From:
MilindapaƱha Milinda's Questions
NibbÄnavagga NibbÄna Chapter
5. VÄyÄmakaraį¹apaƱha Question on the Reason for Effort
RÄjÄ ÄhaāThe king said:
ābhante nÄgasena, tumhe bhaį¹athaāāVenerable NÄgasena, you told me
ākinti imaį¹ dukkhaį¹ nirujjheyya, aƱƱaƱca dukkhaį¹ nuppajjeyyÄti. that, so that this suffering would cease and another suffering would not arise,
EtadatthÄ, mahÄrÄja, amhÄkaį¹ pabbajjÄāti. that was the goal of your going forth .
Kiį¹ paį¹ikacceva vÄyamitena, nanu sampatte kÄle vÄyamitabbanāti? Is it just because of previous effort? Should not one make an effort at the current time?ā
Thero ÄhaāThe elder said:
āsampatte kÄle, mahÄrÄja, vÄyÄmo akiccakaro bhavati, paį¹ikacceva vÄyÄmo kiccakaro bhavatÄ«āti. āEffort at the current time is not so useful, effort made previously is useful.ā
āOpammaį¹ karohÄ«āti. āPlease give me an analogy.ā
āTaį¹ kiį¹ maƱƱasi, mahÄrÄja, yadÄ tvaį¹ pipÄsito bhaveyyÄsi, tadÄ tvaį¹ udapÄnaį¹ khaį¹ÄpeyyÄsi, taįø·Äkaį¹ khaį¹ÄpeyyÄsi āpÄnÄ«yaį¹ pivissÄmÄ«āāti? āWhat do you think, your majesty, when you become thirsty, would you then have a well or a dam dug and say āI will drink waterā?ā
āNa hi, bhanteāti. āCertainly not, venerable sir.ā
āEvameva kho, mahÄrÄja, sampatte kÄle vÄyÄmo akiccakaro bhavati, paį¹ikacceva vÄyÄmo kiccakaro bhavatÄ«āti. āIn the same way, effort at the current time is not so useful, effort made previously is useful.ā
āBhiyyo opammaį¹ karohÄ«āti. āGive me another analogy.ā
āTaį¹ kiį¹ maƱƱasi, mahÄrÄja, yadÄ tvaį¹ bubhukkhito bhaveyyÄsi, tadÄ tvaį¹ khettaį¹ kasÄpeyyÄsi, sÄliį¹ ropÄpeyyÄsi, dhaƱƱaį¹ atiharÄpeyyÄsi ābhattaį¹ bhuƱjissÄmÄ«āāti? āWhat do you think, your majesty, when you become hungry, would you then have a field ploughed, plant rice, and have the grain brought in, and say āI will eat rice?ā
āNa hi, bhanteāti. āCertainly not, venerable sir.ā
āEvameva kho, mahÄrÄja, sampatte kÄle vÄyÄmo akiccakaro bhavati, paį¹ikacceva vÄyÄmo kiccakaro bhavatÄ«āti. āIn the same way, effort at the current time is not so useful, effort made previously is useful.ā
āBhiyyo opammaį¹ karohÄ«āti. āGive me another analogy.ā
āTaį¹ kiį¹ maƱƱasi, mahÄrÄja, yadÄ te saį¹
gÄmo paccupaį¹į¹hito bhaveyya, tadÄ tvaį¹ parikhaį¹ khaį¹ÄpeyyÄsi, pÄkÄraį¹ kÄrÄpeyyÄsi, gopuraį¹ kÄrÄpeyyÄsi, aį¹į¹Älakaį¹ kÄrÄpeyyÄsi, dhaƱƱaį¹ atiharÄpeyyÄsi, tadÄ tvaį¹ hatthismiį¹ sikkheyyÄsi, assasmiį¹ sikkheyyÄsi, rathasmiį¹ sikkheyyÄsi, dhanusmiį¹ sikkheyyÄsi, tharusmiį¹ sikkheyyÄsÄ«āti? āWhat do you think, your majesty, when you are faced with a battle, would you then have a moat dug, a rampart, a gateway, and a watchtower constructed, and then train in the use of elephants, horses, chariots, bows and swords?ā
āNa hi, bhanteāti. āCertainly not, venerable sir.ā
āEvameva kho, mahÄrÄja, sampatte kÄle vÄyÄmo akiccakaro bhavati, paį¹ikacceva vÄyÄmo kiccakaro bhavati. āIn the same way, effort at the current time is not so useful, effort made previously is useful.ā
BhÄsitampetaį¹, mahÄrÄja bhagavatÄāAnd this too, your majesty, was said by the Blessed One:
āPaį¹ikacceva taį¹ kayirÄ, One should do formerly
yaį¹ jaĆ±Ć±Ä hitamattano; what one knows is for oneās benefit;
Na sÄkaį¹ikacintÄya, Not having thoughts like a wagon driver,
mantÄ dhÄ«ro parakkame. one is steadfast in wisdom.
YathÄ sÄkaį¹iko maį¹į¹haį¹, As a wagon driver who has abandoned
samaį¹ hitvÄ mahÄpathaį¹; the well-prepared, even, high road,
Visamaį¹ maggamÄruyha, Climbing on the uneven path,
akkhacchinnova jhÄyati. just broods with his axle broken,
Evaį¹ dhammÄ apakkamma, Straying from the Dhamma thus,
adhammamanuvattiya; and following what isn't Dhamma,
Mando maccu mukhaį¹ patto, The lazy one coming face-to-face with death,
akkhacchinnova jhÄyatÄ«āāti. just broods with his axle broken.
āKallosi, bhante nÄgasenÄāti. āYou are clever, venerable NÄgasena.ā
VÄyÄmakaraį¹apaƱho paƱcamo. Question on the Reason for Effort fifth