Pārāyanavagga | Questions 6-10
6: Upasīvamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Upasīva's Questions
“Eko ahaṁ Sakka mahantam-oghaṁ, icc-āyasmā Upasīvo,
“Alone, Sakyan, with nothing to depend on, said venerable Upasīva,
anissito no visahāmi tārituṁ.
I am not able to cross over the great flood.
Ārammaṇaṁ brūhi Samantacakkhu,
Please tell me of a support, All-Seeing Visionary,
yaṁ nissito ogham-imaṁ tareyyaṁ.” [94 6-1]
depending on which I can cross over this flood.”
“Ākiñcaññaṁ pekkhamāno satīmā, Upasīvā ti Bhagavā,
“Looking to nothingness, and being mindful, Upasīva, said the Gracious One,
n' atthī ti nissāya tarassu oghaṁ.
depending on nothing, cross over the flood.
Kāme pahāya virato kathāhi,
Having given up sense pleasures, abstaining from talk,
taṇhakkhayaṁ nattamahābhipassa.” [95 6-2]
day and night you must look for the end of suffering.”
“Sabbesu kāmesu yo vītarāgo, icc-āyasmā Upasīvo,
“He who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures, said venerable Upasīva,
ākiñcaññaṁ nissito hitva-m-aññaṁ,
who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else,
saññāvimokkhe parame 'dhimutto -
intent on the highest freedom which still has perception -
tiṭṭhe nu so tattha anānuyāyi?” [96 6-3]
will he remain there without going away?”
“Sabbesu kāmesu yo vīta-rāgo, Upasīvā ti Bhagavā,
“He who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures, Upasīva, said the Gracious One,
ākiñcaññaṁ nissito hitva-m-aññaṁ,
who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else,
saññāvimokkhe parame 'dhimutto -
intent on the highest freedom which still has perception -
tiṭṭheyya so tattha anānuyāyi.” [97 6-4]
he will remain there without going away.”
“Tiṭṭhe ce so tattha anānuyāyi,
“If he remains there without going away
pūgam-pi vassānaṁ Samantacakkhu,
for a great number of years, All-Seeing Visionary,
tatth' eva so sītisiyā vimutto,
will he become cool and free right there,
cavetha viññāṇaṁ tathāvidhassa?” [98 6-5]
or will the consciousness of such a one fall away?”
“Accī yathā vātavegena khittā, Upasīvā ti Bhagavā,
“As a flame overthrown by the force of the wind, Upasīva, said the Gracious One,
atthaṁ paleti na upeti saṅkhaṁ,
goes to rest and can no longer be discerned,
evaṁ Munī nāmakāyā vimutto
just so the Sage free from the mental body
atthaṁ paleti na upeti saṅkhaṁ.” [99 6-6]
goes to rest and can no longer be discerned.”
“Atthaṁgato so uda vā sŏ n' atthi? icc-āyasmā Upasīvo,
“The one who has come to rest, is he then nothing? said venerable Upasīva,
Udāhu ve sassatiyā arogo?
or is he actually eternally healthy?
Taṁ me Munī sādhu viyākarohi,
Please explain this to me, O Sage,
tathā hi te vidito esa Dhammo.” [100 6-7]
for this Teaching has been understood by you.”
“Atthaṁgatassa na pamāṇam-atthi, Upasīvā ti Bhagavā,
“There is no measure of the one who has come to rest, Upasīva, said the Gracious One,
yena naṁ vajju' taṁ tassa n' atthi,
there is nothing by which they can speak of him,
sabbesu dhammesu samūhatesu,
when everything has been completely removed,
samūhatā vādapathā pi sabbe” ti. [101 6-8]
all the pathways for speech are also completely removed.”
Upasīvamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Upasīva's Questions are Finished
7: Nandamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Nanda's Questions
“ ‘Santi loke munayo’, icc-āyasmā Nando,
“‘There are sages in the world’, said venerable Nanda,
janā vadanti ta-y-idaṁ kathaṁ su?
that is what people say - how is this so?
Ñāṇūpapannaṁ no muniṁ vadanti
Do they say he is a sage because he has knowledge
Udāhu ve jīvitenūpapannaṁ?” [102 7-1]
Or because of the life he leads?”
“Na diṭṭhiyā na sutiyā na ñāṇena
“Not by view, tradition, or knowledge,
munīdha Nanda kusalā vadanti,
do the skilful say one is a sage here, Nanda,
visenikatvā anīghā nirāsā -
whoever lives without company, not troubled,
caranti ye te munayo ti brūmi.” [103 7-2]
not yearning, they are sages, I say.”
“Ye kec' ime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, icc-āyasmā Nando,
“Whoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins, said venerable Nanda,
diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through what is seen or heard,
sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,
anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through countless (other) ways,
kaccissu te Bhagavā tattha yatā carantā
Gracious One, perhaps those living restrained in this way
atāruṁ jātiñ-ca jarañ-ca mārisa?
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?
Pucchāmi taṁ Bhagavā brūhi me taṁ.” [104 7-3]
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”
“Ye kec' ime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, Nandā ti Bhagavā,
“Whoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins, Nanda, said the Gracious One,
diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through what is seen or heard,
sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,
anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through countless (other) ways,
kiñcāpi te tattha yatā caranti
although they are living restrained in this way,
nātariṁsu jātijaran-ti brūmi.” [105 7-4]
they have not crossed over birth and old age, I say.”
“Ye kec' ime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, icc-āyasmā Nando,
“Whoever (among) these ascetics and brāhmins, said venerable Nanda,
diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through what is seen or heard,
sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,
anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through countless (other) ways,
te ce munī brūsi anoghatiṇṇe,
if you say these sages have not crossed the flood,
atha ko carahi devamanussaloke
then just who in the world of the gods and men
atāri jātiñ-ca jarañ-ca mārisa?
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?
Pucchāmi taṁ Bhagavā brūhi me taṁ.” [106 7-5/6]
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”
“Nāhaṁ sabbe samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, Nandā ti Bhagavā,
“I do not say that all ascetics and brāhmins, Nanda, said the Gracious One,
jātijarāya nivutā ti brūmi:
are enveloped in birth and old age:
ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā,
whoever here has given up (reliance on) what is seen,
sīlabbataṁ vā pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,
anekarūpam-pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
and has also given up all the countless (other) ways,
taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse -
who, by fully knowing crving, are pollutant-free -
te ve narā ogha tiṇṇā ti brūmi.” [107 7-7]
I say those men have crossed over the flood.”
“Etābhinandāmi vaco mahesino,
I greatly rejoice in the great seer's word,
sukittitaṁ Gotam' anūpadhīkaṁ!
Gotama, well-proclaimed is freedom from cleaving!
Ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā
Whoever here has given up (reliance on) what is seen,
sīlabbataṁ vā pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,
anekarūpam-pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
and has also given up all the countless (other) ways,
taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse -
who, by fully knowing craving, are pollutant-free -
aham-pi te ogha tiṇṇā ti brūmī” ti. [108 7-8]
I also say they have crossed over the flood.”
Nandamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Nanda's Questions are Finished
8: Hemakamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Hemaka's Questions
“Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu, icc-āyasmā Hemako,
“Those who explained (things) to me in the past, said venerable Hemaka,
huraṁ Gotamasāsanā,
before Gotama's teaching,
‘iccāsi iti bhavissati’, sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ,
saying ‘it was so, and so it will be’, all that was just hearsay,
sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ. [109 8-1]
all that just increased my thoughts, and I did not delight therein.
Tvañ-ca me Dhammam-akkhāhi taṇhānigghātanaṁ Muni,
You must explain the Teaching to me, O Sage, and the destruction of craving,
yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ, tare loke visattikaṁ.” [110 8-2]
which, having understood, and living mindfully, one can cross over clinging to the world.”
“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu piyarūpesu Hemaka,
“In regard to likeable forms here seen, heard, sensed, and cognized, Hemaka,
chandarāgavinodanaṁ Nibbānapadam-accutaṁ. [111 8-3]
the dispelling of desire and passion (for them) - this is the undying Nibbāna.
Etad-aññāya ye satā, diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā,
Knowing this, those who are mindful, who are Emancipated in this very life,
upasantā ca te sadā, tiṇṇā loke visattikan”-ti [112 8-4]
those who are always peaceful, have crossed over clinging to the world.”
Hemakamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Hemaka's Questions are Finished
9: Todeyyamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Todeyya's Questions
“Yasmiṁ kāmā na vasanti, icc-āyasmā Todeyyo,
“He who has no in-dwelling sense desires, said venerable Todeyya,
taṇhā yassa na vijjati,
he in whom no craving is found,
kathaṅkathā ca yo tiṇṇo, vimokkho tassa kīdiso?” [113 9-1]
he who crossed beyond doubts, what kind of freedom is there for him?”
“Yasmiṁ kāmā na vasanti, Todeyyā ti Bhagavā,
“He who has no in-dwelling sense desires, said the Gracious One,
taṇhā yassa na vijjati,
he in whom no craving is found,
kathaṅkathā ca yo tiṇṇo, vimokkho tassa nāparo.” [114 9-2]
he who has crossed beyond doubts, there is no further freedom for him.”
“Nirāsaso so uda āsasāno? icc-āyasmā Todeyyo,
“Is he without yearning, or is he still yearning? said venerable Todeyya,
Paññānavā so uda paññakappī?
Is he wise, or is he still acquiring wisdom?
Muniṁ ahaṁ Sakka yathā vijaññaṁ:
I would know just what the sage is like, Sakyan:
Taṁ me viyācikkha Samantacakkhu.” [115 9-3]
Explain that to me, All-Seeing Visionary.”
“Nirāsaso so na so āsasāno.
“He is without yearning, he is not still yearning.
Paññānavā so na ca paññakappī.
He is wise, he is not still acquiring wisdom.
Evam-pi Todeyya Muniṁ vijāna:
Know that the Sage is just like this, Todeyya:
akiñcanaṁ kāmabhave asattan”-ti. [116 9-4]
he has nothing, and is not clinging to sense existence.”
Todeyyamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Todeyya's Questions are Finished
10: Kappamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Kappa's Questions
“Majjhe sarasmiṁ tiṭṭhataṁ, icc-āyasmā Kappo,
“For those standing in the middle of a lake, said venerable Kappa,
oghe jāte mahabbhaye,
when a fearful flood has arisen,
jarāmaccuparetānaṁ, dīpaṁ pabrūhi mārisa,
for those overcome by old age and death, speak (about) an island, dear Sir,
tvañ-ca me dīpam-akkhāhi yatha-y-idaṁ nāparaṁ siyā.” [117 10-1]
you must explain an island to me, so there will be no more after this.”
“Majjhe sarasmiṁ tiṭṭhataṁ, Kappā ti Bhagavā,
“For those standing in the middle of a lake, Kappa, said the Gracious One,
oghe jāte mahabbhaye
when a fearful flood has arisen,
jarāmaccuparetānaṁ, dīpaṁ pabrūmi Kappa te: [118 10-2]
for those overcome by old age and death, I speak (about) an island, Kappa:
akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, etaṁ dīpaṁ anāparaṁ,
having nothing, no attachment, this is the island with nothing beyond,
Nibbānaṁ iti taṁ brūmi jarāmaccuparikkhayaṁ. [119 10-3]
this is called Nibbāna, I say, the end of old age and death.
Etad-aññāya ye satā, diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā,
Knowing this, those who are mindful, who are emancipated in this very life,
na te Māravasānugā, na te Mārassa paddhagū” ti. [120 10-4]
come not under Māra's control, they are not servants to Māra.”
Kappamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Kappa's Questions are Finished