From:
Sutta NipÄta 5.8 Anthology of Discourses 5.8
NandamÄį¹avapucchÄ The Questions of Nanda
āSanti loke munayo, āPeople say there are sages in the world,ā
(iccÄyasmÄ nando) said Venerable Nanda,
JanÄ vadanti tayidaį¹ kathaį¹su; ābut how is this the case?
ĆÄį¹Å«papannaį¹ no muniį¹ vadanti, Is someone called a sage because of their knowledge,
UdÄhu ve jÄ«vitenÅ«papannaį¹ā. or because of their way of life?ā
āNa diį¹į¹hiyÄ na sutiyÄ na ƱÄį¹ena, (ā¦) āExperts do not speak of a sage in terms of
MunÄ«dha nanda kusalÄ vadanti; view, learning, or knowledge.
VisenikatvÄ anÄ«ghÄ nirÄsÄ, Those who are sages live far from the crowd, I say,
Caranti ye te munayoti brÅ«miā. untroubled, with no need for hope.ā
āYe kecime samaį¹abrÄhmaį¹Äse, āAs to those ascetics and brahmins,ā
(iccÄyasmÄ nando) said Venerable Nanda,
Diį¹į¹hassutenÄpi vadanti suddhiį¹; āwho speak of purity in terms of what is seen or heard,
SÄ«labbatenÄpi vadanti suddhiį¹, or in terms of precepts and vows,
AnekarÅ«pena vadanti suddhiį¹. or in terms of countless different things.
Kaccissu te bhagavÄ tattha yatÄ carantÄ, Living self-controlled in that matter,
AtÄru jÄtiƱca jaraƱca mÄrisa; have they crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow?
PucchÄmi taį¹ bhagavÄ brÅ«hi me taį¹ā. I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.ā
āYe kecime samaį¹abrÄhmaį¹Äse, āAs to those ascetics and brahmins,ā
(nandÄti bhagavÄ) replied the Buddha,
Diį¹į¹hassutenÄpi vadanti suddhiį¹; āwho speak of purity in terms of what is seen or heard,
SÄ«labbatenÄpi vadanti suddhiį¹, or in terms of precepts and vows,
AnekarÅ«pena vadanti suddhiį¹; or in terms of countless different things.
KiƱcÄpi te tattha yatÄ caranti, Even though they live self-controlled in that matter,
NÄtariį¹su jÄtijaranti brÅ«miā. theyāve not crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.ā
āYe kecime samaį¹abrÄhmaį¹Äse, āAs to those ascetics and brahmins,ā
(iccÄyasmÄ nando) said Venerable Nanda,
Diį¹į¹hassutenÄpi vadanti suddhiį¹; āwho speak of purity in terms of what is seen or heard,
SÄ«labbatenÄpi vadanti suddhiį¹, or in terms of precepts and vows,
AnekarÅ«pena vadanti suddhiį¹. or in terms of countless different things.
Te ce muni brÅ«si anoghatiį¹į¹e, You say they have not crossed the flood, sage.
Atha ko carahi devamanussaloke; Then who exactly in the world of gods and humans
AtÄri jÄtiƱca jaraƱca mÄrisa, has crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow?
PucchÄmi taį¹ bhagavÄ brÅ«hi me taį¹ā. I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.ā
āNÄhaį¹ sabbe samaį¹abrÄhmaį¹Äse, āI donāt say that all ascetics and brahmins,ā
(nandÄti bhagavÄ) replied the Buddha,
JÄtijarÄya nivutÄti brÅ«mi; āare shrouded by rebirth and old age.
Ye sÄ«dha diį¹į¹haį¹ va sutaį¹ mutaį¹ vÄ, There are those here who have given up all
SÄ«labbataį¹ vÄpi pahÄya sabbaį¹. that is seen, heard, and thought, and precepts and vows,
AnekarÅ«pampi pahÄya sabbaį¹, who have given up all the countless different things.
Taį¹haį¹ pariƱƱÄya anÄsavÄse; Fully understanding craving, free of defilements,
Te ve narÄ oghatiį¹į¹Äti brÅ«miā. those people, I say, have crossed the flood.ā
āEtÄbhinandÄmi vaco mahesino, āI rejoice in the words of the great seer!
Sukittitaį¹ gotamanÅ«padhÄ«kaį¹; You have expounded non-attachment well, Gotama.
Ye sÄ«dha diį¹į¹haį¹ va sutaį¹ mutaį¹ vÄ, There are those here who have given up all
SÄ«labbataį¹ vÄpi pahÄya sabbaį¹. that is seen, heard, and thought, and precepts and vows,
AnekarÅ«pampi pahÄya sabbaį¹, who have given up all the countless different things.
Taį¹haį¹ pariƱƱÄya anÄsavÄse; Fully understanding craving, free of defilements,
Ahampi te oghatiį¹į¹Äti brÅ«mÄ«āti. those people, I agree, have crossed the flood.ā
NandamÄį¹avapucchÄ sattamÄ.