1049 “I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this,”
said Venerable Mettagū,
“for I think you are a knowledge master, evolved.
Where do all these sufferings come from,
in all their countless forms in the world?”

 

1050 “You have rightly asked me of the origin of suffering,”
replied the Buddha,
“I shall tell you as I understand it.
Attachment is the source of suffering
in all its countless forms in the world.

1051 When an ignorant person builds up attachments,
that idiot returns to suffering again and again.
So let one who understands not build up attachments,
contemplating the origin of suffering and rebirth.”

1052 “Whatever I asked you have explained to me.
I ask you once more, please tell me this:
How do the wise cross the flood
of rebirth, old age, sorrow, and lamenting?
Please, sage, answer me clearly,
for truly you understand this matter.”

1053 “I shall extol a teaching to you,”
replied the Buddha,
“that is apparent in the present, not relying on tradition.
Having understood it, one who lives mindfully
may cross over clinging in the world.”

1054 “And I rejoice, great hermit,
in that supreme teaching,
having understood which, one who lives mindfully
may cross over clinging in the world.”

 

1055 “Once you’ve expelled relishing and dogmatism,”
replied the Buddha,
“regarding everything you are aware of—
above, below, all round, between—
having uprooted consciousness, don’t continue in existence.

1056A mendicant who wanders meditating like this,
diligent and mindful, calling nothing their own,
would, being wise, give up the suffering
of rebirth, old age, sorrow and lamenting right here.”

1057“I rejoice in the words of the great hermit!
You have expounded non-attachment well, Gotama.
Clearly the Buddha has given up suffering,
for truly you understand this matter.

1058 Surely those you’d regularly instruct
would also give up suffering.
Therefore, having met, I bow to you, O spiritual giant;
hopefully the Buddha may regularly instruct me.”

1059 “Any brahmin recognized as a knowledge master,
who has nothing, unattached to sensual life,
clearly has crossed this flood,
crossed to the far shore, kind, wishless.

1060 And a wise person here, a knowledge master,
having untied the bond to life after life,
free of craving, untroubled, with no need for hope,
has crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”

1049"Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ,
Maññāmi taṁ vedaguṁ bhāvitattaṁ;
Kuto nu dukkhā samudāgatā ime,
Ye keci lokasmimanekarūpā".

1050 "Dukkhassa ve maṁ pabhavaṁ apucchasi,
Taṁ te pavakkhāmi yathā pajānaṁ;
Upadhinidānā pabhavanti dukkhā,
Ye keci lokasmimanekarūpā.

1051 Yo ve avidvā upadhiṁ karoti,
Punappunaṁ dukkhamupeti mando;
Tasmā pajānaṁ upadhiṁ na kayirā,
Dukkhassa jātippabhavānupassī".

1052 "Yaṁ taṁ apucchimha akittayī no,
Aññaṁ taṁ pucchāma tadiṅgha brūhi;
Kathaṁ nu dhīrā vitaranti oghaṁ,
Jātiṁ jaraṁ sokapariddavañca;
Taṁ me muni sādhu viyākarohi,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo".

(mettagūti bhagavā):
1053 "Kittayissāmi te dhammaṁ,
Diṭṭhe dhamme anītihaṁ;
Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,
Tare loke visattikaṁ".

1054 "Tañcāhaṁ abhinandāmi,
mahesi dhammamuttamaṁ;
Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,
tare loke visattikaṁ".

1055 "Yaṁ kiñci sampajānāsi,
Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;
Etesu nandiñca nivesanañca,
Panujja viññāṇaṁ bhave na tiṭṭhe.

1056 Evaṁvihārī sato appamatto,
Bhikkhu caraṁ hitvā mamāyitāni;
Jātiṁ jaraṁ sokapariddavañca,
Idheva vidvā pajaheyya dukkhaṁ".

1057 "Etābhinandāmi vaco mahesino,
Sukittitaṁ gotamanūpadhīkaṁ;
Addhā hi bhagavā pahāsi dukkhaṁ,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo.

1058 Te cāpi nūnappajaheyyu dukkhaṁ,
Ye tvaṁ muni aṭṭhitaṁ ovadeyya;
Taṁ taṁ namassāmi samecca nāga,
Appeva maṁ bhagavā aṭṭhitaṁ ovadeyya".

1059 "Yaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ vedagumābhijaññā,
Akiñcanaṁ kāmabhave asattaṁ;
Addhā hi so oghamimaṁ atāri,
Tiṇṇo ca pāraṁ akhilo akaṅkho.

1060 Vidvā ca yo vedagū naro idha,
Bhavābhave saṅgamimaṁ visajja;
So vītataṇho anīgho nirāso,
Atāri so jātijaranti brūmī"ti.