Sutta Piṭaka
Nandamāṇavapucchā
Nandamāṇavapucchā
“Santi loke munayo, (iccāyasmā nando) Janā vadanti tayidaṁ kathaṁsu; Ñāṇūpapannaṁ no muniṁ vadanti, Udāhu ve jīvitenūpapannaṁ”.
The Questions of Nanda
“People say there are sages in the world,” said Venerable Nanda, “but how is this the case? Is someone called a sage because of their knowledge, or because of their way of life?”
“Na diṭṭhiyā na sutiyā na ñāṇena, (…) Munīdha nanda kusalā vadanti; Visenikatvā anīghā nirāsā, Caranti ye te munayoti brūmi”.
“Experts do not speak of a sage in terms of view, learning, or knowledge. Those who are sages live far from the crowd, I say, untroubled, with no need for hope.”
“Ye kecime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (iccāyasmā nando) Diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ; Sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ, Anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ. Kaccissu te bhagavā tattha yatā carantā, Atāru jātiñca jarañca mārisa; Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.
“As to those ascetics and brahmins,” said Venerable Nanda, “who speak of purity in terms of what is seen or heard, or in terms of precepts and vows, or in terms of countless different things. Living self-controlled in that matter, have they crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow? I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
“Ye kecime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (nandāti bhagavā) Diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ; Sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ, Anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ; Kiñcāpi te tattha yatā caranti, Nātariṁsu jātijaranti brūmi”.
“As to those ascetics and brahmins,” replied the Buddha, “who speak of purity in terms of what is seen or heard, or in terms of precepts and vows, or in terms of countless different things. Even though they live self-controlled in that matter, they’ve not crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”
“Ye kecime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (iccāyasmā nando) Diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ; Sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ, Anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ. Te ce muni brūsi anoghatiṇṇe, Atha ko carahi devamanussaloke; Atāri jātiñca jarañca mārisa, Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.
“As to those ascetics and brahmins,” said Venerable Nanda, “who speak of purity in terms of what is seen or heard, or in terms of precepts and vows, or in terms of countless different things. You say they have not crossed the flood, sage. So 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.”
“Nāhaṁ sabbe samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (nandāti bhagavā) Jātijarāya nivutāti brūmi; Ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā, Sīlabbataṁ vāpi pahāya sabbaṁ. Anekarūpampi pahāya sabbaṁ, Taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse; Te ve narā oghatiṇṇāti brūmi”.
“I don’t say that all ascetics and brahmins,” replied the Buddha, “are shrouded by rebirth and old age. There are those here who have given up all that is seen, heard, and thought, and precepts and vows, who have given up all the countless different things. Fully understanding craving, they are free of defilements, those people, I say, have crossed the flood.”
“Etābhinandāmi vaco mahesino, Sukittitaṁ gotamanūpadhīkaṁ; Ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā, Sīlabbataṁ vāpi pahāya sabbaṁ. Anekarūpampi pahāya sabbaṁ, Taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse; Ahampi te oghatiṇṇāti brūmī”ti.
“I rejoice in the words of the great seer! You have expounded non-attachment well, Gotama. There are those here who have given up all that is seen, heard, and thought, and precepts and vows, who have given up all the countless different things. Fully understanding craving, they are free of defilements, those people, I agree, have crossed the flood.”