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Khuddaka Nikāya - The Minor Texts

Sutta Nipata

Sutta Nipata Chapter 5: The Way to the Beyond

5:2 The Questions of Ajita

5:2 The Questions of Ajita

 

1032 “By what is the world shrouded?”
said Venerable Ajita.
“Why does it not shine?
Tell me, what is its tar pit?
What is its greatest fear?”

1033 “The world is shrouded in ignorance.”
replied the Buddha.
“Avarice and negligence make it not shine.
Prayer is its tar pit.
Suffering is its greatest fear.”

1034 “The streams flow everywhere,”
said Venerable Ajita.
“What is there to block them?
And tell me the restraint of streams—
by what are they locked out?”

1035 “The streams in the world,”
replied the Buddha,
“are blocked by mindfulness.
I tell you the restraint of streams—
they are locked out by wisdom.”



1036 “That wisdom and mindfulness,”
said Venerable Ajita,
“and that which is name and form, good sir;
when questioned, please tell me of this:
where does this all cease?”

1037 “This question which you have asked,
I shall answer you, Ajita.
Where name and form
cease with nothing left over—
with the cessation of consciousness,
that’s where they cease.”

1038 “There are those who have assessed the teaching,
and many kinds of trainees here.
Tell me about their behavior, good sir,
when asked, for you are alert.”

1039 “Not greedy for sensual pleasures,
their mind would be unclouded.
Skilled in all things,
a mendicant would wander mindful.”

The Young Man Ajita’s Questions are Finished

Ajitamāṇavapucchā

(iccāyasmā ajito):

1032"Kenassu nivuto loko,
Kenassu nappakāsati;
Kissābhilepanaṁ brūsi,
Kiṁsu tassa mahabbhayaṁ".

(ajitāti bhagavā):
1033 "Avijjāya nivuto loko,
Vevicchā pamādā nappakāsati;
Jappābhilepanaṁ brūmi,
Dukkhamassa mahabbhayaṁ".

(iccāyasmā ajito):
1034 "Savanti sabbadhi sotā,
Sotānaṁ kiṁ nivāraṇaṁ;
Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūhi,
Kena sotā pidhiyyare".

(ajitāti bhagavā):
1035 "Yāni sotāni lokasmiṁ,
Sati tesaṁ nivāraṇaṁ;
Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūmi,
Paññāyete pidhiyyare".


(iccāyasmā ajito):
1036 "Paññā ceva sati yañca,
Nāmarūpañca mārisa;
Etaṁ me puṭṭho pabrūhi,
Katthetaṁ uparujjhati".

1037 "Yametaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi,
ajita taṁ vadāmi te;
Yattha nāmañca rūpañca,
asesaṁ uparujjhati;
Viññāṇassa nirodhena,
etthetaṁ uparujjhati".

1038 "Ye ca saṅkhātadhammāse,
ye ca sekhā puthū idha;
Tesaṁ me nipako iriyaṁ,
puṭṭho pabrūhi mārisa".

1039 "Kāmesu nābhigijjheyya,
Manasānāvilo siyā;
Kusalo sabbadhammānaṁ,
Sato bhikkhu paribbaje"ti.

Ajitamāṇavapucchā paṭhamā.