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10. Cirakatasaraṇapañha

Question on Remembrance of What was Done Long Ago

Rājā āha—
The king asked:

“bhante nāgasena, kena atītaṁ cirakataṁ saratī”ti?
“Venerable Nāgasena, how does one remember what was done long ago in the past?”

“Satiyā, mahārājā”ti.
“With mindfulness, your majesty.”

“Nanu, bhante nāgasena, cittena sarati no satiyā”ti?
“Is it not, venerable Nāgasena, that one remembers with one’s mind and not with mindfulness?”

“Abhijānāsi nu tvaṁ, mahārāja, kiñcideva karaṇīyaṁ katvā pamuṭṭhan”ti?
“Do you not know personally, your majesty, about some task you have done and have forgotten?”

“Āma, bhante”ti.
“Yes, venerable sir.”

“Kiṁ nu kho tvaṁ, mahārāja, tasmiṁ samaye acittako ahosī”ti?
“Then were you, your majesty, on that occasion without a mind?”

“Na hi, bhante, sati tasmiṁ samaye nāhosī”ti.
“Certainly not, venerable sir, on that occasion there was no mindfulness.”

“Atha kasmā tvaṁ, mahārāja, evamāha—
“So, why do you say, your majesty, that

‘cittena sarati, no satiyā’”ti?
one remembers with one’s mind and not with mindfulness?”

“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
“You are clever, venerable Nāgasena.”

Cirakatasaraṇapañho dasamo.
Question on Remembrance of What was Done Long Ago tenth