Light/Dark

Majjhima Nikāya

MN85: Bodhirājakumārasutta - With Prince Bodhi

1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Now at that time a new stilt longhouse named Pink Lotus had recently been constructed for Prince Bodhi. It had not yet been occupied by an ascetic or brahmin or any person at all.

Then Prince Bodhi addressed the brahmin student Sañjikāputta: “Please, dear Sañjikāputta, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then ask him whether he might accept tomorrow’s meal from me together with the mendicant Saṅgha.”


“Yes, sir,” Sañjikāputta replied. He did as Prince Bodhi asked, and the Buddha consented in silence.


2Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Sañjikāputta got up from his seat, went to Prince Bodhi, and said: “I gave the ascetic Gotama your message, and he accepted.”


3And when the night had passed Prince Bodhi had a variety of delicious foods prepared in his own home. He also had the Pink Lotus longhouse spread with white cloth down to the last step of the staircase. Then he said to Sañjikāputta: “Please, dear Sañjikāputta, go to the Buddha, and announce the time, saying, ‘Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.’”

“Yes, sir,” Sañjikāputta replied, and he did as he was asked.


4Then the Buddha put on his outer robe in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Prince Bodhi’s home.

Now at that time Prince Bodhi was standing outside the gates waiting for the Buddha. Seeing the Buddha coming off in the distance, he went out to greet him. After bowing and inviting the Buddha to go first, he approached the Pink Lotus longhouse. But the Buddha stopped by the last step of the staircase.

Then Prince Bodhi said to him: “Sir, let the Blessed One ascend on the cloth! Let the Holy One ascend on the cloth! It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.” But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.

For a second time … and a third time, Prince Bodhi said to him: “Sir, let the Blessed One ascend on the cloth! Let the Holy One ascend on the cloth! It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.”

5Then the Buddha glanced at Venerable Ānanda. So Ānanda said to Prince Bodhi: “Fold up the cloth, Prince. The Buddha will not step upon white cloth. The Realized One has compassion for future generations.”

So Prince Bodhi had the cloth folded up and the seats spread out upstairs in the longhouse. Then the Buddha ascended the longhouse and sat on the seats spread out together with the Saṅgha of mendicants.

Then Prince Bodhi served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with a variety of delicious foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Prince Bodhi took a low seat, sat to one side, and said to him: “Sir, this is what I think: ‘Pleasure is not gained through pleasure; pleasure is gained through pain.’”

6“Prince, before my awakening — when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening — I too thought: ‘Pleasure is not gained through pleasure; pleasure is gained through pain.’

Some time later, while still black-haired, blessed with youth, in the prime of life — though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces — I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.

Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him: ‘Reverend Kālāma, I wish to live the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’

Āḷāra Kālāma replied: ‘Stay, venerable. This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own teacher’s doctrine with their own insight and live having achieved it.’

I quickly memorized that teaching. So far as lip-recital and oral recitation were concerned, I spoke with knowledge and the authority of the elders. I claimed to know and see, and so did others. Then it occurred to me, ‘It is not solely by mere faith that Āḷāra Kālāma declares: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.” Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.’

7So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him: ‘Reverend Kālāma, to what extent do you say you’ve realized this teaching with your own insight?’ When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness.

Then it occurred to me, ‘It’s not just Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom; I too have these things. Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Āḷāra Kālāma says he has realized with his own insight?’ I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.

So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him: ‘Reverend Kālāma, have you realized this teaching with your own insight up to this point, and declare having achieved it?’

‘I have, reverend.’

‘I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’


‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions! So the teaching that I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and live having achieved it. The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and live having achieved it, I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it. So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching you know, I know. I am like you and you are like me. Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.’

And that is how my teacher Āḷāra Kālāma placed me, his student, on the same position as him, and honored me with lofty praise. Then it occurred to me, ‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.’ Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.


8I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka, son of Rāma, and said to him: ‘Reverend, I wish to live the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’

Uddaka replied: ‘Stay, venerable. This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own teacher’s doctrine with their own insight and live having achieved it.’

I quickly memorized that teaching. So far as lip-recital and oral recitation were concerned, I spoke with knowledge and the authority of the elders. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.

Then it occurred to me, ‘It is not solely by mere faith that Rāma declared: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.” Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.’


9So I approached Uddaka, son of Rāma, and said to him: ‘Reverend, to what extent did Rāma say he’d realized this teaching with his own insight?’ When I said this, Uddaka, son of Rāma, declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

Then it occurred to me, ‘It’s not just Rāma who had faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom; I too have these things. Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Rāma said he had realized with his own insight?’ I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.

10So I approached Uddaka, son of Rāma, and said to him: ‘Reverend, had Rāma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?’

‘He had, reverend.’

‘I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’


‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions! So the teaching that Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it, you've realized with your own insight, and live having achieved it. The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and live having achieved it, Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it. So the teaching that Rāma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, Rāma directly knew. Rāma was like you and you are like Rāma. Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.’ And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka, son of Rāma, placed me in the position of a teacher, and honored me with lofty praise.

Then it occurred to me, ‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’ Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.


11I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at Senanigama near Uruvelā. There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village to go for alms.

Then it occurred to me, ‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village to go for alms. This is good enough for a gentleman who wishes to put forth effort in meditation.’ So I sat down right there, thinking, ‘This is good enough for meditation.’

And then these three examples, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me.


12Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying in water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Prince? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log lying in water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”

13“No, sir. Why is that? Because it’s a green, sappy log, and it’s lying in the water. That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”

14“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. They haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings because of their efforts, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the first example that occurred to me.

15Then a second example occurred to me.

16Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Prince? By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”

17“No, sir. Why is that? Because it’s still a green, sappy log, despite the fact that it’s lying on dry land far from water. That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”

18“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. But they haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings because of their efforts, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the second example that occurred to me.

19Then a third example occurred to me.

20Suppose there was a dried up, withered log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water. Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking to light a fire and produce heat. What do you think, Prince? By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”


21“Yes, sir. Why is that? Because it’s a dried up, withered log, and it’s lying on dry land far from water.”

“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. And they have internally given up and stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they feel painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings because of their efforts, they are capable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening. This was the third example that occurred to me. These are the three examples, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, that occurred to me.

22Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, squeeze, squash, and torture mind with mind.’ So that’s what I did, until sweat ran from my armpits. It was like when a strong man grabs a weaker man by the head or throat or shoulder and squeezes, squashes, and tortures them. In the same way, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, I squeezed, squashed, and tortured mind with mind until sweat ran from my armpits. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

23Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I practice the breathless absorption?’ So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose. But then winds came out my ears making a loud noise, like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

24Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’ So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then strong winds ground my head, like a strong man was drilling into my head with a sharp point. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

25Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’ So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then I got a severe headache, like a strong man was tightening a tough leather strap around my head. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

26Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’ So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then strong winds carved up my belly, like a deft butcher or their apprentice was slicing my belly open with a meat cleaver. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

27Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’ So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears. But then there was an intense burning in my body, like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals. My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

28Then some deities saw me and said, ‘The ascetic Gotama is dead.’ Others said, ‘He’s not dead, but he’s dying.’ Others said, ‘He’s not dead or dying. The ascetic Gotama is a perfected one, for that is how the perfected ones live.’


29Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I practice completely cutting off food?’ But deities came to me and said, ‘Good sir, don’t practice totally cutting off food. If you do, we’ll infuse divine nectar into your pores and you will live on that.’ Then it occurred to me, ‘If I claim to be completely fasting while these deities are infusing divine nectar in my pores, that would be a lie on my part.’ So I dismissed those deities, saying, ‘There’s no need.’

30Then it occurred to me, ‘Why don’t I just take a little bit of food each time, a cup of broth made from mung beans, lentils, chickpeas, or green gram.’ So that’s what I did, until my body became extremely emaciated. Due to eating so little, my limbs became like the joints of an eighty-year-old or a corpse, my bottom became like a camel’s hoof, my vertebrae stuck out like beads on a string, and my ribs were as gaunt as the broken-down rafters on an old barn. Due to eating so little, the gleam of my eyes sank deep in their sockets, like the gleam of water sunk deep down a well. Due to eating so little, my scalp shriveled and withered like a green bitter-gourd in the wind and sun.


Due to eating so little, the skin of my belly stuck to my backbone, so that when I tried to rub the skin of my belly I grabbed my backbone, and when I tried to rub my backbone I rubbed the skin of my belly. Due to eating so little, when I tried to urinate or defecate I fell face down right there. Due to eating so little, when I tried to relieve my body by rubbing my limbs with my hands, the hair, rotted at its roots, fell out.

Then some people saw me and said, ‘The ascetic Gotama is black.’ Some said, ‘He’s not black, he’s brown.’ Some said, ‘He’s neither black nor brown. The ascetic Gotama has tawny skin.’ That’s how far the pure, bright complexion of my skin had been ruined by taking so little food.


31Then it occurred to me, ‘Whatever ascetics and brahmins have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to overexertion — whether in the past, future, or present — this is as far as it goes, no-one has done more than this. But I have not achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by this severe, gruelling work. Could there be another path to awakening?’

Then it occurred to me, ‘I recall sitting in the cool shade of the rose-apple tree while my father the Sakyan was off working. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. Could that be the path to awakening?’ Stemming from that memory came the realization: ‘*That* is the path to awakening!’


Then it occurred to me, ‘Why am I afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities?’

Then it occurred to me, ‘I’m not afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities.’

32Then it occurred to me, ‘I can’t achieve that pleasure with a body so excessively emaciated. Why don’t I eat some solid food, some rice and porridge?’ So I ate some solid food. Now at that time the five mendicants were attending on me, thinking, ‘The ascetic Gotama will tell us of any truth that he realizes.’ But when I ate some solid food, they left disappointed in me, saying, ‘The ascetic Gotama has become indulgent; he has strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.’

33After eating solid food and gathering my strength, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this — purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable — I extended it toward recollection of past lives. I recollected many past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. And so I recollected my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.

This was the first knowledge, which I achieved in the first watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.


34When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this — purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable — I extended it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings. With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn — inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds.

This was the second knowledge, which I achieved in the middle watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.


35When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this — purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable — I extended it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements. I truly understood: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. I truly understood: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’.

Knowing and seeing like this, my mind was freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When it was freed, I knew it was freed.

I understood: ‘Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is no return to any state of existence.’

This was the third knowledge, which I achieved in the last watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.


36Then it occurred to me, ‘This principle I have discovered is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of reason, subtle, comprehensible to the astute. But people like attachment, they love it and enjoy it. It’s hard for them to see this thing; that is, specific conditionality, dependent origination. It’s also hard for them to see this thing; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment. And if I were to teach the Dhamma, others might not understand me, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.’ And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me:


37‘I’ve struggled hard to realize this,
enough with trying to explain it!
This teaching is not easily understood
by those mired in greed and hate.

38Those caught up in greed can’t see
what’s subtle, going against the stream,
deep, hard to see, and very fine,
for they’re shrouded in a mass of darkness.’


39And as I reflected like this, my mind inclined to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.

40Then Brahmā Sahampati, knowing what I was thinking, thought, ‘Oh my goodness! The world will be lost, the world will perish! For the mind of the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, inclines to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.’

Then Brahmā Sahampati, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the Brahmā realm and reappeared in front of the Buddha. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said, ‘Sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach the Dhamma! There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching. There will be those who understand the teaching!’

That’s what Brahmā Sahampati said. Then he went on to say:


41‘Among the Magadhans there appeared in the past
an impure teaching thought up by those still stained.
Fling open the door to the deathless!
Let them hear the teaching the immaculate one discovered.

42Standing high on a rocky mountain,
you can see the people all around.
In just the same way, all-seer, wise one,
ascend the palace built of Dhamma!

43You’re free of sorrow; but look at these people
overwhelmed with sorrow, oppressed by rebirth and old age.
Rise, hero! Victor in battle, leader of the caravan,
wander the world without obligation.
Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma!
There will be those who understand!’


44Then, understanding Brahmā’s invitation, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha, because of my compassion for sentient beings. And I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties and with weak faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to teach. And some of them lived seeing the danger in the fault to do with the next world, while others did not. It’s like a pool with blue water lilies, or pink or white lotuses. Some of them sprout and grow in the water without rising above it, thriving underwater. Some of them sprout and grow in the water reaching the water’s surface. And some of them sprout and grow in the water but rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to them. Then I replied in verse to Brahmā Sahampati:


45‘Flung open are the doors to the deathless!
Let those with ears to hear decide their faith.
Thinking it would be troublesome, Brahmā, I did not teach
the sophisticated, sublime Dhamma among humans.’


46Then Brahmā Sahampati, knowing that his request for me to teach the Dhamma had been granted, bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right, before vanishing right there.

47Then it occurred to me, ‘Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?’ Then it occurred to me, ‘That Āḷāra Kālāma is astute, competent, clever, and has long had little dust in his eyes. Why don’t I teach him first of all? He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’ But a deity came to me and said, ‘Sir, Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’

And knowledge and vision arose in me, ‘Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’ Then it occurred to me, ‘This is a great loss for Āḷāra Kālāma. If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’

48Then it occurred to me, ‘Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?’ Then it occurred to me, ‘That Uddaka, son of Rāma, is astute, competent, clever, and has long had little dust in his eyes. Why don’t I teach him first of all? He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’ But a deity came to me and said, ‘Sir, Uddaka, son of Rāma, passed away just last night.’

And knowledge and vision arose in me, ‘Uddaka, son of Rāma, passed away just last night.’ Then it occurred to me, ‘This is a great loss for Uddaka. If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’

49Then it occurred to me, ‘Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?’ Then it occurred to me, ‘The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving. Why don’t I teach them first of all?’ Then it occurred to me, ‘Where are the group of five mendicants staying these days?’ With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman I saw that the group of five mendicants were staying near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana.

So, when I had stayed in Uruvelā as long as I wished, I set out for Benares.


50While I was traveling along the road between Gaya and Bodhgaya, the Ājīvakaascetic Upaka saw me and said, ‘Reverend, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. In whose name have you gone forth, reverend? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?’

I replied to Upaka in verse:


51 ‘I am the champion, the knower of all,
unsullied in the midst of all things.
I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.
When I know for myself, who should I follow?

52 I have no teacher.
There is no-one like me.
In the world with its gods,
I have no counterpart.

53 For in this world, I am the perfected one;
I am the supreme Teacher.
I alone am fully awakened,
cooled, extinguished.

54 I am going to the city of Kāsi
to roll forth the Wheel of Dhamma.
In this world that is so blind,
I’ll beat the deathless drum!’


55‘According to what you claim, reverend, you ought to be the Infinite Victor.’

56 ‘The victors are those who, like me,
have reached the ending of defilements.
I have conquered bad qualities, Upaka —
that’s why I’m a victor.’


57When I had spoken, Upaka said: ‘If you say so, reverend.’ Shaking his head, he took a wrong turn and left.

58Traveling stage by stage, I arrived at Benares, and went to see the group of five mendicants in the deer park at Isipatana. The group of five mendicants saw me coming off in the distance and stopped each other, saying, ‘Here comes the ascetic Gotama. He’s so indulgent; he strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence. We shouldn’t bow to him or rise for him or receive his bowl and robe. But we can set out a seat; he can sit if he likes.’

Yet as I drew closer, the group of five mendicants were unable to stop themselves as they had agreed. Some came out to greet me and receive my bowl and robe, some spread out a seat, while others set out water for washing my feet. But they still addressed me by name and as ‘reverend’.

So I said to them, ‘Mendicants, don’t address me by name and as “reverend”. The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved the Deathless! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’

But they said to me, ‘Reverend Gotama, even by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work you did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How could you have achieved such a state now that you’ve become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence?’

So I said to them, ‘The Realized One has not become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence. The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved the Deathless! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’


59But for a second time they said to me, ‘Reverend Gotama … you’ve fallen into indulgence.’

So for a second time I said to them, ‘The Realized One has not become indulgent …’


60But for a third time they said to me, ‘Reverend Gotama … you’ve fallen into indulgence.’


61So I said to them, ‘Mendicants, have you ever known me to speak like this before?’


‘No, sir.’

‘The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved the Deathless! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’


62I was able to persuade the group of five mendicants. Then sometimes I advised two mendicants, while the other three went for alms. Then those three would feed all six of us with what they brought back. Sometimes I advised three mendicants, while the other two went for alms. Then those two would feed all six of us with what they brought back.

63As the group of five mendicants were being advised and instructed by me like this, they soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

64When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha: “Sir, when a mendicant has the Realized One as trainer, how long would it take for them to realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life?”


65“Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, prince? Are you skilled in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?”

“Yes, sir.”

66“What do you think, prince? Suppose a man were to come along thinking, ‘Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant. I’ll train in that art under him.’ If he’s faithless, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with faith. If he’s unhealthy, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with good health. If he’s devious or deceitful, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with honesty and integrity. If he’s lazy, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with energy. If he’s stupid, he wouldn’t achieve what he could with wisdom. What do you think, prince? Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?”

“Sir, if he had even a single one of these factors he couldn’t train under me, let alone all five.”


67“What do you think, prince? Suppose a man were to come along thinking, ‘Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant. I’ll train in that art under him.’ If he’s faithful, he’d achieve what he could with faith. If he’s healthy, he’d achieve what he could with good health. If he’s honest and has integrity, he’d achieve what he could with honesty and integrity. If he’s energetic, he’d achieve what he could with energy. If he’s wise, he’d achieve what he could with wisdom. What do you think, prince? Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?”

“Sir, if he had even a single one of these factors he could train under me, let alone all five.”


68“In the same way, prince, there are these five factors that support meditation. What five?

It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

They are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation.

They’re not devious or deceitful. They reveal themselves honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions.

They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. These are the five factors that support meditation.


69When a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in seven years.

Let alone seven years, they could realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in six years, or as little as one year. Let alone one year, when a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in seven months, or as little as one day.


Let alone one day, when a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could be instructed in the evening and achieve distinction in the morning, or be instructed in the morning and achieve distinction in the evening.”


When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha: “Oh, the Buddha! Oh, the teaching! Oh, how well explained is the teaching! For someone could be instructed in the evening and achieve distinction in the morning, or be instructed in the morning and achieve distinction in the evening.”


70When he said this, Sañjikāputta said to Prince Bodhi: “Though Master Bodhi speaks like this, you don’t go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.”

“Don’t say that, dear Sañjikāputta, don’t say that! I have heard and learned this in the presence of the lady, my mother. This one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery. Then my pregnant mother went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: ‘Sir, the prince or princess in my womb goes for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember them as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.’

Another time the Buddha was staying here in the land of the Bhaggas on Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood. Then my nurse, carrying me on her hip, went to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him: ‘Sir, this Prince Bodhi goes for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember him as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.’

Now for a third time I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye.

Tena kho pana samayena bodhissa rājakumārassa kokanado nāma pāsādo acirakārito hoti anajjhāvuṭṭho samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā kenaci vā manussabhūtena.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro sañjikāputtaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘bodhi, bhante, rājakumāro bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti. Evañca vadehi: ‘adhivāsetu kira, bhante, bhagavā bodhissa rājakumārassa svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṁghenā’"ti.


"Evaṁ, bho"ti kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bodhissa rājakumārassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "bodhi kho rājakumāro bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati. Evañca vadeti: ‘adhivāsetu kira bhavaṁ gotamo bodhissa rājakumārassa svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṁghenā’"ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.


2Atha kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bodhi rājakumāro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bodhiṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavoca: "avocumha bhoto vacanena taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ: ‘bodhi kho rājakumāro bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati. Evañca vadeti — adhivāsetu kira bhavaṁ gotamo bodhissa rājakumārassa svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’ti. Adhivuṭṭhañca pana samaṇena gotamenā"ti.


3Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā, kokanadañca pāsādaṁ odātehi dussehi santharāpetvā yāva pacchimasopānakaḷevarā, sañjikāputtaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocehi: ‘kālo, bhante, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan’"ti.

"Evaṁ, bho"ti kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bodhissa rājakumārassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocesi: "kālo, bho gotama, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan"ti.


4Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena bodhissa rājakumārassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.

Tena kho pana samayena bodhi rājakumāro bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhito hoti bhagavantaṁ āgamayamāno. Addasā kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna paccuggantvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā purakkhatvā yena kokanado pāsādo tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho bhagavā pacchimaṁ sopānakaḷevaraṁ nissāya aṭṭhāsi.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "abhiruhatu, bhante, bhagavā dussāni, abhiruhatu sugato dussāni; yaṁ mama assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā"ti. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

Dutiyampi kho … pe … tatiyampi kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "abhiruhatu, bhante, bhagavā dussāni, abhiruhatu sugato dussāni; yaṁ mama assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā"ti.

5Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ apalokesi. Atha kho āyasmā ānando bodhiṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavoca: "saṁharatu, rājakumāra, dussāni; na bhagavā celapaṭikaṁ akkamissati. Pacchimaṁ janataṁ tathāgato anukampatī"ti.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro dussāni saṁharāpetvā uparikokanadapāsāde āsanāni paññapesi. Atha kho bhagavā kokanadaṁ pāsādaṁ abhiruhitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṁghena.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṁghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "mayhaṁ kho, bhante, evaṁ hoti: ‘Na kho sukhena sukhaṁ adhigantabbaṁ, dukkhena kho sukhaṁ adhigantabban’"ti.

6"Mayhampi kho, rājakumāra, pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi: ‘Na kho sukhena sukhaṁ adhigantabbaṁ, dukkhena kho sukhaṁ adhigantabban’ti.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, aparena samayena daharova samāno susukāḷakeso bhadrena yobbanena samannāgato paṭhamena vayasā akāmakānaṁ mātāpitūnaṁ assumukhānaṁ rudantānaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajiṁ.

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno kiṁkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso kālāma, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’ti.

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, āḷāro kālāmo maṁ etadavoca: ‘viharatāyasmā, tādiso ayaṁ dhammo yattha viññū puriso nacirasseva sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇiṁ.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tāvatakeneva oṭṭhapahatamattena lapitalāpanamattena ñāṇavādañca vadāmi, theravādañca jānāmi passāmīti ca paṭijānāmi, ahañceva aññe ca. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Na kho āḷāro kālāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ kevalaṁ saddhāmattakena sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti; addhā āḷāro kālāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ viharatī’ti.

7Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘kittāvatā no, āvuso kālāma, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesī’ti? Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, āḷāro kālāmo ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ pavedesi.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi saddhā, mayhampatthi saddhā; na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi vīriyaṁ … pe … sati … samādhi … paññā, mayhampatthi paññā. Yannūnāhaṁ yaṁ dhammaṁ āḷāro kālāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti tassa dhammassa sacchikiriyāya padaheyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsiṁ.

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:

‘ettāvatā no, āvuso kālāma, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti?

‘Ettāvatā kho ahaṁ, āvuso, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemī’ti.

‘Ahampi kho, āvuso, ettāvatā imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.


‘Lābhā no, āvuso, suladdhaṁ no, āvuso, ye mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ tādisaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ passāma. Iti yāhaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemi, taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi. Yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi, tamahaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemi. Iti yāhaṁ dhammaṁ jānāmi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi; yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi tamahaṁ dhammaṁ jānāmi. Iti yādiso ahaṁ, tādiso tuvaṁ; yādiso tuvaṁ tādiso ahaṁ. Ehi dāni, āvuso, ubhova santā imaṁ gaṇaṁ pariharāmā’ti.

Iti kho, rājakumāra, āḷāro kālāmo ācariyo me samāno attano antevāsiṁ maṁ samānaṁ attanā samasamaṁ ṭhapesi, uḷārāya ca maṁ pūjāya pūjesi. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘nāyaṁ dhammo nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati, yāvadeva ākiñcaññāyatanūpapattiyā’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, taṁ dhammaṁ analaṅkaritvā tasmā dhammā nibbijja apakkamiṁ.


8So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, kiṁkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’ti.

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, udako rāmaputto maṁ etadavoca: ‘viharatāyasmā, tādiso ayaṁ dhammo yattha viññū puriso nacirasseva sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇiṁ.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tāvatakeneva oṭṭhapahatamattena lapitalāpanamattena ñāṇavādañca vadāmi, theravādañca jānāmi passāmīti ca paṭijānāmi, ahañceva aññe ca.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Na kho rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ kevalaṁ saddhāmattakena sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesi; addhā rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ vihāsī’ti.


9Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘kittāvatā no, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesī’ti? Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, udako rāmaputto nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ pavedesi.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Na kho rāmasseva ahosi saddhā, mayhampatthi saddhā; na kho rāmasseva ahosi vīriyaṁ … pe … sati … samādhi … paññā, mayhampatthi paññā. Yannūnāhaṁ yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti tassa dhammassa sacchikiriyāya padaheyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsiṁ.

10Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘ettāvatā no, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti?

‘Ettāvatā kho, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti.

‘Ahampi kho, āvuso, ettāvatā imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.


‘Lābhā no, āvuso, suladdhaṁ no, āvuso, ye mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ tādisaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ passāma. Iti yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi. Yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi taṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesi. Iti yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo abhiññāsi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi; yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi taṁ dhammaṁ rāmo abhiññāsi. Iti yādiso rāmo ahosi tādiso tuvaṁ, yādiso tuvaṁ tādiso rāmo ahosi. Ehi dāni, āvuso, tuvaṁ imaṁ gaṇaṁ pariharā’ti.

Iti kho, rājakumāra, udako rāmaputto sabrahmacārī me samāno ācariyaṭṭhāne maṁ ṭhapesi, uḷārāya ca maṁ pūjāya pūjesi. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘nāyaṁ dhammo nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati, yāvadeva nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpapattiyā’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, taṁ dhammaṁ analaṅkaritvā tasmā dhammā nibbijja apakkamiṁ.


11So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, kiṁkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno, magadhesu anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno, yena uruvelā senānigamo tadavasariṁ. Tatthaddasaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ bhūmibhāgaṁ, pāsādikañca vanasaṇḍaṁ, nadiñca sandantiṁ setakaṁ supatitthaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ samantā ca gocaragāmaṁ.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘ramaṇīyo vata bho bhūmibhāgo, pāsādiko ca vanasaṇḍo, nadī ca sandati setakā supatitthā, ramaṇīyā samantā ca gocaragāmo. Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāyā’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tattheva nisīdiṁ: ‘alamidaṁ padhānāyā’ti.

Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, tisso upamā paṭibhaṁsu anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.


12Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ udake nikkhittaṁ. Atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya: ‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, api nu so puriso amuṁ allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ udake nikkhittaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā"ti?

13"No hidaṁ, bhante. Taṁ kissa hetu? Aduñhi, bhante, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ tañca pana udake nikkhittaṁ, yāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā"ti.

14"Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kāyena ceva cittena ca kāmehi avūpakaṭṭhā viharanti, yo ca nesaṁ kāmesu kāmacchando kāmasneho kāmamucchā kāmapipāsā kāmapariḷāho so ca ajjhattaṁ na suppahīno hoti, na suppaṭippassaddho. Opakkamikā cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya. No cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya. Ayaṁ kho maṁ, rājakumāra, paṭhamā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.

15Aparāpi kho maṁ, rājakumāra, dutiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.

16Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ. Atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya: ‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, api nu so puriso amuṁ allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā"ti?

17"No hidaṁ, bhante. Taṁ kissa hetu? Aduñhi, bhante, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ kiñcāpi ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ, yāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā"ti.

18"Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kāyena ceva cittena ca kāmehi vūpakaṭṭhā viharanti, yo ca nesaṁ kāmesu kāmacchando kāmasneho kāmamucchā kāmapipāsā kāmapariḷāho so ca ajjhattaṁ na suppahīno hoti, na suppaṭippassaddho. Opakkamikā cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya. No cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya. Ayaṁ kho maṁ, rājakumāra, dutiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.

19Aparāpi kho maṁ, rājakumāra, tatiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.

20Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ. Atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya: ‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, api nu so puriso amuṁ sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā"ti?


21"Evaṁ, bhante. Taṁ kissa hetu? Aduñhi, bhante, sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ, tañca pana ārakā udakā thale nikkhittan"ti.

"Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kāyena ceva cittena ca kāmehi vūpakaṭṭhā viharanti, yo ca nesaṁ kāmesu kāmacchando kāmasneho kāmamucchā kāmapipāsā kāmapariḷāho so ca ajjhattaṁ suppahīno hoti suppaṭippassaddho. Opakkamikā cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, bhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya. No cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, bhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya. Ayaṁ kho maṁ, rājakumāra, tatiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā. Imā kho maṁ, rājakumāra, tisso upamā paṭibhaṁsu anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.

22Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇheyyaṁ abhinippīḷeyyaṁ abhisantāpeyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇhāmi abhinippīḷemi abhisantāpemi. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato kacchehi sedā muccanti. Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, balavā puriso dubbalataraṁ purisaṁ sīse vā gahetvā khandhe vā gahetvā abhiniggaṇheyya abhinippīḷeyya abhisantāpeyya; evameva kho me, rājakumāra, dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato kacchehi sedā muccanti. Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.

23Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu kaṇṇasotehi vātānaṁ nikkhamantānaṁ adhimatto saddo hoti. Seyyathāpi nāma kammāragaggariyā dhamamānāya adhimatto saddo hoti; evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu kaṇṇasotehi vātānaṁ nikkhamantānaṁ adhimatto saddo hoti. Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.

24Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā vātā muddhani ūhananti. Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, balavā puriso tiṇhena sikharena muddhani abhimattheyya; evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā vātā muddhani ūhananti. Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.

25Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā sīse sīsavedanā honti. Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, balavā puriso daḷhena varattakkhaṇḍena sīse sīsaveṭhaṁ dadeyya; evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā sīse sīsavedanā honti. Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.

26Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā vātā kucchiṁ parikantanti. Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, dakkho goghātako vā goghātakantevāsī vā tiṇhena govikantanena kucchiṁ parikanteyya; evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā, vātā kucchiṁ parikantanti. Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.

27Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimatto kāyasmiṁ ḍāho hoti. Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, dve balavanto purisā dubbalataraṁ purisaṁ nānābāhāsu gahetvā aṅgārakāsuyā santāpeyyuṁ samparitāpeyyuṁ; evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimatto kāyasmiṁ ḍāho hoti. Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.

28Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā disvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘kālaṅkato samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ekaccā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘Na kālaṅkato samaṇo gotamo, api ca kālaṁ karotī’ti. Ekaccā devatā evamāhaṁsu: ‘Na kālaṅkato samaṇo gotamo, nāpi kālaṁ karoti. Arahaṁ samaṇo gotamo. Vihāro tveva so arahato evarūpo hotī’ti.


29Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ sabbaso āhārupacchedāya paṭipajjeyyan’ti. Atha kho maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘mā kho tvaṁ, mārisa, sabbaso āhārupacchedāya paṭipajji. Sace kho tvaṁ, mārisa, sabbaso āhārupacchedāya paṭipajjissasi, tassa te mayaṁ dibbaṁ ojaṁ lomakūpehi ajjhohāressāma, tāya tvaṁ yāpessasī’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘ahañceva kho pana sabbaso ajajjitaṁ paṭijāneyyaṁ. Imā ca me devatā dibbaṁ ojaṁ lomakūpehi ajjhohāreyyuṁ, tāya cāhaṁ yāpeyyaṁ, taṁ mamassa musā’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tā devatā paccācikkhāmi. ‘Halan’ti vadāmi.

30Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘yannūnāhaṁ thokaṁ thokaṁ āhāraṁ āhāreyyaṁ pasataṁ pasataṁ, yadi vā muggayūsaṁ yadi vā kulatthayūsaṁ yadi vā kaḷāyayūsaṁ yadi vā hareṇukayūsan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, thokaṁ thokaṁ āhāraṁ āhāresiṁ pasataṁ pasataṁ, yadi vā muggayūsaṁ yadi vā kulatthayūsaṁ yadi vā kaḷāyayūsaṁ yadi vā hareṇukayūsaṁ. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, thokaṁ thokaṁ āhāraṁ āhārayato pasataṁ pasataṁ, yadi vā muggayūsaṁ yadi vā kulatthayūsaṁ yadi vā kaḷāyayūsaṁ yadi vā hareṇukayūsaṁ, adhimattakasimānaṁ patto kāyo hoti. Seyyathāpi nāma āsītikapabbāni vā kāḷapabbāni vā; evamevassu me aṅgapaccaṅgāni bhavanti tāyevappāhāratāya. Seyyathāpi nāma oṭṭhapadaṁ; evamevassu me ānisadaṁ hoti tāyevappāhāratāya. Seyyathāpi nāma vaṭṭanāvaḷī; evamevassu me piṭṭhikaṇṭako uṇṇatāvanato hoti tāyevappāhāratāya. Seyyathāpi nāma jarasālāya gopānasiyo oluggaviluggā bhavanti; evamevassu me phāsuḷiyo oluggaviluggā bhavanti tāyevappāhāratāya. Seyyathāpi nāma gambhīre udapāne udakatārakā gambhīragatā okkhāyikā dissanti; evamevassu me akkhikūpesu akkhitārakā gambhīragatā okkhāyikā dissanti tāyevappāhāratāya. Seyyathāpi nāma tittakālābu āmakacchinno vātātapena samphuṭito hoti sammilāto; evamevassu me sīsacchavi samphuṭitā hoti sammilātā tāyevappāhāratāya.


So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, ‘udaracchaviṁ parimasissāmī’ti piṭṭhikaṇṭakaṁyeva pariggaṇhāmi, ‘piṭṭhikaṇṭakaṁ parimasissāmī’ti udaracchaviṁyeva pariggaṇhāmi. Yāvassu me, rājakumāra, udaracchavi piṭṭhikaṇṭakaṁ allīnā hoti tāyevappāhāratāya. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, ‘vaccaṁ vā muttaṁ vā karissāmī’ti tattheva avakujjo papatāmi tāyevappāhāratāya. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, imameva kāyaṁ assāsento pāṇinā gattāni anumajjāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, pāṇinā gattāni anumajjato pūtimūlāni lomāni kāyasmā papatanti tāyevappāhāratāya.

Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, manussā disvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘kāḷo samaṇo gotamo’ti, ekacce manussā evamāhaṁsu: ‘Na kāḷo samaṇo gotamo, sāmo samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ekacce manussā evamāhaṁsu: ‘Na kāḷo samaṇo gotamo, napi sāmo, maṅguracchavi samaṇo gotamo’ti. Yāvassu me, rājakumāra, tāva parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto upahato hoti tāyevappāhāratāya.


31Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘ye kho keci atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayiṁsu, etāvaparamaṁ nayito bhiyyo. Yepi hi keci anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayissanti, etāvaparamaṁ nayito bhiyyo. Yepi hi keci etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, etāvaparamaṁ nayito bhiyyo. Na kho panāhaṁ imāya kaṭukāya dukkarakārikāya adhigacchāmi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; siyā nu kho añño maggo bodhāyā’ti.

Tassa mayhaṃ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘abhijānāmi kho panāhaṃ pitu sakkassa kammante sītāya jambucchāyāya nisinno vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṃ savicāraṃ vivekajaṃ pītisukhaṃ paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharitā; siyā nu kho eso maggo bodhāyā’ti. Tassa mayhaṃ, rājakumāra, satānusāri viññāṇaṃ ahosi: ‘eseva maggo bodhāyā’ti.


Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘kiṁ nu kho ahaṁ tassa sukhassa bhāyāmi yaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehī’ti?

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Na kho ahaṁ tassa sukhassa bhāyāmi yaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehī’ti.

32Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Na kho taṁ sukaraṁ sukhaṁ adhigantuṁ evaṁ adhimattakasimānaṁ pattakāyena. Yannūnāhaṁ oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāreyyaṁ odanakummāsan’ti. So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāresiṁ odanakummāsaṁ. Tena kho pana maṁ, rājakumāra, samayena pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū paccupaṭṭhitā honti: ‘Yaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ adhigamissati taṁ no ārocessatī’ti. Yato kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāresiṁ odanakummāsaṁ, atha me te pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū nibbijja pakkamiṁsu: ‘bāhulliko samaṇo gotamo padhānavibbhanto, āvatto bāhullāyā’ti.

33So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāretvā balaṁ gahetvā vivicceva kāmehi … pe … paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ. Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā … dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ … tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ … catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ. So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ. So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi, seyyathidaṁ — ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo … pe … iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi.

Ayaṁ kho me, rājakumāra, rattiyā paṭhame yāme paṭhamā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā, vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato, āloko uppanno — yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.


34So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṁ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ. So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi … pe …

Ayaṁ kho me, rājakumāra, rattiyā majjhime yāme dutiyā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā, vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato, āloko uppanno — yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.


35So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṁ khayañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ … pe … ‘Ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ; ‘ime āsavā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ … pe … ‘Ayaṁ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ.

Tassa me evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ ahosi.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti abbhaññāsiṁ.

Ayaṁ kho me, rājakumāra, rattiyā pacchime yāme tatiyā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā, vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato, āloko uppanno — yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.


36Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘adhigato kho myāyaṁ dhammo gambhīro duddaso duranubodho santo paṇīto atakkāvacaro nipuṇo paṇḍitavedanīyo. Ālayarāmā kho panāyaṁ pajā ālayaratā ālayasammuditā. Ālayarāmāya kho pana pajāya ālayaratāya ālayasammuditāya duddasaṁ idaṁ ṭhānaṁ yadidaṁ — idappaccayatāpaṭiccasamuppādo. Idampi kho ṭhānaṁ duddasaṁ — yadidaṁ sabbasaṅkhārasamatho sabbūpadhipaṭinissaggo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ. Ahañceva kho pana dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ, pare ca me na ājāneyyuṁ, so mamassa kilamatho, sā mamassa vihesā’ti. Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, imā anacchariyā gāthāyo paṭibhaṁsu pubbe assutapubbā:


37‘Kicchena me adhigataṁ,
halaṁ dāni pakāsituṁ;
Rāgadosaparetehi,
nāyaṁ dhammo susambudho.

38Paṭisotagāmiṁ nipuṇaṁ,
gambhīraṁ duddasaṁ aṇuṁ;
Rāgarattā na dakkhanti,
tamokhandhena āvuṭā’ti.


39Itiha me, rājakumāra, paṭisañcikkhato appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati no dhammadesanāya.

40Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmuno sahampatissa mama cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya etadahosi: ‘nassati vata bho loko; vinassati vata bho loko. Yatra hi nāma tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati no dhammadesanāyā’ti.

Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati — seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva — brahmaloke antarahito mama purato pāturahosi. Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yenāhaṁ tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā maṁ etadavoca: ‘desetu, bhante, bhagavā dhammaṁ, desetu sugato dhammaṁ. Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā assavanatāya dhammassa parihāyanti; bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro’ti.

Idamavoca, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati; idaṁ vatvā athāparaṁ etadavoca:


41‘Pāturahosi magadhesu pubbe,
Dhammo asuddho samalehi cintito;
Apāpuretaṁ amatassa dvāraṁ,
Suṇantu dhammaṁ vimalenānubuddhaṁ.

42Sele yathā pabbatamuddhaniṭṭhito,
Yathāpi passe janataṁ samantato;
Tathūpamaṁ dhammamayaṁ sumedha,
Pāsādamāruyha samantacakkhu.

43Sokāvatiṇṇaṁ janatamapetasoko,
Avekkhassu jātijarābhibhūtaṁ;
Uṭṭhehi vīra vijitasaṅgāma,
Satthavāha aṇaṇa vicara loke;
Desassu bhagavā dhammaṁ,
Aññātāro bhavissantī’ti.


44Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, brahmuno ca ajjhesanaṁ viditvā sattesu ca kāruññataṁ paṭicca buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokesiṁ. Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe tikkhindriye mudindriye svākāre dvākāre suviññāpaye duviññāpaye appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante, appekacce na paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante. Seyyathāpi nāma uppaliniyaṁ vā paduminiyaṁ vā puṇḍarīkiniyaṁ vā appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni antonimuggaposīni, appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni samodakaṁ ṭhitāni, appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakā accuggamma ṭhitāni anupalittāni udakena; evameva kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra; buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento addasaṁ satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe tikkhindriye mudindriye svākāre dvākāre suviññāpaye duviññāpaye, appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante, appekacce na paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante. Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, brahmānaṁ sahampatiṁ gāthāya paccabhāsiṁ:


45‘Apārutā tesaṁ amatassa dvārā,
Ye sotavanto pamuñcantu saddhaṁ;
Vihiṁsasaññī paguṇaṁ na bhāsiṁ,
Dhammaṁ paṇītaṁ manujesu brahme’ti.


46Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati ‘katāvakāso khomhi bhagavatā dhammadesanāyā’ti maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

47Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ? Ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti? Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Ayaṁ kho āḷāro kālāmo paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī dīgharattaṁ apparajakkhajātiko. Yannūnāhaṁ āḷārassa kālāmassa paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ; so imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti. Atha kho maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca: ‘sattāhakālaṅkato, bhante, āḷāro kālāmo’ti.

Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi: ‘sattāhakālaṅkato āḷāro kālāmo’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘mahājāniyo kho āḷāro kālāmo. Sace hi so imaṁ dhammaṁ suṇeyya, khippameva ājāneyyā’ti.

48Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ? Ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti? Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘Ayaṁ kho udako rāmaputto paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī dīgharattaṁ apparajakkhajātiko. Yannūnāhaṁ udakassa rāmaputtassa paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ; so imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti. Atha kho maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca: ‘abhidosakālaṅkato, bhante, udako rāmaputto’ti.

Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi: ‘abhidosakālaṅkato udako rāmaputto’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘mahājāniyo kho udako rāmaputto. Sace hi so imaṁ dhammaṁ suṇeyya, khippameva ājāneyyā’ti.

49Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ? Ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti? Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘bahukārā kho me pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū ye maṁ padhānapahitattaṁ upaṭṭhahiṁsu. Yannūnāhaṁ pañcavaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyan’ti. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi: ‘kahaṁ nu kho etarahi pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū viharantī’ti. Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena pañcavaggiye bhikkhū bārāṇasiyaṁ viharante isipatane migadāye.

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, uruvelāyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena bārāṇasī tena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁ.


50Addasā kho maṁ, rājakumāra, upako ājīvako antarā ca gayaṁ antarā ca bodhiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannaṁ. Disvāna maṁ etadavoca: ‘vippasannāni kho te, āvuso, indriyāni, parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto. Kaṁsi tvaṁ, āvuso, uddissa pabbajito? Ko vā te satthā? Kassa vā tvaṁ dhammaṁ rocesī’ti?

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, upakaṁ ājīvakaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsiṁ: 


51‘Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi,
Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;
Sabbañjaho taṇhākkhaye vimutto,
Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.

52Na me ācariyo atthi,
sadiso me na vijjati;
Sadevakasmiṁ lokasmiṁ,
natthi me paṭipuggalo.

53Ahañhi arahā loke,
ahaṁ satthā anuttaro;
Ekomhi sammāsambuddho,
sītibhūtosmi nibbuto.

54Dhammacakkaṁ pavattetuṁ,
Gacchāmi kāsinaṁ puraṁ;
Andhībhūtasmiṁ lokasmiṁ,
Āhañchaṁ amatadundubhin’ti.


55‘Yathā kho tvaṁ, āvuso, paṭijānāsi arahasi anantajino’ti.

56‘Mādisā ve jinā honti,
ye pattā āsavakkhayaṁ;
Jitā me pāpakā dhammā,
tasmāhamupaka jino’ti.


57Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, upako ājīvako ‘hupeyyapāvuso’ti vatvā sīsaṁ okampetvā ummaggaṁ gahetvā pakkāmi.

58Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bārāṇasī isipatanaṁ migadāyo yena pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁ. Addasaṁsu kho maṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhapesuṁ: ‘Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, samaṇo gotamo āgacchati bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya. So neva abhivādetabbo, na paccuṭṭhātabbo, nāssa pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetabbaṁ; api ca kho āsanaṁ ṭhapetabbaṁ — sace so ākaṅkhīssati nisīdissatī’ti.

Yathā yathā kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū upasaṅkamiṁ tathā tathā pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū nāsakkhiṁsu sakāya katikāya saṇṭhātuṁ. Appekacce maṁ paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesuṁ. Appekacce āsanaṁ paññapesuṁ. Appekacce pādodakaṁ upaṭṭhapesuṁ. Api ca kho maṁ nāmena ca āvusovādena ca samudācaranti.

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ: ‘mā, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ nāmena ca āvusovādena ca samudācaratha; arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho. Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ: ‘na, bhikkhave, tathāgato bāhulliko na padhānavibbhanto na āvatto bāhullāya. Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho. Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.


59Dutiyampi kho, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti? Dutiyampi kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ: ‘na, bhikkhave, tathāgato bāhulliko na padhānavibbhanto na āvatto bāhullāya. Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho. Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.


60Tatiyampi kho, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ: ‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?


61Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ: ‘abhijānātha me no tumhe, bhikkhave, ito pubbe evarūpaṁ pabhāvitametan’ti?


‘No hetaṁ, bhante’.

‘Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho. Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi. Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.


62Asakkhiṁ kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū saññāpetuṁ. Dvepi sudaṁ, rājakumāra, bhikkhū ovadāmi. Tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caranti. Yaṁ tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā āharanti, tena chabbaggiyā yāpema. Tayopi sudaṁ, rājakumāra, bhikkhū ovadāmi, dve bhikkhū piṇḍāya caranti. Yaṁ dve bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā āharanti tena chabbaggiyā yāpema.

63Atha kho, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū mayā evaṁ ovadiyamānā evaṁ anusāsiyamānā nacirasseva — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihariṁsū"ti.

64Evaṁ vutte, bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "kīva cirena nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā"ti?


65"Tena hi, rājakumāra, taṁyevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya, tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, kusalo tvaṁ hatthārūḷhe aṅkusagayhe sippe"ti?

"Evaṁ, bhante, kusalo ahaṁ hatthārūḷhe aṅkusagayhe sippe"ti.

66"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, idha puriso āgaccheyya: ‘bodhi rājakumāro hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ jānāti; tassāhaṁ santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkhissāmī’ti. So cassa assaddho; yāvatakaṁ saddhena pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa bahvābādho; yāvatakaṁ appābādhena pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa saṭho māyāvī; yāvatakaṁ asaṭhena amāyāvinā pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa kusīto; yāvatakaṁ āraddhavīriyena pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa duppañño; yāvatakaṁ paññavatā pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, api nu so puriso tava santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyyā"ti?

"Ekamekenāpi, bhante, aṅgena samannāgato so puriso na mama santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyya, ko pana vādo pañcahaṅgehī"ti.


67"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, idha puriso āgaccheyya: ‘bodhi rājakumāro hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ jānāti; tassāhaṁ santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkhissāmī’ti. So cassa saddho; yāvatakaṁ saddhena pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa appābādho; yāvatakaṁ appābādhena pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa asaṭho amāyāvī; yāvatakaṁ asaṭhena amāyāvinā pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa āraddhavīriyo; yāvatakaṁ āraddhavīriyena pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya. So cassa paññavā; yāvatakaṁ paññavatā pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra, api nu so puriso tava santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyyā"ti?

"Ekamekenāpi, bhante, aṅgena samannāgato so puriso mama santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyya, ko pana vādo pañcahaṅgehī"ti.


68"Evameva kho, rājakumāra, pañcimāni padhāniyaṅgāni. Katamāni pañca?

Idha, rājakumāra, bhikkhu saddho hoti; saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti;

appābādho hoti appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya;

asaṭho hoti amāyāvī yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari vā viññūsu vā sabrahmacārīsu;

āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu;

paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammādukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Imāni kho, rājakumāra, pañca padhāniyaṅgāni.


69Imehi, rājakumāra, pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya satta vassāni.

Tiṭṭhantu, rājakumāra, satta vassāni. Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya chabbassāni … pañca vassāni … cattāri vassāni … tīṇi vassāni … dve vassāni … ekaṁ vassaṁ. Tiṭṭhatu, rājakumāra, ekaṁ vassaṁ. Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya satta māsāni. Tiṭṭhantu, rājakumāra, satta māsāni. Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya cha māsāni … pañca māsāni … cattāri māsāni … tīṇi māsāni … dve māsāni … ekaṁ māsaṁ … aḍḍhamāsaṁ. Tiṭṭhatu, rājakumāra, aḍḍhamāso. Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya satta rattindivāni. Tiṭṭhantu, rājakumāra, satta rattindivāni. Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno — yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ — brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya cha rattindivāni … pañca rattindivāni … cattāri rattindivāni … tīṇi rattindivāni … dve rattindivāni … ekaṁ rattindivaṁ.


Tiṭṭhatu, rājakumāra, eko rattindivo. Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno sāyamanusiṭṭho pāto visesaṁ adhigamissati, pātamanusiṭṭho sāyaṁ visesaṁ adhigamissatī"ti.


Evaṁ vutte, bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "aho buddho, aho dhammo, aho dhammassa svākkhātatā. Yatra hi nāma sāyamanusiṭṭho pāto visesaṁ adhigamissati, pātamanusiṭṭho sāyaṁ visesaṁ adhigamissatī"ti.


70Evaṁ vutte, sañjikāputto māṇavo bodhiṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavoca: "evameva panāyaṁ bhavaṁ bodhi: ‘aho buddho, aho dhammo, aho dhammassa svākkhātatā’ti ca vadeti; atha ca pana na taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchati dhammañca bhikkhusaṁghañcā"ti.

"Mā hevaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, avaca; mā hevaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, avaca. Sammukhā metaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, ayyāya sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ". "Ekamidaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Atha kho me ayyā kucchimatī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho me ayyā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ‘yo me ayaṁ, bhante, kucchigato kumārako vā kumārikā vā so bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchati dhammañca bhikkhusaṁghañca. Upāsakaṁ taṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan’ti.

Ekamidaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, samayaṁ bhagavā idheva bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye. Atha kho maṁ dhāti aṅkena haritvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho maṁ dhāti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ‘ayaṁ, bhante, bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchati dhammañca bhikkhusaṁghañca. Upāsakaṁ taṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan’ti.

Esāhaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, tatiyakampi bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṁghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.

Bodhirājakumārasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ pañcamaṁ.