Snp 5.4

Puṇṇakamāṇavapucchā

“Anejaṁ mūladassāviṁ, (iccāyasmā puṇṇako) Atthi pañhena āgamaṁ; Kiṁ nissitā isayo manujā, Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ; Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke, Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

The Questions of Puṇṇaka

“To the imperturbable, the seer of the root,” said Venerable Puṇṇaka, “I have come seeking with a question. On what grounds have seers and men, aristocrats and brahmins here in the world performed so many different sacrifices to the gods? I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”

“Ye kecime isayo manujā, (puṇṇakāti bhagavā) Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ; Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke, Āsīsamānā puṇṇaka itthattaṁ; Jaraṁ sitā yaññamakappayiṁsu”.

“Whatever seers and men,” replied the Buddha, “aristocrats and brahmins here in the world have performed so many different sacrifices to the gods: all performed sacrifices bound to old age, longing for this place.”

“Ye kecime isayo manujā, (iccāyasmā puṇṇako) Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ; Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke, Kaccissu te bhagavā yaññapathe appamattā; Atāruṁ jātiñca jarañca mārisa, Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

“As to those seers and men,” said Venerable Puṇṇaka, “and aristocrats and brahmins here in the world who have performed so many different sacrifices to the gods: being diligent in the technique of sacrifice, have they crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow? I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”

“Āsīsanti thomayanti abhijappanti juhanti, (puṇṇakāti bhagavā) Kāmābhijappanti paṭicca lābhaṁ; Te yājayogā bhavarāgarattā, Nātariṁsu jātijaranti brūmi”.

“Hoping, invoking, praying, and worshiping,” replied the Buddha, “they pray for pleasure derived from profit. Devoted to sacrifice, besotted by rebirth, they’ve not crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”

“Te ce nātariṁsu yājayogā, (iccāyasmā puṇṇako) Yaññehi jātiñca jarañca mārisa; Atha ko carahi devamanussaloke, Atāri jātiñca jarañca mārisa; Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

“If those devoted to sacrifice,” said Venerable Puṇṇaka, “have not, by sacrificing, crossed over rebirth and old age, who then in the world of gods and humans has crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow? I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”

“Saṅkhāya lokasmi paroparāni, (puṇṇakāti bhagavā) Yassiñjitaṁ natthi kuhiñci loke; Santo vidhūmo anīgho nirāso, Atāri so jātijaranti brūmī”ti.

“Having appraised the world high and low,” replied the Buddha, “there is nothing in the world that disturbs them. Peaceful, unclouded, untroubled, with no need for hope— they’ve crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”