepts and he's gone.
WILD MAMMALS
GENERAL (carnivores & game animals)
gal nad [~nang] zas la rgyug pa'i sems can de ni snying rje'i yul // 49. The animal that runs for the food inside the trap is a subject for pity.
gnad du mtshon phog dus der ri dags khyu nas dgar // 50. When it is struck by a weapon in a vital spot, that game animal is isolated from the herd.
RAT
nam zhig byi ba'i dug dang ma bral thar pa thob mi 'gyur // 51. One day, not lacking rat's poison, liberation will not be attained.
BAT
pha wang dred dang sha dag byed pa'i dgos pa gang yin khyod kyis smros // sha dag: C sha ngag (?). 52. What need for the duel of the bat and the hyena? You tell me.
RABBIT
dur ba gzeb kyi ri bong 'di yi spyod 'gros blta bar bya // 53. Consider the behavior of the cemetery rabbit.
zla ba mthong ba'i ri bong snyems las grol // 54. The rabbit that sees the moon is liberated from arrogance.
MONKEY
rgun 'brum tshal nas gram pa snyag pa'i spre'u snying re rje / rgun: D sgun. spre'u: D spri'u. 55. How pitiful the monkey who runs down the banks from the vineyard.
spre'u yi sder mo rnyed pa'i rus sbal lan tshwa'i chu la lto 'gal med // spre'u yi: C spre'u. rus sbal: C rul rbal. lan tshwa'i: C ba tsha'i. 56. The turtle has gotten a monkey claw. No reason not to eat it in borax water.
WILD PIG
sgra rnams snying gi dbus na nyan pa'i phag rgod 'di yi spyod 'gros khyod kyis ltos // 57. You should carefully consider the behavior of this wild pig who listens to the sounds in the center of its heart.
bung ba'i sgra la phag rgod nyan pa 'di ni phyag rgya che // 58. The wild pig listening to the sound of the bees. This is the Great Seal.
FOX
wa dang glang po bung ba sha za seng ge smyon pa'i spyod 'gros ltos // 59. Consider the mad behavior and way of walking of the fox, the elephant, the bee, the cannibal and the lion (flesh-eating lion?).
JACKAL
ce spyang mig la nyen mtshan med de de yis dor bya spangs pa yin // [54r] ce spyang: C lce spyang. nyen mtshan: C nyin mtshan. de yis dor bya: C de yis der bya. 60. For jackals' eyes there is no day and night, so they have nothing to give up doing.
dur khrod nang du ce spyang ro dang phrad pa phyir mi ldog // 61. The jackal that finds a corpse in the cemetery doesn't turn away.
HYENA
See under 'bat'.
BLACK ANTELOPE
khri snyan pags bgyon pa'i mi des bgegs rnams bran du khol bar 'gyur // rtswa yi: C rtswa'i. sa yi: C sa'i. rno yi: C sna'i. pags: C spags pa. bgyon: C gon. khol: C 'khol. 62. The person who wears black antelope skin makes obstacles into servants.
BEAR
phru gu mi dran sbrang rtsi mthong ba'i don la gnyid mi 'ong // don: C dom. 'ong: C yong. 63. The bear that sees honey, forgetting its cubs, gets no sleep.
sbrang rtsi'i ro mchog myong ba'i rnga mo rtswa yi zhen pa bral // 64. The bear that has known the supreme taste of honey is free of craving for grass.
TIGER
stag ni ri mo yod pas lan te rtag tu dgra dang 'grogs // 65. The tiger has stripes, so it's always accompanied with its enemy.
mkhas pa yis ni stag gi tshang mthong de nas 'byol // 66. The wise, when they see a tiger's lair, run away.
stag 'di ded pas mi zin bsdad kyi steng nas dgug par bya // 67. This tiger won't be caught by scaring it off [into the trap], it must be enticed from above [the place where] it stays (?).
LION
rtsal gsum lus la rdzogs pa'i seng ge 'di la ya nga cung zad med // 68. The lion with the three physical skills perfected hasn't the least anxiety.
69. Who sees the man in the lion suit is a fortunate one.
seng ge'i gsob mthong tshe na de dus snying la yi ge sna tshogs 'char // 70. When you see the suit of the lion, that's when all kinds of letters dawn in the heart.
seng ge'i mig gi dbus na yi ge a yod pa de ltos dang kye // 71. In the center of the lion's eye is a letter 'A', so, Hey! Have a look.
seng ge'i rlid bus chos rnams ma lus bstan nas song ba ngo mtshar che // rkyal ma: C skyal ma. rlid bus: C blud pus. bstan nas: C stan nas. 72. The lion skin pouch, it teaches all dharmas without exception and goes away, such a wonder.
brag las byung ba'i seng ge'i skad kyis chos rnams ma lus bstan nas song // 73. The sound of the lion that appeared among the rocks, taught all dharmas and went away.
seng ge'i 'o ma rin chen snod las phal gyis thub mi 'gyur // 74. Lion's milk needs a vessel of precious metals; an ordinary one is useless.
skyes bu seng ge'i gsob mthong ba ni skal bar ldan // 75. Who sees the man in the lion suit is a fortunate one.
seng ge'i 'o ma 'thung tshe mchu la 'byar rtsi byugs na bcud du 'gyur // 76. When drinking lion milk, if you smear glue on your lips, it will provide nourishment.
skom du seng ge'i snying khrag 'thungs pa'i mi de su yi rigs rgyud yin // 77. Persons who drink the heart-blood of the lion when thirsty, of whose lineage are they?
mkha' la rgyu skar gang yin lta na seng ge'i g.yang gzhi gon // 78. If you want to know how the planets dawn in space, wear a lion pelt and you will understand.
ri brags bar du sdod pa'i gcan gzan seng ge 'di la gdams pa yod // 79. This lion carnivore staying among the rocky mountains has a precept.
RHINOCEROS
lus la rme ba yod pa'i ri dags gcig pur sdod la ltos // 80. Consider the wild game animal that stays alone, with dirt spots on its body.
ELEPHANT
glang po'i mgo la rwa med chag gis dogs pa'i sdug bsngal skye mi 'gyur // 81. There being no horn on the elephant's head, he never need suffer fear of its breaking.
glang po'i rgyu she lcags kyus phrogs pa 'di ni ngo mtshar che ba yin // 82. Knowing what elephants are made of, that they can be caught with a hook is an amazing thing.
stod la mnan pa'i seng ge'i gam du spos kyi glang po ga chad du [~ngu]// mnan: C gnan. gam: C gan. 83. In the vicinity of the lion pressed down on its upper body the incense elephant is depressed and weeps.
skyed du 'dzom pa'i glang po seng ge'i 'o ma 'thungs pas su yis thub par 'gyur // 84. The elephant has mastery at birth, but when it also drank lion milk, who will be its match?
gser gyi rtsa'u mkha' la phyar ba 'di la glang po smyon pa 'bros // rtsa'u: C rtsa bu. smyon pa: C snyon ba. 85. Faced with the golden needle flourished in the sky, the elephant runs away crazed.
mngal du mches pa'i glang po mche ba drug pa rgun 'brum mi 'dod la // mches pa'i: C 'phyes pa'i. mche ba: C 'phye ba. 86. The six-tusker elephant, with tusks already in the womb, wants no grapes.
bu ram tshal mthong rkang la khong sgril grol ba'i glang po sdod pa min // 87. Seeing the sugarcane grove, the elephant with chain-free feet doesn't sit still.
'dul sbyong mkhan gyi gan du bu ram tshal nas bros pa'i glang po 'dza' tri yin // 'dza' tri: C 'ja sri [probably from Skt. jāḍya] 88. The skilled tamer nearby, the elephant who ran away through the sugarcane grove is a complete incompetent.
skom pas mchu dang mgul pa skams pa'i glang po chu dang phrad pas gzhan mi sems // mgul pa: C 'gul ba. 89. The elephant whose lips and throat are parched by thirst, goes to the water and thinks of no other thing.
gar chang 'thung ba'i glang po smyon pa rang sar bzhag na srun // 90. A crazed elephant that drank strong wine, if you leave it alone it will be pacified.
shing gi skyes bus glang po'i mgo bcad de yi sdig pa gang du smin // mgo bcad: C srog gcod. de yi: C de'i. 91. The wooden man cut off the elephant's head (variant: cut off the elephant's life). In what will the sin of it ripen?
spos kyi glang po ste ka zos pa seng ge'i gdong du blta // ste ka: C te ka [I read: de ga]. blta: C lta. 92. The 'incense elephant,' who consumed that very thing, looks on the face of the lion.
do thag thams cad rtsal gyi phur pa 'di yis bzung ba yin // do: C de (?). rtsal gyi: C rtsar gyis. 93. All the load-ropes are held by this peg of energy. The mighty caravan leader must load it on the elephant's back, and [right] now.
g.yul don ma sprod tshe na glang po'i mchu la ral gri gdags // 94. Attaching a sword to the elephant's lips when not entering into battle.
glang po'i mgul gyi dril bu 'di yis man ngag thams cad bstan nas song // 95. This bell tied around the elephant's neck teaches all the precepts and it's gone. These animal metaphors were extracted from a collection of visionary teachings received by Padampa Sanggyé from various divine forms of Buddhas, forms both female and male. The collection bears the overall title: Transmission of Mahāmudrā Symbolic Language (Phyag rgya chen po brda'i [b]rgyud). The version in the Dergé Tanjur (no. 2439, vol. ZI, folios 50-55) supplies a Sanskrit title: Mahāmudrābhigīti. I think this must be corrected to Mahāmudrā-pragīti (in any case, it doesn't have the same meaning as the Tibetan title). It was translated by Nagu (a nickname for Phadampa himself) and a Tibetan assistant named Zhama Lotsāba. It was translated prior to Padampa's death, and so its revelation and inscription must predate that time. The Twelve Sugatas (Dvadaśasugata) are given as the authors.[1] There are two texts available to me, the one just mentioned, in the Dergé Tanjur, and the other in the Peacemaking Collection. When variant readings from the Peacemaking Collection version are given, they are marked "C" while "D" means the Dergé Tanjur version. The Peacemaking Collection was published in five volumes in 1979 under the title The Tradition of Pha Dampa Sangyas: A Treasured Collection of His Teachings Transmitted by Thugs-sras Kun-dga’, “reproduced from a unique collection of mss. preserved with ’Khrul-zhig Rinpoche of Tsa-rong [Dza Rongphu] Monastery in Ding-ri, edited with an English introduction to the tradition by B. Nimri Aziz,” published in Delhi by Kunsang Tobgey of Thimphu, Bhutan. The original manuscript collection has four volumes. [1] Tārā, Mañjuśrī, Avalokiteśvara, Vajrapāṇi, Yamāntaka, Kharsapāṇi, Sarvavivāraṇaviṣkhambhī, *Svabhutarajñī [?], Mārīcī, Samantabhadra, Vajravārāhī and Acala. These revelations took place in 12 different geographical locations, which are specified. |