sutta » an » an5 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 5.170

Bhaddajisutta

With Bhaddaji

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.
At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery.

Atha kho āyasmā bhaddaji yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then Venerable Bhaddaji went up to Venerable Ānanda, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ bhaddajiṁ āyasmā ānando etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side, and Venerable Ānanda said to him:

“kiṁ nu kho, āvuso bhaddaji, dassanānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ, kiṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti?
“Reverend Bhaddaji, what is the best sight, the best sound, the best happiness, the best perception, and the best state of existence?”

“Atthāvuso, brahmā abhibhū anabhibhūto aññadatthudaso vasavattī, yo taṁ brahmānaṁ passati, idaṁ dassanānaṁ aggaṁ.
“Reverend, there is this Brahmā, the vanquisher, the unvanquished, the universal seer, the wielder of power. When you see Brahmā, that’s the best sight.

Atthāvuso, ābhassarā nāma devā sukhena abhisannā parisannā.
There are the gods called ‘of streaming radiance’, who are drenched and steeped in pleasure.

Te kadāci karahaci udānaṁ udānenti:
Every so often they feel inspired to exclaim:

‘aho sukhaṁ, aho sukhan’ti.
‘Oh, what bliss! Oh, what bliss!’

Yo taṁ saddaṁ suṇāti, idaṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ.
When you hear that, it’s the best sound.

Atthāvuso, subhakiṇhā nāma devā.
There are the gods called ‘replete with glory’.

Te santaṁyeva tusitā sukhaṁ paṭivedenti, idaṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ.
Since they’re truly content, they experience pleasure. This is the best happiness.

Atthāvuso, ākiñcaññāyatanūpagā devā, idaṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ.
There are the gods reborn in the dimension of nothingness. This is the best perception.

Atthāvuso, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpagā devā, idaṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti.
There are the gods reborn in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This is the best state of existence.”

“Sameti kho idaṁ āyasmato bhaddajissa, yadidaṁ bahunā janenā”ti?
“So, Venerable Bhaddaji, do you agree with what most people say about this?”

“Āyasmā kho ānando bahussuto.
“Well, Venerable Ānanda, you’re very learned.

Paṭibhātu āyasmantaṁyeva ānandan”ti.
Why don’t you clarify this yourself?”

“Tenahāvuso bhaddaji, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.
“Well then, Reverend Bhaddaji, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā bhaddaji āyasmato ānandassa paccassosi.
“Yes, reverend,” Bhaddaji replied.

Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:
Ānanda said this:

“Yathā passato kho, āvuso, anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ dassanānaṁ aggaṁ.
“What you see when the defilements end in the present life is the best sight.

Yathā suṇato anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ savanānaṁ aggaṁ.
What you hear when the defilements end in the present life is the best sound.

Yathā sukhitassa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ sukhānaṁ aggaṁ.
The happiness you feel when the defilements end in the present life is the best happiness.

Yathā saññissa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ saññānaṁ aggaṁ.
What you perceive when the defilements end in the present life is the best perception.

Yathā bhūtassa anantarā āsavānaṁ khayo hoti, idaṁ bhavānaṁ aggan”ti.
The state of existence in which the defilements end in the present life is the best state of existence.”

Dasamaṁ.

Āghātavaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Dve āghātavinayā,

sākacchā sājīvato pañhaṁ;

Pucchā nirodho codanā,

sīlaṁ nisanti bhaddajīti.