Sutta Nipata Chapter 5: The Way to the Beyond
5:6 The Questions of Dhotaka
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato.(More copyright information)
5:6 The Questions of Dhotaka
1061
“I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this,”
said Venerable Dhotaka,
“I long for your voice, great hermit.
After hearing your message,
I shall train myself for quenching.”
1062
“Well then, be keen, alert,”
replied the Buddha,
“and mindful right here.
After hearing this message, go on
and train yourself for quenching.”
1063
“I see in the world of gods and humans
a brahmin travelling with nothing.
Therefore I bow to you, all-seer:
release me, Sakyan, from my doubts.”
1064
“I am not able to release anyone
in the world who has doubts, Dhotaka.
But when you understand the best of teachings,
you shall cross this flood.”
1065
“Teach me, brahmin, out of compassion,
the principle of seclusion so that I may understand.
I wish to practice right here, peaceful, independent,
as unimpeded as space.”
1066
“I shall extol that peace for 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.”
1067
“And I rejoice, great hermit,
in that supreme peace,
having understood which, one who lives mindfully
may cross over clinging in the world.”
1068
“Once you have understood that everything,”
replied the Buddha,
“you are aware of in the world—
above, below, all round, between—
is a snare, don’t crave for life after life.”
The Young Man Dhotaka’s Questions are Finished
Dhotakamāṇavapucchā
(iccāyasmā dhotako):
1061"Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi metaṁ,
Vācābhikaṅkhāmi mahesi tuyhaṁ;
Tava sutvāna nigghosaṁ,
Sikkhe nibbānamattano".
(dhotakāti bhagavā):
1062 "Tenahātappaṁ karohi,
Idheva nipako sato;
Ito sutvāna nigghosaṁ,
Sikkhe nibbānamattano".
1063
"Passāmahaṁ devamanussaloke,
Akiñcanaṁ brāhmaṇamiriyamānaṁ;
Taṁ taṁ namassāmi samantacakkhu,
Pamuñca maṁ sakka kathaṅkathāhi".
1064
"Nāhaṁ sahissāmi pamocanāya,
Kathaṅkathiṁ dhotaka kañci loke;
Dhammañca seṭṭhaṁ abhijānamāno,
Evaṁ tuvaṁ oghamimaṁ taresi".
1065
"Anusāsa brahme karuṇāyamāno,
Vivekadhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ;
Yathāhaṁ ākāsova abyāpajjamāno,
Idheva santo asito careyyaṁ".
(dhotakāti bhagavā):
1066 "Kittayissāmi te santiṁ,
Diṭṭhe dhamme anītihaṁ;
Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,
Tare loke visattikaṁ".
1067
"Tañcāhaṁ abhinandāmi,
mahesi santimuttamaṁ;
Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,
tare loke visattikaṁ".
(dhotakāti bhagavā):
1068 "Yaṁ kiñci sampajānāsi,
Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;
Etaṁ viditvā saṅgoti loke,
Bhavābhavāya mākāsi taṇhan"ti.
Dhotakamāṇavapucchā pañcamī.