5: The Book of the Fives
V. With King Muṇḍa — AN 5.50: With Nārada
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1At one time Venerable Nārada was staying at Pāṭaliputta, in the Chicken Monastery.
Now at that time King Muṇḍa’s dear and beloved Queen Bhaddā had just passed away. And since that time, the king did not bathe, anoint himself, eat his meals, or apply himself to his work. Day and night he brooded over Queen Bhaddā’s corpse.
Then King Muṇḍa addressed his treasurer, Piyaka,
“So, my good Piyaka, please place Queen Bhaddā’s corpse in an iron case filled with oil. Then close it up with another case, so that we can view Queen Bhaddā’s body even longer.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Piyaka the treasurer, and he did as the king instructed.
2Then it occurred to Piyaka: “King Muṇḍa’s dear and beloved Queen Bhaddā has passed away. Since then the king does not bathe, anoint himself, eat his meals, or apply himself to his work. Day and night he broods over Queen Bhaddā’s corpse. Now, what ascetic or brahmin might the king pay homage to, whose teaching could help the king give up sorrow’s arrow?”
3Then it occurred to Piyaka: “This Venerable Nārada is staying in the Chicken Monastery at Pāṭaliputta. He has this good reputation: ‘He is astute, competent, intelligent, learned, a brilliant speaker, eloquent, mature, a perfected one.’ What if King Muṇḍa was to pay homage to Venerable Nārada? Hopefully when he hears Nārada’s teaching, the king could give up sorrow’s arrow.”
4Then Piyaka went to the king and said to him: “Sire, this Venerable Nārada is staying in the Chicken Monastery at Pāṭaliputta. He has this good reputation: ‘He is astute, competent, intelligent, learned, a brilliant speaker, eloquent, mature, a perfected one.’ What if Your Majesty was to pay homage to Venerable Nārada? Hopefully when you hear Nārada’s teaching, you could give up sorrow’s arrow.”
“Well then, my good Piyaka, let Nārada know. For how could one such as I presume to visit an ascetic or brahmin in my realm without first letting them know?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Piyaka the treasurer. He went to Nārada, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
5“Sir, King Muṇḍa’s dear and beloved Queen Bhaddā has passed away. And since she passed away, the king has not bathed, anointed himself, eaten his meals, or got his business done. Day and night he broods over Queen Bhaddā’s corpse. Sir, please teach the king so that, when he hears your teaching, he can give up sorrow’s arrow.”
“Please, Piyaka, let the king come when he likes.”
6Then Piyaka got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Venerable Nārada, keeping him on his right, before going to the king and saying: “Sire, the request for an audience with Venerable Nārada has been granted. Please, Your Majesty, go at your convenience.”
“Well then, my good Piyaka, harness the finest chariots.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Piyaka the treasurer. He did so, then told the king:
“Sire, the finest chariots are harnessed. Please, Your Majesty, go at your convenience.”
7Then King Muṇḍa mounted a fine carriage and, along with other fine carriages, set out in full royal pomp to see Venerable Nārada at the Chicken Monastery. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot. Then the king went up to Nārada, bowed, and sat down to one side. Then Nārada said to him:
8“Great king, there are five things that cannot be had by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or by anyone in the world. What five?
That someone liable to old age should not grow old. … That someone liable to sickness should not get sick. … That someone liable to death should not die. … That someone liable to ending should not end. … That someone liable to perishing should not perish. …
9An uneducated ordinary person has someone liable to old age who grows old. But they don’t reflect on the nature of old age: ‘It’s not just me who has someone liable to old age who grows old. For all sentient beings have someone liable to old age who grows old, as long as sentient beings come and go, pass away and are reborn. If I were to sorrow and pine and lament, beating my breast and falling into confusion, just because someone liable to old age grows old, I’d lose my appetite and my body would become ugly. My work wouldn’t get done, my enemies would be encouraged, and my friends would be dispirited.’ And so, when someone liable to old age grows old, they sorrow and pine and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion. This is called an uneducated ordinary person struck by sorrow’s poisoned arrow, who only mortifies themselves.
10Furthermore, an uneducated ordinary person has someone liable to sickness … death … ending … perishing. But they don’t reflect on the nature of perishing: ‘It’s not just me who has someone liable to perishing who perishes. For all sentient beings have someone liable to perishing who perishes, as long as sentient beings come and go, pass away and are reborn. If I were to sorrow and pine and lament, beating my breast and falling into confusion, just because someone liable to perishing perishes, I’d lose my appetite and my body would become ugly. My work wouldn’t get done, my enemies would be encouraged, and my friends would be dispirited.’ And so, when someone liable to perishing perishes, they sorrow and pine and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion. This is called an uneducated ordinary person struck by sorrow’s poisoned arrow, who only mortifies themselves.
11An educated noble disciple has someone liable to old age who grows old. So they reflect on the nature of old age: ‘It’s not just me who has someone liable to old age who grows old. For all sentient beings have someone liable to old age who grows old, as long as sentient beings come and go, pass away and are reborn. If I were to sorrow and pine and lament, beating my breast and falling into confusion, just because someone liable to old age grows old, I’d lose my appetite and my body would become ugly. My work wouldn’t get done, my enemies would be encouraged, and my friends would be dispirited.’ And so, when someone liable to old age grows old, they don’t sorrow and pine and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion. This is called an educated noble disciple who has drawn out sorrow’s poisoned arrow, struck by which uneducated ordinary people only mortify themselves. Sorrowless, free of thorns, that noble disciple only extinguishes themselves.
12Furthermore, an educated noble disciple has someone liable to sickness… death … ending … perishing. So they reflect on the nature of perishing: ‘It’s not just me who has someone liable to perishing who perishes. For all sentient beings have someone liable to perishing who perishes, as long as sentient beings come and go, pass away and are reborn. If I were to sorrow and pine and lament, beating my breast and falling into confusion, just because someone liable to perishing perishes, I’d lose my appetite and my body would become ugly. My work wouldn’t get done, my enemies would be encouraged, and my friends would be dispirited.’ And so, when someone liable to perishing perishes, they don’t sorrow and pine and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion. This is called an educated noble disciple who has drawn out sorrow’s poisoned arrow, struck by which uneducated ordinary people only mortify themselves. Sorrowless, free of thorns, that noble disciple only extinguishes themselves.
13These are the five things that cannot be had by any ascetic or brahmin or god or Māra or Brahmā or by anyone in the world.
14Sorrowing and lamenting
doesn’t do even a little bit of good.
When they know that you’re sad,
your enemies are encouraged.
15When an astute person doesn’t waver in the face of adversity,
as they’re able to assess what’s beneficial,
their enemies suffer,
seeing that their normal expression doesn’t change.
16Chants, recitations, fine sayings,
charity or traditions:
if by means of any such things you benefit,
then by all means keep doing them.
17But if you understand that ‘this good thing
can’t be had by me or by anyone else’,
you should accept it without sorrowing, thinking:
‘The karma is strong. What can I do now?’”
18When he said this, King Muṇḍa said to Venerable Nārada: “Sir, what is the name of this exposition of the teaching?”
“Great king, this exposition of the teaching is called ‘Pulling Out Sorrow’s Arrow’.”
“Indeed, sir, this is the pulling out of sorrow’s arrow! Hearing this exposition of the teaching, I’ve given up sorrow’s arrow.”
19Then King Muṇḍa addressed his treasurer, Piyaka: “Well then, my good Piyaka, cremate Queen Bhaddā’s corpse and build a monument. From this day forth, I will bathe, anoint myself, eat my meals, and apply myself to my work.”
1Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā nārado pāṭaliputte viharati kukkuṭārāme.
Tena kho pana samayena muṇḍassa rañño bhaddā devī kālaṅkatā hoti piyā manāpā. So bhaddāya deviyā kālaṅkatāya piyāya manāpāya neva nhāyati na vilimpati na bhattaṁ bhuñjati na kammantaṁ payojeti – rattindivaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīre ajjhomucchito.
Atha kho muṇḍo rājā piyakaṁ kosārakkhaṁ āmantesi:
"Tena hi, samma piyaka, bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ āyasāya teladoṇiyā pakkhipitvā aññissā āyasāya doṇiyā paṭikujjatha, yathā mayaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ cirataraṁ passeyyāmā"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho piyako kosārakkho muṇḍassa rañño paṭissutvā bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ āyasāya teladoṇiyā pakkhipitvā aññissā āyasāya doṇiyā paṭikujji.
2Atha kho piyakassa kosārakkhassa etadahosi: "imassa kho muṇḍassa rañño bhaddā devī kālaṅkatā piyā manāpā. So bhaddāya deviyā kālaṅkatāya piyāya manāpāya neva nhāyati na vilimpati na bhattaṁ bhuñjati na kammantaṁ payojeti – rattindivaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīre ajjhomucchito. Kaṁ nu kho muṇḍo rājā samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā payirupāseyya, yassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.
3Atha kho piyakassa kosārakkhassa etadahosi: "Ayaṁ kho āyasmā nārado pāṭaliputte viharati kukkuṭārāme. Taṁ kho panāyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī bahussuto cittakathī kalyāṇapaṭibhāno vuddho ceva arahā ca’. Yannūna muṇḍo rājā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ payirupāseyya, appeva nāma muṇḍo rājā āyasmato nāradassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.
4Atha kho piyako kosārakkho yena muṇḍo rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: "Ayaṁ kho, deva, āyasmā nārado pāṭaliputte viharati kukkuṭārāme. Taṁ kho panāyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī bahussuto cittakathī kalyāṇapaṭibhāno vuddho ceva arahā ca’. Yadi pana devo āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ payirupāseyya, appeva nāma devo āyasmato nāradassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.
"Tena hi, samma piyaka, āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ paṭivedehi. Kathañhi nāma mādiso samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā vijite vasantaṁ pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho piyako kosārakkho muṇḍassa rañño paṭissutvā yenāyasmā nārado tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho piyako kosārakkho āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ etadavoca:
5"Imassa, bhante, muṇḍassa rañño bhaddā devī kālaṅkatā piyā manāpā. So bhaddāya deviyā kālaṅkatāya piyāya manāpāya neva nhāyati na vilimpati na bhattaṁ bhuñjati na kammantaṁ payojeti – rattindivaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīre ajjhomucchito. Sādhu, bhante, āyasmā nārado muṇḍassa rañño tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathā muṇḍo rājā āyasmato nāradassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.
"Yassadāni, piyaka, muṇḍo rājā kālaṁ maññatī"ti.
6Atha kho piyako kosārakkho uṭṭhāyāsanā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena muṇḍo rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: "katāvakāso kho, deva, āyasmatā nāradena. Yassadāni devo kālaṁ maññatī"ti.
"Tena hi, samma piyaka, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpehī"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho piyako kosārakkho muṇḍassa rañño paṭissutvā bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpetvā muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca:
"yuttāni kho te, deva, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni. Yassadāni devo kālaṁ maññatī"ti.
7Atha kho muṇḍo rājā bhadraṁ yānaṁ abhiruhitvā bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi yena kukkuṭārāmo tena pāyāsi mahaccā rājānubhāvena āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ dassanāya. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi yānena gantvā, yānā paccorohitvā pattikova ārāmaṁ pāvisi. Atha kho muṇḍo rājā yena āyasmā nārado tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ āyasmā nārado etadavoca:
8"Pañcimāni, mahārāja, alabbhanīyāni ṭhānāni samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ. Katamāni pañca?
‘Jarādhammaṁ mā jīrī’ti alabbhanīyaṁ ṭhānaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ. ‘Byādhidhammaṁ mā byādhīyī’ti … pe … ‘maraṇadhammaṁ mā mīyī’ti … ‘khayadhammaṁ mā khīyī’ti … ‘nassanadhammaṁ mā nassī’ti alabbhanīyaṁ ṭhānaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ.
9Assutavato, mahārāja, puthujjanassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe na iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ jarādhammaṁ jīrati. Ahañceva kho pana jarādhamme jiṇṇe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe socati kilamati paridevati, urattāḷiṁ kandati, sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘assutavā puthujjano viddho savisena sokasallena attānaṁyeva paritāpeti’.
10Puna caparaṁ, mahārāja, assutavato puthujjanassa byādhidhammaṁ byādhīyati … pe … maraṇadhammaṁ mīyati … khayadhammaṁ khīyati … nassanadhammaṁ nassati. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe na iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa nassanadhammaṁ nassati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ nassanadhammaṁ nassati. Ahañceva kho pana nassanadhamme naṭṭhe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe socati kilamati paridevati, urattāḷiṁ kandati, sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘assutavā puthujjano viddho savisena sokasallena attānaṁyeva paritāpeti’.
11Sutavato ca kho, mahārāja, ariyasāvakassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ jarādhammaṁ jīrati. Ahañceva kho pana jarādhamme jiṇṇe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe na socati na kilamati na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘sutavā ariyasāvako abbuhi savisaṁ sokasallaṁ, yena viddho assutavā puthujjano attānaṁyeva paritāpeti. Asoko visallo ariyasāvako attānaṁyeva parinibbāpeti’.
12Puna caparaṁ, mahārāja, sutavato ariyasāvakassa byādhidhammaṁ byādhīyati … pe … maraṇadhammaṁ mīyati … khayadhammaṁ khīyati … nassanadhammaṁ nassati. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa nassanadhammaṁ nassati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ nassanadhammaṁ nassati. Ahañceva kho pana nassanadhamme naṭṭhe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe na socati na kilamati na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘sutavā ariyasāvako abbuhi savisaṁ sokasallaṁ, yena viddho assutavā puthujjano attānaṁyeva paritāpeti. Asoko visallo ariyasāvako attānaṁyeva parinibbāpeti’.
13Imāni kho, mahārāja, pañca alabbhanīyāni ṭhānāni samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasminti.
14Na socanāya paridevanāya,
Atthodha labbhā api appakopi;
Socantamenaṁ dukhitaṁ viditvā,
Paccatthikā attamanā bhavanti.
15Yato ca kho paṇḍito āpadāsu,
Na vedhatī atthavinicchayaññū;
Paccatthikāssa dukhitā bhavanti,
Disvā mukhaṁ avikāraṁ purāṇaṁ.
16Jappena mantena subhāsitena,
Anuppadānena paveṇiyā vā;
Yathā yathā yattha labhetha atthaṁ,
Tathā tathā tattha parakkameyya.
17Sace pajāneyya alabbhaneyyo,
Mayāva aññena vā esa attho;
Asocamāno adhivāsayeyya,
Kammaṁ daḷhaṁ kinti karomi dānī"ti.
18Evaṁ vutte, muṇḍo rājā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ etadavoca: "ko nāmo ayaṁ, bhante, dhammapariyāyo"ti?
"Sokasallāhāraṇo nāma ayaṁ, mahārāja, dhammapariyāyo"ti.
"Taggha, bhante, sokasallāhāraṇo. Imañhi me, bhante, dhammapariyāyaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pahīnan"ti.
19Atha kho muṇḍo rājā piyakaṁ kosārakkhaṁ āmantesi: "Tena hi, samma piyaka, bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ jhāpetha; thūpañcassā karotha. Ajjatagge dāni mayaṁ nhāyissāma ceva vilimpissāma bhattañca bhuñjissāma kammante ca payojessāmā"ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Muṇḍarājavaggo pañcamo.
20Ādiyo sappuriso iṭṭhā,
manāpadāyībhisandaṁ;
Sampadā ca dhanaṁ ṭhānaṁ,
kosalo nāradena cāti.
Paṭhamo paṇṇāsako samatto.