1So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Now at that time Baka the Brahmā had the following harmful misconception: “This is permanent, this is everlasting, this is eternal, this is whole, this is imperishable. For this is where there’s no being born, growing old, dying, passing away, or being reborn. And there’s no other escape beyond this.”

2Then the Buddha knew what Baka the Brahmā was thinking. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared in that Brahmā realm.

Baka the Brahmā saw the Buddha coming off in the distance and said to him: “Come, good sir! Welcome, good sir! It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here. For this is permanent, this is everlasting, this is eternal, this is complete, this is imperishable. For this is where there’s no being born, growing old, dying, passing away, or being reborn. And there’s no other escape beyond this.”

3When he had spoken, the Buddha said to him: “Alas, Baka the Brahmā is lost in ignorance! Alas, Baka the Brahmā is lost in ignorance! Because what is actually impermanent, not lasting, transient, incomplete, and perishable, he says is permanent, everlasting, eternal, complete, and imperishable. And where there is being born, growing old, dying, passing away, and being reborn, he says that there’s no being born, growing old, dying, passing away, or being reborn. And although there is another escape beyond this, he says that there’s no other escape beyond this.”

4“Gotama, we seventy-two merit-makers are now wielders of power,
having passed beyond rebirth and old age.
This is our last rebirth as Brahmā, knowledge-master.
And now many people pray to us.”

5“But, Baka, the life span here is short, not long,
though you think it’s long.
I know that your life span
is two quinquadecillion years, Brahmā.”

6“Blessed One, I am the one of infinite vision,
who has gone beyond rebirth and old age and sorrow.
What precepts and observances did I practice in the past?
Explain to me so I can understand.”

7“You gave drink to many people
who were oppressed by thirst and heat.
They’re the precepts and observances you practiced in the past.
I recollect it like one who has wakened from sleep.

8When people at Deer River Bank were seized,
you released the captives as they were led away.
That’s the precepts and observances you practiced in the past.
I recollect it like one who has wakened from sleep.

9When a boat on the Ganges River was seized
by a fierce dragon desiring human flesh,
you freed it wielding mighty force.
That’s the precepts and observances you practiced in the past.
I recollect it like one who has wakened from sleep.

19I used to be your servant named Kappa.
You thought he was intelligent and loyal.
That’s the precepts and observances you practiced in the past.
I recollect it like one who has wakened from sleep.”

11“You certainly understand this life span of mine.
And others, too, you know; that’s why you’re the Buddha.
And that’s why your blazing glory
lights up even the Brahmā realm.”

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vihārati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Tena kho pana samayena bakassa brahmuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ hoti: "Idaṁ niccaṁ, idaṁ dhuvaṁ, idaṁ sassataṁ, idaṁ kevalaṁ, idaṁ acavanadhammaṁ, idañhi na jāyati na jīyati na mīyati na cavati na upapajjati, ito ca panaññaṁ uttari nissaraṇaṁ natthī"ti.

2Atha kho bhagavā bakassa brahmuno cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya – seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva – jetavane antarahito tasmiṁ brahmaloke pāturahosi.

Addasā kho bako brahmā bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ehi kho, mārisa, svāgataṁ te, mārisa. Cirassaṁ kho, mārisa, imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāya. Idañhi, mārisa, niccaṁ, idaṁ dhuvaṁ, idaṁ sassataṁ, idaṁ kevalaṁ, idaṁ acavanadhammaṁ, idañhi na jāyati na jīyati na mīyati na cavati na upapajjati. Ito ca panaññaṁ uttari nissaraṇaṁ natthī"ti.

3Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā bakaṁ brahmānaṁ etadavoca: "avijjāgato vata bho bako brahmā, avijjāgato vata bho bako brahmā. Yatra hi nāma aniccaṁyeva samānaṁ niccanti vakkhati, adhuvaṁyeva samānaṁ dhuvanti vakkhati, asassataṁyeva samānaṁ sassatanti vakkhati, akevalaṁyeva samānaṁ kevalanti vakkhati, cavanadhammaṁyeva samānaṁ acavanadhammanti vakkhati. Yattha ca pana jāyati ca jīyati ca mīyati ca cavati ca upapajjati ca, tañca tathā vakkhati: ‘idañhi na jāyati na jīyati na mīyati na cavati na upapajjati’. Santañca panaññaṁ uttari nissaraṇaṁ, ‘natthaññaṁ uttari nissaraṇan’ti vakkhatī"ti.

4"Dvāsattati gotama puññakammā,
Vāsavāttino jātijaraṁ atītā;
Ayamantimā vedagū brahmupapatti,
Asmābhijappanti janā anekā"ti.

5"Appañhi etaṁ na hi dīghamāyu,
Yaṁ tvaṁ baka maññasi dīghamāyuṁ;
Sataṁ sahassānaṁ nirabbudānaṁ,
Āyuṁ pajānāmi tavāhaṁ brahme"ti.

6"Anantadassī bhagavāhamasmi,
Jātijaraṁ sokamupātivatto;
Kiṁ me purāṇaṁ vatasīlavattaṁ,
Ācikkha me taṁ yamahaṁ vijaññā"ti.

7"Yaṁ tvaṁ apāyesi bahū manusse,
Pipāsite ghammani samparete;
Taṁ te purāṇaṁ vatasīlavattaṁ,
Suttappabuddhova anussarāmi.

8Yaṁ eṇikūlasmiṁ janaṁ gahītaṁ,
Amocayī gayhakaṁ nīyamānaṁ;
Taṁ te purāṇaṁ vatasīlavattaṁ,
Suttappabuddhova anussarāmi.

9Gaṅgāya sotasmiṁ gahītanāvaṁ,
Luddena nāgena manussakamyā;
Pamocayittha balasā pasayha,
Taṁ te purāṇaṁ vatasīlavattaṁ;
Suttappabuddhova anussarāmi.

10Kappo ca te baddhacaro ahosiṁ,
Sambuddhimantaṁ vatinaṁ amaññi;
Taṁ te purāṇaṁ vatasīlavattaṁ,
Suttappabuddhova anussarāmī"ti.

11"Addhā pajānāsi mametamāyuṁ,
Aññepi jānāsi tathā hi buddho;
Tathā hi tyāyaṁ jalitānubhāvo,
Obhāsayaṁ tiṭṭhati brahmalokan"ti.