Majjhima Nikāya 85

Translators: sujato

Middle Discourses 85

Bodhirājakumārasutta

With Prince Bodhi

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Tena kho pana samayena bodhissa rājakumārassa kokanado nāma pāsādo acirakārito hoti anajjhāvuṭṭho samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā kenaci vā manussabhūtena.
Now at that time a new stilt longhouse named Pink Lotus had recently been constructed for Prince Bodhi. It had not yet been occupied by an ascetic or brahmin or any person at all.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro sañjikāputtaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi:
Then Prince Bodhi addressed the student Sañjikāputta,

“ehi tvaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vanda, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha:
“Please, dear Sañjikāputta, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.

‘bodhi, bhante, rājakumāro bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti.

Evañca vadehi:
And then ask him whether he

‘adhivāsetu kira, bhante, bhagavā bodhissa rājakumārassa svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’”ti.
might accept tomorrow’s meal from me together with the mendicant Saṅgha.”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bodhissa rājakumārassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
“Yes, sir,” Sañjikāputta replied. He did as Prince Bodhi asked, and

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“bodhi kho rājakumāro bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati.

Evañca vadeti:

‘adhivāsetu kira bhavaṁ gotamo bodhissa rājakumārassa svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’”ti.

Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.
the Buddha consented with silence.

Atha kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bodhi rājakumāro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bodhiṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavoca:
Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Sañjikāputta got up from his seat, went to Prince Bodhi, and said,

“avocumha bhoto vacanena taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ:
“I gave your message to Mister Gotama,

‘bodhi kho rājakumāro bhoto gotamassa pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati.

Evañca vadeti—

adhivāsetu kira bhavaṁ gotamo bodhissa rājakumārassa svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā’ti.

Adhivuṭṭhañca pana samaṇena gotamenā”ti.
and he accepted.”

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā, kokanadañca pāsādaṁ odātehi dussehi santharāpetvā yāva pacchimasopānakaḷevarā, sañjikāputtaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi:
And when the night had passed Prince Bodhi had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. He also had the Pink Lotus longhouse spread with white cloth down to the last step of the staircase. Then he said to Sañjikāputta,

“ehi tvaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocehi:
“Please, dear Sañjikāputta, go to the Buddha, and announce the time, saying,

‘kālo, bhante, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan’”ti.
‘Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.’”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho sañjikāputto māṇavo bodhissa rājakumārassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocesi:
“Yes, sir,” Sañjikāputta replied, and he did as he was asked.

“kālo, bho gotama, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena bodhissa rājakumārassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Prince Bodhi’s home.

Tena kho pana samayena bodhi rājakumāro bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhito hoti bhagavantaṁ āgamayamāno.
Now at that time Prince Bodhi was standing outside the gates waiting for the Buddha.

Addasā kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ.
Seeing the Buddha coming off in the distance,

Disvāna paccuggantvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā purakkhatvā yena kokanado pāsādo tenupasaṅkami.
he went out to greet him. After bowing and inviting the Buddha to go first, he approached the Pink Lotus longhouse.

Atha kho bhagavā pacchimaṁ sopānakaḷevaraṁ nissāya aṭṭhāsi.
But the Buddha stopped by the last step of the staircase.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Prince Bodhi said to him,

“abhiruhatu, bhante, bhagavā dussāni, abhiruhatu sugato dussāni;
“Sir, let the Blessed One ascend on the cloth! Let the Holy One ascend on the cloth!

yaṁ mama assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.
It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.
But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.

Dutiyampi kho …pe…
For a second time …

tatiyampi kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
and a third time, Prince Bodhi said to him,

“abhiruhatu, bhante, bhagavā dussāni, abhiruhatu sugato dussāni;
“Sir, let the Blessed One ascend on the cloth! Let the Holy One ascend on the cloth!

yaṁ mama assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.
It will be for my lasting welfare and happiness.”

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ apalokesi.
Then the Buddha glanced at Venerable Ānanda.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando bodhiṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavoca:
So Ānanda said to Prince Bodhi,

“saṁharatu, rājakumāra, dussāni;
“Fold up the cloth, Prince.

na bhagavā celapaṭikaṁ akkamissati.
The Buddha will not step upon white cloth.

Pacchimaṁ janataṁ tathāgato anukampatī”ti.
The Realized One has sympathy for future generations.”

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro dussāni saṁharāpetvā uparikokanadapāsāde āsanāni paññapesi.
So Prince Bodhi had the cloth folded up and the seats spread out upstairs in the longhouse.

Atha kho bhagavā kokanadaṁ pāsādaṁ abhiruhitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena.
Then the Buddha ascended the longhouse and sat on the seats spread out together with the Saṅgha of mendicants.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi.
Then Prince Bodhi served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

Atha kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Prince Bodhi took a low seat, sat to one side,

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
and said to him,

“mayhaṁ kho, bhante, evaṁ hoti:
“Sir, this is what I think:

‘na kho sukhena sukhaṁ adhigantabbaṁ, dukkhena kho sukhaṁ adhigantabban’”ti.
‘Pleasure is not gained through pleasure; pleasure is gained through pain.’”

“Mayhampi kho, rājakumāra, pubbeva sambodhā anabhisambuddhassa bodhisattasseva sato etadahosi:
“Prince, before my awakening—when I was still unawakened but intent on awakening—I too thought:

‘na kho sukhena sukhaṁ adhigantabbaṁ, dukkhena kho sukhaṁ adhigantabban’ti.
‘Pleasure is not gained through pleasure; pleasure is gained through pain.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, aparena samayena daharova samāno susukāḷakeso bhadrena yobbanena samannāgato paṭhamena vayasā akāmakānaṁ mātāpitūnaṁ assumukhānaṁ rudantānaṁ kesamassuṁ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajiṁ.
Some time later, while still with pristine black hair, blessed with youth, in the prime of life—though my mother and father wished otherwise, weeping with tearful faces—I shaved off my hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and went forth from the lay life to homelessness.

So evaṁ pabbajito samāno kiṅkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:
Once I had gone forth I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,

‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso kālāma, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’ti.
‘Reverend Kālāma, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, āḷāro kālāmo maṁ etadavoca:
Āḷāra Kālāma replied,

‘viharatāyasmā,
‘Stay, venerable.

tādiso ayaṁ dhammo yattha viññū puriso nacirasseva sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā’ti.
This teaching is such that a sensible person can soon realize their own tradition with their own insight and live having achieved it.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇiṁ.
I quickly memorized that teaching.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tāvatakeneva oṭṭhapahatamattena lapitalāpanamattena ñāṇavādañca vadāmi, theravādañca jānāmi passāmīti ca paṭijānāmi, ahañceva aññe ca.
As far as lip-recital and verbal repetition went, I spoke the doctrine of knowledge, the elder doctrine. I claimed to know and see, and so did others.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘na kho āḷāro kālāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ kevalaṁ saddhāmattakena sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti;
‘It is not solely by mere faith that Āḷāra Kālāma declares: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”

addhā āḷāro kālāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ viharatī’ti.
Surely he meditates knowing and seeing this teaching.’

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:
So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,

‘kittāvatā no, āvuso kālāma, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesī’ti?
‘Reverend Kālāma, to what extent do you say you’ve realized this teaching with your own insight?’

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, āḷāro kālāmo ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ pavedesi.
When I said this, he declared the dimension of nothingness.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi saddhā, mayhampatthi saddhā;
‘It’s not just Āḷāra Kālāma who has faith,

na kho āḷārasseva kālāmassa atthi vīriyaṁ …pe…
energy,

sati …
mindfulness,

samādhi …
immersion,

paññā, mayhampatthi paññā.
and wisdom; I too have these things.

Yannūnāhaṁ yaṁ dhammaṁ āḷāro kālāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti tassa dhammassa sacchikiriyāya padaheyyan’ti.
Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Āḷāra Kālāma says he has realized with his own insight?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsiṁ.
I quickly realized that teaching with my own insight, and lived having achieved it.

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena āḷāro kālāmo tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā āḷāraṁ kālāmaṁ etadavocaṁ:
So I approached Āḷāra Kālāma and said to him,

‘ettāvatā no, āvuso kālāma, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti?
‘Reverend Kālāma, is it up to this point that you realized this teaching with your own insight, and declare having achieved it?’

‘Ettāvatā kho ahaṁ, āvuso, imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemī’ti.
‘I have, reverend.’

‘Ahampi kho, āvuso, ettāvatā imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.
‘I too have realized this teaching with my own insight up to this point, and live having achieved it.’

‘Lābhā no, āvuso, suladdhaṁ no, āvuso,
‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate

ye mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ tādisaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ passāma.
to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions!

Iti yāhaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemi, taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi.
So the teaching that I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it, you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.

Yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi, tamahaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedemi.
The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, I’ve realized with my own insight, and declare having achieved it.

Iti yāhaṁ dhammaṁ jānāmi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi; yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi tamahaṁ dhammaṁ jānāmi.
So the teaching that I know, you know, and the teaching you know, I know.

Iti yādiso ahaṁ, tādiso tuvaṁ; yādiso tuvaṁ tādiso ahaṁ.
I am like you and you are like me.

Ehi dāni, āvuso, ubhova santā imaṁ gaṇaṁ pariharāmā’ti.
Come now, reverend! We should both lead this community together.’

Iti kho, rājakumāra, āḷāro kālāmo ācariyo me samāno attano antevāsiṁ maṁ samānaṁ attanā samasamaṁ ṭhapesi, uḷārāya ca maṁ pūjāya pūjesi.
And that is how my tutor Āḷāra Kālāma placed me, his pupil, on the same position as him, and honored me with lofty praise.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘nāyaṁ dhammo nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati, yāvadeva ākiñcaññāyatanūpapattiyā’ti.
‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of nothingness.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, taṁ dhammaṁ analaṅkaritvā tasmā dhammā nibbijja apakkamiṁ.
Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, kiṅkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:
I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,

‘icchāmahaṁ, āvuso, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmacariyaṁ caritun’ti.
‘Reverend, I wish to lead the spiritual life in this teaching and training.’

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, udako rāmaputto maṁ etadavoca:
Uddaka replied,

‘viharatāyasmā,
‘Stay, venerable.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, nacirasseva khippameva taṁ dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇiṁ.
I quickly memorized that teaching.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘na kho rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ kevalaṁ saddhāmattakena sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesi;
‘It is not solely by mere faith that Rāma declared: “I realize this teaching with my own insight, and live having achieved it.”

addhā rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ jānaṁ passaṁ vihāsī’ti.
Surely he meditated knowing and seeing this teaching.’

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:
So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,

‘kittāvatā no, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedesī’ti?
‘Reverend, to what extent did Rāma say he’d realized this teaching with his own insight?’

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, udako rāmaputto nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ pavedesi.
When I said this, Uddaka son of Rāma declared the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘na kho rāmasseva ahosi saddhā, mayhampatthi saddhā;
‘It’s not just Rāma who had faith,

na kho rāmasseva ahosi vīriyaṁ …pe…
energy,

sati …
mindfulness,

samādhi …
immersion,

paññā, mayhampatthi paññā.
and wisdom; I too have these things.

Yannūnāhaṁ yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmīti pavedeti tassa dhammassa sacchikiriyāya padaheyyan’ti.
Why don’t I make an effort to realize the same teaching that Rāma said he had realized with his own insight?’

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, yena udako rāmaputto tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā udakaṁ rāmaputtaṁ etadavocaṁ:
So I approached Uddaka son of Rāma and said to him,

‘ettāvatā no, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti?
‘Reverend, had Rāma realized this teaching with his own insight up to this point, and declared having achieved it?’

‘Ettāvatā kho, āvuso, rāmo imaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesī’ti.
‘He had, reverend.’

‘Lābhā no, āvuso, suladdhaṁ no, āvuso,
‘We are fortunate, reverend, so very fortunate

ye mayaṁ āyasmantaṁ tādisaṁ sabrahmacāriṁ passāma.
to see a venerable such as yourself as one of our spiritual companions!

Iti yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi.
So the teaching that Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it, you've realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it.

Yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharasi taṁ dhammaṁ rāmo sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja pavedesi.
The teaching that you’ve realized with your own insight, and dwell having achieved it, Rāma had realized with his own insight, and declared having achieved it.

Iti yaṁ dhammaṁ rāmo abhiññāsi taṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi; yaṁ tvaṁ dhammaṁ jānāsi taṁ dhammaṁ rāmo abhiññāsi.
So the teaching that Rāma directly knew, you know, and the teaching you know, Rāma directly knew.

Iti yādiso rāmo ahosi tādiso tuvaṁ, yādiso tuvaṁ tādiso rāmo ahosi.
Rāma was like you and you are like Rāma.

Ehi dāni, āvuso, tuvaṁ imaṁ gaṇaṁ pariharā’ti.
Come now, reverend! You should lead this community.’

Iti kho, rājakumāra, udako rāmaputto sabrahmacārī me samāno ācariyaṭṭhāne maṁ ṭhapesi, uḷārāya ca maṁ pūjāya pūjesi.
And that is how my spiritual companion Uddaka son of Rāma placed me in the position of a tutor and honored me with lofty praise.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘nāyaṁ dhammo nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṁvattati, yāvadeva nevasaññānāsaññāyatanūpapattiyā’ti.
‘This teaching doesn’t lead to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment. It only leads as far as rebirth in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, taṁ dhammaṁ analaṅkaritvā tasmā dhammā nibbijja apakkamiṁ.
Realizing that this teaching was inadequate, I left disappointed.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, kiṅkusalagavesī anuttaraṁ santivarapadaṁ pariyesamāno, magadhesu anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno, yena uruvelā senānigamo tadavasariṁ.
I set out to discover what is skillful, seeking the supreme state of sublime peace. Traveling stage by stage in the Magadhan lands, I arrived at Senānigama in Uruvelā.

Tatthaddasaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ bhūmibhāgaṁ, pāsādikañca vanasaṇḍaṁ, nadiñca sandantiṁ setakaṁ supatitthaṁ, ramaṇīyaṁ samantā ca gocaragāmaṁ.
There I saw a delightful park, a lovely grove with a flowing river that was clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby was a village for alms.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘ramaṇīyo vata bho bhūmibhāgo, pāsādiko ca vanasaṇḍo, nadī ca sandati setakā supatitthā, ramaṇīyā samantā ca gocaragāmo.
‘This park is truly delightful, a lovely grove with a flowing river that’s clean and charming, with smooth banks. And nearby there’s a village for alms.

Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāyā’ti.
This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tattheva nisīdiṁ:
So I sat down right there, thinking,

‘alamidaṁ padhānāyā’ti.
‘This is good enough for striving.’

Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, tisso upamā paṭibhaṁsu anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
And then these three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me.

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ udake nikkhittaṁ.
Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying in water.

Atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya:
Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking

‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti.
to light a fire and produce heat.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
What do you think, Prince?

api nu so puriso amuṁ allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ udake nikkhittaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā”ti?
By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log lying in water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”

“No hidaṁ, bhante.
“No, sir.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Aduñhi, bhante, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ tañca pana udake nikkhittaṁ,
Because it’s a green, sappy log, and it’s lying in the water.

yāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.
That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”

“Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kāyena ceva cittena ca kāmehi avūpakaṭṭhā viharanti, yo ca nesaṁ kāmesu kāmacchando kāmasneho kāmamucchā kāmapipāsā kāmapariḷāho so ca ajjhattaṁ na suppahīno hoti, na suppaṭippassaddho.
“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. They haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings because of their efforts, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.

Opakkamikā cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya.

No cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya.

Ayaṁ kho maṁ, rājakumāra, paṭhamā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
This was the first example that occurred to me.

Aparāpi kho maṁ, rājakumāra, dutiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
Then a second example occurred to me.

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ.
Suppose there was a green, sappy log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water.

Atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya:
Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking

‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti.
to light a fire and produce heat.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
What do you think, Prince?

api nu so puriso amuṁ allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā”ti?
By drilling the stick against that green, sappy log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”

“No hidaṁ, bhante.
“No, sir.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Aduñhi, bhante, allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ kiñcāpi ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ,
Because it’s still a green, sappy log, despite the fact that it’s lying on dry land far from water.

yāvadeva ca pana so puriso kilamathassa vighātassa bhāgī assā”ti.
That person will eventually get weary and frustrated.”

“Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kāyena ceva cittena ca kāmehi vūpakaṭṭhā viharanti, yo ca nesaṁ kāmesu kāmacchando kāmasneho kāmamucchā kāmapipāsā kāmapariḷāho so ca ajjhattaṁ na suppahīno hoti, na suppaṭippassaddho.
“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. But they haven’t internally given up or stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings because of their efforts, they are incapable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.

Opakkamikā cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya.

No cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, abhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya.

Ayaṁ kho maṁ, rājakumāra, dutiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
This was the second example that occurred to me.

Aparāpi kho maṁ, rājakumāra, tatiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
Then a third example occurred to me.

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ.
Suppose there was a dried up, withered log, and it was lying on dry land far from the water.

Atha puriso āgaccheyya uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya:
Then a person comes along with a drill-stick, thinking

‘aggiṁ abhinibbattessāmi, tejo pātukarissāmī’ti.
to light a fire and produce heat.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
What do you think, Prince?

api nu so puriso amuṁ sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ ārakā udakā thale nikkhittaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimanthento aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyyā”ti?
By drilling the stick against that dried up, withered log on dry land far from water, could they light a fire and produce heat?”

“Evaṁ, bhante.
“Yes, sir.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?

Aduñhi, bhante, sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ, tañca pana ārakā udakā thale nikkhittan”ti.
Because it’s a dried up, withered log, and it’s lying on dry land far from water.”

“Evameva kho, rājakumāra, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kāyena ceva cittena ca kāmehi vūpakaṭṭhā viharanti, yo ca nesaṁ kāmesu kāmacchando kāmasneho kāmamucchā kāmapipāsā kāmapariḷāho so ca ajjhattaṁ suppahīno hoti suppaṭippassaddho.
“In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who live withdrawn in body and mind from sensual pleasures. And they have internally given up and stilled desire, affection, infatuation, thirst, and passion for sensual pleasures. Regardless of whether or not they suffer painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings because of their efforts, they are capable of knowledge and vision, of supreme awakening.

Opakkamikā cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, bhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya.

No cepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, bhabbāva te ñāṇāya dassanāya anuttarāya sambodhāya.

Ayaṁ kho maṁ, rājakumāra, tatiyā upamā paṭibhāsi anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
This was the third example that occurred to me.

Imā kho maṁ, rājakumāra, tisso upamā paṭibhaṁsu anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā.
These are the three similes, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, that occurred to me.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇheyyaṁ abhinippīḷeyyaṁ abhisantāpeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, squeeze, squash, and scorch mind with mind?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇhāmi abhinippīḷemi abhisantāpemi.
So that’s what I did,

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato kacchehi sedā muccanti.
until sweat ran from my armpits.

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, balavā puriso dubbalataraṁ purisaṁ sīse vā gahetvā khandhe vā gahetvā abhiniggaṇheyya abhinippīḷeyya abhisantāpeyya;
It was like when a strong man grabs a weaker man by the head or throat or shoulder and squeezes, squashes, and crushes them.

evameva kho me, rājakumāra, dantebhidantamādhāya, jivhāya tāluṁ āhacca, cetasā cittaṁ abhiniggaṇhato abhinippīḷayato abhisantāpayato kacchehi sedā muccanti.
In the same way, with teeth clenched and tongue pressed against the roof of my mouth, I squeezed, squashed, and crushed mind with mind until sweat ran from my armpits.

Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, rājakumāra, vīriyaṁ hoti asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, sāraddho ca pana me kāyo hoti appaṭippassaddho, teneva dukkhappadhānena padhānābhitunnassa sato.
My energy was roused up and unflagging, and my mindfulness was established and lucid, but my body was disturbed, not tranquil, because I’d pushed too hard with that painful striving.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I practice the breathless absorption?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ.
So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu kaṇṇasotehi vātānaṁ nikkhamantānaṁ adhimatto saddo hoti.
But then winds came out my ears making a loud noise,

Seyyathāpi nāma kammāragaggariyā dhamamānāya adhimatto saddo hoti;
like the puffing of a blacksmith’s bellows.

evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu kaṇṇasotehi vātānaṁ nikkhamantānaṁ adhimatto saddo hoti.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ.
So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā vātā muddhani ūhananti.
But then strong winds ground my head,

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, balavā puriso tiṇhena sikharena muddhani abhimattheyya;
like a strong man was drilling into my head with a sharp point.

evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā vātā muddhani ūhananti.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ.
So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā sīse sīsavedanā honti.
But then I got a severe headache,

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, balavā puriso daḷhena varattakkhaṇḍena sīse sīsaveṭhaṁ dadeyya;
like a strong man was tightening a tough leather strap around my head.

evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā sīse sīsavedanā honti.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ.
So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā vātā kucchiṁ parikantanti.
But then strong winds carved up my belly,

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, dakkho goghātako vā goghātakantevāsī vā tiṇhena govikantanena kucchiṁ parikanteyya;
like a deft butcher or their apprentice was slicing my belly open with a sharp meat cleaver.

evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimattā, vātā kucchiṁ parikantanti.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ appāṇakaṁyeva jhānaṁ jhāyeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I keep practicing the breathless absorption?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāse uparundhiṁ.
So I cut off my breathing through my mouth and nose and ears.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimatto kāyasmiṁ ḍāho hoti.
But then there was an intense burning in my body,

Seyyathāpi, rājakumāra, dve balavanto purisā dubbalataraṁ purisaṁ nānābāhāsu gahetvā aṅgārakāsuyā santāpeyyuṁ samparitāpeyyuṁ;
like two strong men grabbing a weaker man by the arms to burn and scorch him on a pit of glowing coals.

evameva kho me, rājakumāra, mukhato ca nāsato ca kaṇṇato ca assāsapassāsesu uparuddhesu adhimatto kāyasmiṁ ḍāho hoti.

Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā disvā evamāhaṁsu:
Then some deities saw me and said,

‘kālaṅkato samaṇo gotamo’ti.
‘The ascetic Gotama is dead.’

Ekaccā devatā evamāhaṁsu:
Others said,

‘na kālaṅkato samaṇo gotamo, api ca kālaṁ karotī’ti.
‘He’s not dead, but he’s dying.’

Ekaccā devatā evamāhaṁsu:
Others said,

‘na kālaṅkato samaṇo gotamo, nāpi kālaṁ karoti. Arahaṁ samaṇo gotamo. Vihāro tveva so arahato evarūpo hotī’ti.
‘He’s not dead or dying. The ascetic Gotama is a perfected one, for that is how the perfected ones live.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ sabbaso āhārupacchedāya paṭipajjeyyan’ti.
‘Why don’t I practice completely cutting off food?’

Atha kho maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ:
But deities came to me and said,

‘mā kho tvaṁ, mārisa, sabbaso āhārupacchedāya paṭipajji.
‘Good sir, don’t practice totally cutting off food.

Sace kho tvaṁ, mārisa, sabbaso āhārupacchedāya paṭipajjissasi, tassa te mayaṁ dibbaṁ ojaṁ lomakūpehi ajjhohāressāma, tāya tvaṁ yāpessasī’ti.
If you do, we’ll infuse heavenly nectar into your pores and you will live on that.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘ahañceva kho pana sabbaso ajajjitaṁ paṭijāneyyaṁ. Imā ca me devatā dibbaṁ ojaṁ lomakūpehi ajjhohāreyyuṁ, tāya cāhaṁ yāpeyyaṁ, taṁ mamassa musā’ti.
‘If I claim to be completely fasting while these deities are infusing heavenly nectar in my pores, that would be a lie on my part.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, tā devatā paccācikkhāmi. ‘Halan’ti vadāmi.
So I dismissed those deities, saying, ‘There’s no need.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘yannūnāhaṁ thokaṁ thokaṁ āhāraṁ āhāreyyaṁ pasataṁ pasataṁ, yadi vā muggayūsaṁ yadi vā kulatthayūsaṁ yadi vā kaḷāyayūsaṁ yadi vā hareṇukayūsan’ti.
‘Why don’t I just take a little bit of food each time, a handful of broth made from mung beans, horse gram, chickpeas, or green gram?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, thokaṁ thokaṁ āhāraṁ āhāresiṁ pasataṁ pasataṁ, yadi vā muggayūsaṁ yadi vā kulatthayūsaṁ yadi vā kaḷāyayūsaṁ yadi vā hareṇukayūsaṁ.
So that’s what I did,

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, thokaṁ thokaṁ āhāraṁ āhārayato pasataṁ pasataṁ, yadi vā muggayūsaṁ yadi vā kulatthayūsaṁ yadi vā kaḷāyayūsaṁ yadi vā hareṇukayūsaṁ, adhimattakasimānaṁ patto kāyo hoti.
until my body became extremely emaciated.

Seyyathāpi nāma āsītikapabbāni vā kāḷapabbāni vā; evamevassu me aṅgapaccaṅgāni bhavanti tāyevappāhāratāya.
Due to eating so little, my major and minor limbs became like the joints of an eighty-year-old or a dying man,

Seyyathāpi nāma oṭṭhapadaṁ; evamevassu me ānisadaṁ hoti tāyevappāhāratāya.
my bottom became like a camel’s hoof,

Seyyathāpi nāma vaṭṭanāvaḷī; evamevassu me piṭṭhikaṇṭako uṇṇatāvanato hoti tāyevappāhāratāya.
my vertebrae stuck out like beads on a string,

Seyyathāpi nāma jarasālāya gopānasiyo oluggaviluggā bhavanti; evamevassu me phāsuḷiyo oluggaviluggā bhavanti tāyevappāhāratāya.
and my ribs were as gaunt as the broken-down rafters on an old barn.

Seyyathāpi nāma gambhīre udapāne udakatārakā gambhīragatā okkhāyikā dissanti; evamevassu me akkhikūpesu akkhitārakā gambhīragatā okkhāyikā dissanti tāyevappāhāratāya.
Due to eating so little, the gleam of my eyes sank deep in their sockets, like the gleam of water sunk deep down a well.

Seyyathāpi nāma tittakālābu āmakacchinno vātātapena samphuṭito hoti sammilāto; evamevassu me sīsacchavi samphuṭitā hoti sammilātā tāyevappāhāratāya.
Due to eating so little, my scalp shriveled and withered like a green bitter-gourd in the wind and sun.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, ‘udaracchaviṁ parimasissāmī’ti piṭṭhikaṇṭakaṁyeva pariggaṇhāmi, ‘piṭṭhikaṇṭakaṁ parimasissāmī’ti udaracchaviṁyeva pariggaṇhāmi. Yāvassu me, rājakumāra, udaracchavi piṭṭhikaṇṭakaṁ allīnā hoti tāyevappāhāratāya.
Due to eating so little, the skin of my belly stuck to my backbone, so that when I tried to rub the skin of my belly I grabbed my backbone, and when I tried to rub my backbone I rubbed the skin of my belly.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, ‘vaccaṁ vā muttaṁ vā karissāmī’ti tattheva avakujjo papatāmi tāyevappāhāratāya.
Due to eating so little, when I tried to urinate or defecate I fell face down right there.

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, imameva kāyaṁ assāsento pāṇinā gattāni anumajjāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, pāṇinā gattāni anumajjato pūtimūlāni lomāni kāyasmā papatanti tāyevappāhāratāya.
Due to eating so little, when I tried to relieve my body by rubbing my limbs with my hands, the hair, rotted at its roots, fell out.

Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, manussā disvā evamāhaṁsu: ‘kāḷo samaṇo gotamo’ti,
Then some people saw me and said, ‘The ascetic Gotama is black.’

ekacce manussā evamāhaṁsu: ‘na kāḷo samaṇo gotamo, sāmo samaṇo gotamo’ti.
Some said, ‘He’s not black, he’s brown.’

Ekacce manussā evamāhaṁsu: ‘na kāḷo samaṇo gotamo, napi sāmo, maṅguracchavi samaṇo gotamo’ti.
Some said, ‘He’s neither black nor brown. The ascetic Gotama has tawny skin.’

Yāvassu me, rājakumāra, tāva parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto upahato hoti tāyevappāhāratāya.
That’s how far the pure, bright complexion of my skin had been ruined by taking so little food.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘ye kho keci atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayiṁsu, etāvaparamaṁ nayito bhiyyo.
‘Whatever ascetics and brahmins have experienced painful, sharp, severe, acute feelings due to overexertion—whether in the past, future, or present—this is as far as it goes, no-one has done more than this.

Yepi hi keci anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayissanti, etāvaparamaṁ nayito bhiyyo.

Yepi hi keci etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā opakkamikā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā vedanā vedayanti, etāvaparamaṁ nayito bhiyyo.

Na kho panāhaṁ imāya kaṭukāya dukkarakārikāya adhigacchāmi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ;
But I have not achieved any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones by this severe, gruelling work.

siyā nu kho añño maggo bodhāyā’ti.
Could there be another path to awakening?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘abhijānāmi kho panāhaṁ pitu sakkassa kammante sītāya jambucchāyāya nisinno vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharitā;
‘I recall sitting in the cool shade of a black plum tree while my father the Sakyan was off working. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

siyā nu kho eso maggo bodhāyā’ti.
Could that be the path to awakening?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, satānusāri viññāṇaṁ ahosi:
Stemming from that memory came the realization:

‘eseva maggo bodhāyā’ti.
‘<em>That</em> is the path to awakening!’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘kiṁ nu kho ahaṁ tassa sukhassa bhāyāmi yaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehī’ti?
‘Why am I afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘na kho ahaṁ tassa sukhassa bhāyāmi yaṁ taṁ sukhaṁ aññatreva kāmehi aññatra akusalehi dhammehī’ti.
‘I’m not afraid of that pleasure, for it has nothing to do with sensual pleasures or unskillful qualities.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘na kho taṁ sukaraṁ sukhaṁ adhigantuṁ evaṁ adhimattakasimānaṁ pattakāyena. Yannūnāhaṁ oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāreyyaṁ odanakummāsan’ti.
‘I can’t achieve that pleasure with a body so excessively emaciated. Why don’t I eat some solid food, some rice and porridge?’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāresiṁ odanakummāsaṁ.
So I ate some solid food.

Tena kho pana maṁ, rājakumāra, samayena pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū paccupaṭṭhitā honti:
Now at that time the group of five mendicants were attending on me, thinking,

‘yaṁ kho samaṇo gotamo dhammaṁ adhigamissati taṁ no ārocessatī’ti.
‘The ascetic Gotama will tell us of any truth that he realizes.’

Yato kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāresiṁ odanakummāsaṁ, atha me te pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū nibbijja pakkamiṁsu:
But when I ate some solid food, they left disappointed in me, saying,

‘bāhulliko samaṇo gotamo padhānavibbhanto, āvatto bāhullāyā’ti.
‘The ascetic Gotama has become indulgent; he has strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.’

So kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, oḷārikaṁ āhāraṁ āhāretvā balaṁ gahetvā vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.
After eating solid food and gathering my strength, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption …

Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā … dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …
second absorption …

tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ …
third absorption …

catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.
fourth absorption.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ.
When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward recollection of past lives.

So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi.
I recollected many past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. And so I recollected my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.

Ayaṁ kho me, rājakumāra, rattiyā paṭhame yāme paṭhamā
This was the first knowledge, which I achieved in the first watch of the night.

vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā, vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato, āloko uppanno—yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.
Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṁ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ.
When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings.

So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi …pe…
With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds.

ayaṁ kho me, rājakumāra, rattiyā majjhime yāme dutiyā vijjā adhigatā, avijjā vihatā, vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato, āloko uppanno—yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.
This was the second knowledge, which I achieved in the middle watch of the night. Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṁ khayañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ.
When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements.

So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ;
I truly understood: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

‘ime āsavā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ …pe… ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ.
I truly understood: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’.

Tassa me evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha.
Knowing and seeing like this, my mind was freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.

Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ ahosi.
When it was freed, I knew it was freed.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti abbhaññāsiṁ.
I understood: ‘Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.’

Ayaṁ kho me, rājakumāra, rattiyā pacchime yāme tatiyā
This was the third knowledge, which I achieved in the last watch of the night.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘adhigato kho myāyaṁ dhammo gambhīro duddaso duranubodho santo paṇīto atakkāvacaro nipuṇo paṇḍitavedanīyo.
‘This principle I have discovered is deep, hard to see, hard to understand, peaceful, sublime, beyond the scope of logic, subtle, comprehensible to the astute.

Ālayarāmā kho panāyaṁ pajā ālayaratā ālayasammuditā.
But people like clinging, they love it and enjoy it.

Ālayarāmāya kho pana pajāya ālayaratāya ālayasammuditāya duddasaṁ idaṁ ṭhānaṁ yadidaṁ—idappaccayatāpaṭiccasamuppādo.
It’s hard for them to see this topic; that is, specific conditionality, dependent origination.

Idampi kho ṭhānaṁ duddasaṁ—yadidaṁ sabbasaṅkhārasamatho sabbūpadhipaṭinissaggo taṇhākkhayo virāgo nirodho nibbānaṁ.
It’s also hard for them to see this topic; that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.

Ahañceva kho pana dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ, pare ca me na ājāneyyuṁ, so mamassa kilamatho, sā mamassa vihesā’ti.
And if I were to teach the Dhamma, others might not understand me, which would be wearying and troublesome for me.’

Apissu maṁ, rājakumāra, imā anacchariyā gāthāyo paṭibhaṁsu pubbe assutapubbā:
And then these verses, which were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past, occurred to me:

‘Kicchena me adhigataṁ,
‘I’ve struggled hard to realize this,

halaṁ dāni pakāsituṁ;
enough with trying to explain it!

Rāgadosaparetehi,
Those mired in greed and hate

nāyaṁ dhammo susambudho.
can’t really understand this teaching.

Paṭisotagāmiṁ nipuṇaṁ,
It goes against the stream, subtle,

gambhīraṁ duddasaṁ aṇuṁ;
deep, obscure, and very fine.

Rāgarattā na dakkhanti,
Those besotted by greed cannot see,

tamokhandhena āvuṭā’ti.
for they’re shrouded in a mass of darkness.’

Itiha me, rājakumāra, paṭisañcikkhato appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati no dhammadesanāya.
And as I reflected like this, my mind inclined to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.

Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmuno sahampatissa mama cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya etadahosi:
Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing my train of thought, thought,

‘nassati vata bho loko; vinassati vata bho loko. Yatra hi nāma tathāgatassa arahato sammāsambuddhassa appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati no dhammadesanāyā’ti.
‘Alas! The world will be lost, the world will perish! For the mind of the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha, inclines to remaining passive, not to teaching the Dhamma.’

Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evameva—brahmaloke antarahito mama purato pāturahosi.
Then the divinity Sahampati, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from the realm of divinity and reappeared in front of me.

Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yenāhaṁ tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā maṁ etadavoca:
He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward me, and said,

‘desetu, bhante, bhagavā dhammaṁ, desetu sugato dhammaṁ.
‘Sir, let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma! Let the Holy One teach the Dhamma!

Santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā assavanatāya dhammassa parihāyanti;
There are beings with little dust in their eyes. They’re in decline because they haven’t heard the teaching.

bhavissanti dhammassa aññātāro’ti.
There will be those who understand the teaching!’

Idamavoca, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati;
That’s what the divinity Sahampati said.

idaṁ vatvā athāparaṁ etadavoca:
Then he went on to say:

‘Pāturahosi magadhesu pubbe,
‘Among the Magadhans there appeared in the past

Dhammo asuddho samalehi cintito;
an impure teaching thought up by the stained.

Apāpuretaṁ amatassa dvāraṁ,
Fling open the door to freedom from death!

Suṇantu dhammaṁ vimalenānubuddhaṁ.
Let them hear the teaching <j>the immaculate one discovered.

Sele yathā pabbatamuddhaniṭṭhito,
Standing high on a rocky mountain,

Yathāpi passe janataṁ samantato;
you can see the people all around.

Tathūpamaṁ dhammamayaṁ sumedha,
In just the same way, All-seer, so intelligent,

Pāsādamāruyha samantacakkhu.
having ascended the Temple of Truth,

Sokāvatiṇṇaṁ janatamapetasoko,
rid of sorrow, look upon the people

Avekkhassu jātijarābhibhūtaṁ;
swamped with sorrow, <j>oppressed by rebirth and old age.

Uṭṭhehi vīra vijitasaṅgāma,
Rise, hero! Victor in battle, leader of the caravan,

Satthavāha aṇaṇa vicara loke;
wander the world free of debt.

Desassu bhagavā dhammaṁ,
Let the Blessed One teach the Dhamma!

Aññātāro bhavissantī’ti.
There will be those who understand!’

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, brahmuno ca ajjhesanaṁ viditvā sattesu ca kāruññataṁ paṭicca buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokesiṁ.
Then, understanding the Divinity’s invitation, I surveyed the world with the eye of a Buddha, because of my compassion for sentient beings.

Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe tikkhindriye mudindriye svākāre dvākāre suviññāpaye duviññāpaye appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante, appekacce na paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante.
And I saw sentient beings with little dust in their eyes, and some with much dust in their eyes; with keen faculties and with weak faculties, with good qualities and with bad qualities, easy to teach and hard to teach. And some of them lived seeing the danger in the fault to do with the next world, while others did not.

Seyyathāpi nāma uppaliniyaṁ vā paduminiyaṁ vā puṇḍarīkiniyaṁ vā appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni antonimuggaposīni, appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni samodakaṁ ṭhitāni, appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakā accuggamma ṭhitāni anupalittāni udakena;
It’s like a pool with blue water lilies, or pink or white lotuses. Some of them sprout and grow in the water without rising above it, thriving underwater. Some of them sprout and grow in the water reaching the water’s surface. And some of them sprout and grow in the water but rise up above the water and stand with no water clinging to them.

evameva kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra; buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento addasaṁ satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe tikkhindriye mudindriye svākāre dvākāre suviññāpaye duviññāpaye, appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante, appekacce na paralokavajjabhayadassāvine viharante.

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, brahmānaṁ sahampatiṁ gāthāya paccabhāsiṁ:
Then I replied in verse to the divinity Sahampati:

‘Apārutā tesaṁ amatassa dvārā,
‘Flung open are the doors to freedom from death!

Ye sotavanto pamuñcantu saddhaṁ;
Let those with ears to hear commit to faith.

Vihiṁsasaññī paguṇaṁ na bhāsiṁ,
Thinking it would be troublesome, Divinity, <j>I did not teach

Dhammaṁ paṇītaṁ manujesu brahme’ti.
the sophisticated, sublime Dhamma among humans.’

Atha kho, rājakumāra, brahmā sahampati ‘katāvakāso khomhi bhagavatā dhammadesanāyā’ti maṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyi.
Then the divinity Sahampati, knowing that his request for me to teach the Dhamma had been granted, bowed and respectfully circled me, keeping me on his right, before vanishing right there.

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ?
‘Who should I teach first of all?

Ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti?
Who will quickly understand the teaching?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘ayaṁ kho āḷāro kālāmo paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī dīgharattaṁ apparajakkhajātiko.
‘That Āḷāra Kālāma is astute, competent, clever, and has long had little dust in his eyes.

Yannūnāhaṁ āḷārassa kālāmassa paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ;
Why don’t I teach him first of all?

so imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti.
He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’

Atha kho maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:
But a deity came to me and said,

‘sattāhakālaṅkato, bhante, āḷāro kālāmo’ti.
‘Sir, Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’

Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi:
And knowledge and vision arose in me,

‘sattāhakālaṅkato āḷāro kālāmo’ti.
‘Āḷāra Kālāma passed away seven days ago.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘mahājāniyo kho āḷāro kālāmo.
‘This is a great loss for Āḷāra Kālāma.

Sace hi so imaṁ dhammaṁ suṇeyya, khippameva ājāneyyā’ti.
If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ?
‘Who should I teach first of all?

Ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti?
Who will quickly understand the teaching?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘ayaṁ kho udako rāmaputto paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī dīgharattaṁ apparajakkhajātiko.
‘That Uddaka son of Rāma is astute, competent, clever, and has long had little dust in his eyes.

Yannūnāhaṁ udakassa rāmaputtassa paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ;
Why don’t I teach him first of all?

so imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti.
He’ll quickly understand the teaching.’

Atha kho maṁ, rājakumāra, devatā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:
But a deity came to me and said,

‘abhidosakālaṅkato, bhante, udako rāmaputto’ti.
‘Sir, Uddaka son of Rāma, passed away just last night.’

Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi:
And knowledge and vision arose in me,

‘abhidosakālaṅkato udako rāmaputto’ti.
‘Uddaka son of Rāma, passed away just last night.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘mahājāniyo kho udako rāmaputto.
‘This is a great loss for Uddaka.

Sace hi so imaṁ dhammaṁ suṇeyya, khippameva ājāneyyā’ti.
If he had heard the teaching, he would have understood it quickly.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘kassa nu kho ahaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ?
‘Who should I teach first of all?

Ko imaṁ dhammaṁ khippameva ājānissatī’ti?
Who will quickly understand the teaching?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘bahukārā kho me pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū ye maṁ padhānapahitattaṁ upaṭṭhahiṁsu.
‘The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving.

Yannūnāhaṁ pañcavaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ paṭhamaṁ dhammaṁ deseyyan’ti.
Why don’t I teach them first of all?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, rājakumāra, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me,

‘kahaṁ nu kho etarahi pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū viharantī’ti.
‘Where are the group of five mendicants staying these days?’

Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena pañcavaggiye bhikkhū bārāṇasiyaṁ viharante isipatane migadāye.
With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman I saw that the group of five mendicants were staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, uruvelāyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena bārāṇasī tena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁ.
So, when I had stayed in Uruvelā as long as I pleased, I set out for Varanasi.

Addasā kho maṁ, rājakumāra, upako ājīvako antarā ca gayaṁ antarā ca bodhiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannaṁ.
While I was traveling along the road between Gayā and Bodhgaya, the Ājīvaka ascetic Upaka saw me

Disvāna maṁ etadavoca:
and said,

‘vippasannāni kho te, āvuso, indriyāni, parisuddho chavivaṇṇo pariyodāto.
‘Reverend, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright.

Kaṁsi tvaṁ, āvuso, uddissa pabbajito? Ko vā te satthā? Kassa vā tvaṁ dhammaṁ rocesī’ti?
In whose name have you gone forth, reverend? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?’

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, upakaṁ ājīvakaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsiṁ:
I replied to Upaka in verse:

‘Sabbābhibhū sabbavidūhamasmi,
‘I am the champion, the knower of all,

Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalitto;
unsullied in the midst of all things.

Sabbañjaho taṇhākkhaye vimutto,
I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving.

Sayaṁ abhiññāya kamuddiseyyaṁ.
Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be?

Na me ācariyo atthi,
I have no tutor.

sadiso me na vijjati;
There is no-one like me.

Sadevakasmiṁ lokasmiṁ,
In the world with its gods,

natthi me paṭipuggalo.
I have no rival.

Ahañhi arahā loke,
For in this world, I am the perfected one;

ahaṁ satthā anuttaro;
I am the supreme Teacher.

Ekomhi sammāsambuddho,
I alone am fully awakened,

sītibhūtosmi nibbuto.
cooled, quenched.

Dhammacakkaṁ pavattetuṁ,
I am going to the city of Kāsi

Gacchāmi kāsinaṁ puraṁ;
to roll forth the Wheel of Dhamma.

Andhībhūtasmiṁ lokasmiṁ,
In this world that is so blind,

Āhañchaṁ amatadundubhin’ti.
I’ll beat the drum of freedom from death!’

‘Yathā kho tvaṁ, āvuso, paṭijānāsi arahasi anantajino’ti.
‘According to what you claim, reverend, you ought to be the Infinite Victor.’

‘Mādisā ve jinā honti,
‘The victors are those who, like me,

ye pattā āsavakkhayaṁ;
have reached the ending of defilements.

Jitā me pāpakā dhammā,
I have conquered bad qualities, Upaka—

tasmāhamupaka jino’ti.
that’s why I’m a victor.’

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, upako ājīvako ‘hupeyyapāvuso’ti vatvā sīsaṁ okampetvā ummaggaṁ gahetvā pakkāmi.
When I had spoken, Upaka said: ‘If you say so, reverend.’ Shaking his head, he took a wrong turn and left.

Atha khvāhaṁ, rājakumāra, anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena bārāṇasī isipatanaṁ migadāyo yena pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁ.
Traveling stage by stage, I arrived at Varanasi, and went to see the group of five mendicants in the deer park at Isipatana.

Addasaṁsu kho maṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū dūratova āgacchantaṁ.
The group of five mendicants saw me coming off in the distance

Disvāna aññamaññaṁ saṇṭhapesuṁ:
and stopped each other, saying,

‘ayaṁ kho, āvuso, samaṇo gotamo āgacchati bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya.
‘Here comes the ascetic Gotama. He’s so indulgent; he strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence.

So neva abhivādetabbo, na paccuṭṭhātabbo, nāssa pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahetabbaṁ;
We shouldn’t bow to him or rise for him or receive his bowl and robe.

api ca kho āsanaṁ ṭhapetabbaṁ—sace so ākaṅkhissati nisīdissatī’ti.
But we can set out a seat; he can sit if he likes.’

Yathā yathā kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū upasaṅkamiṁ tathā tathā pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū nāsakkhiṁsu sakāya katikāya saṇṭhātuṁ.
Yet as I drew closer, the group of five mendicants were unable to stop themselves as they had agreed.

Appekacce maṁ paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesuṁ. Appekacce āsanaṁ paññapesuṁ. Appekacce pādodakaṁ upaṭṭhapesuṁ.
Some came out to greet me and receive my bowl and robe, some spread out a seat, while others set out water for washing my feet.

Api ca kho maṁ nāmena ca āvusovādena ca samudācaranti.
But they still addressed me by name and as ‘reverend’.

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:
So I said to them,

‘mā, bhikkhave, tathāgataṁ nāmena ca āvusovādena ca samudācaratha;
‘Mendicants, don’t address me by name and as “reverend”.

arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.
The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.

Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.
Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma.

Yathānusiṭṭhaṁ tathā paṭipajjamānā nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissathā’ti.
By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’

Evaṁ vutte, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ:
But they said to me,

‘tāyapi kho tvaṁ, āvuso gotama, iriyāya tāya paṭipadāya tāya dukkarakārikāya nājjhagamā uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; kiṁ pana tvaṁ etarahi bāhulliko padhānavibbhanto āvatto bāhullāya adhigamissasi uttari manussadhammā alamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?
‘Reverend Gotama, even by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work you did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How could you have achieved such a state now that you’ve become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence?’

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:
So I said to them,

‘na, bhikkhave, tathāgato bāhulliko na padhānavibbhanto na āvatto bāhullāya.
‘The Realized One has not become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence.

Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.
The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.

Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.
Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma.

Dutiyampi kho, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ:
But for a second time they said to me,

Dutiyampi kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:
So for a second time I said to them,

‘na, bhikkhave, tathāgato bāhulliko na padhānavibbhanto na āvatto bāhullāya.
‘The Realized One has not become indulgent …’

Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.

Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.

Tatiyampi kho, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū maṁ etadavocuṁ:
But for a third time they said to me,

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū etadavocaṁ:
So I said to them,

‘abhijānātha me no tumhe, bhikkhave, ito pubbe evarūpaṁ pabhāvitametan’ti?
‘Mendicants, have you ever known me to speak like this before?’

‘No hetaṁ, bhante’.
‘No, sir.’

‘Arahaṁ, bhikkhave, tathāgato sammāsambuddho.
‘The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.

Odahatha, bhikkhave, sotaṁ. Amatamadhigataṁ ahamanusāsāmi, ahaṁ dhammaṁ desemi.
Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma.

Asakkhiṁ kho ahaṁ, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiye bhikkhū saññāpetuṁ.
I was able to persuade the group of five mendicants.

Dvepi sudaṁ, rājakumāra, bhikkhū ovadāmi. Tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caranti.
Then sometimes I advised two mendicants, while the other three went for alms.

Yaṁ tayo bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā āharanti, tena chabbaggiyā yāpema.
Then those three would feed all six of us with what they brought back.

Tayopi sudaṁ, rājakumāra, bhikkhū ovadāmi, dve bhikkhū piṇḍāya caranti.
Sometimes I advised three mendicants, while the other two went for alms.

Yaṁ dve bhikkhū piṇḍāya caritvā āharanti tena chabbaggiyā yāpema.
Then those two would feed all six of us with what they brought back.

Atha kho, rājakumāra, pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū mayā evaṁ ovadiyamānā evaṁ anusāsiyamānā nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihariṁsū”ti.
As the group of five mendicants were being advised and instructed by me like this, they soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

Evaṁ vutte, bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha,

“kīva cirena nu kho, bhante, bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyyā”ti?
“Sir, when a mendicant has the Realized One as trainer, how long would it take for them to realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life?”

“Tena hi, rājakumāra, taṁyevettha paṭipucchissāmi. Yathā te khameyya, tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi.
“Well then, prince, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
What do you think, prince?

kusalo tvaṁ hatthārūḷhe aṅkusagayhe sippe”ti?
Are you skilled in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?”

“Evaṁ, bhante, kusalo ahaṁ hatthārūḷhe aṅkusagayhe sippe”ti.
“Yes, sir.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
“What do you think, prince?

idha puriso āgaccheyya:
Suppose a man were to come along thinking,

‘bodhi rājakumāro hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ jānāti;
‘Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant.

tassāhaṁ santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkhissāmī’ti.
I’ll train in that art under him.’

So cassa assaddho;
If he’s faithless,

yāvatakaṁ saddhena pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya.
he wouldn’t achieve what he could with faith.

So cassa bahvābādho;
If he’s unhealthy,

yāvatakaṁ appābādhena pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya.
he wouldn’t achieve what he could with good health.

So cassa saṭho māyāvī;
If he’s devious or deceitful,

yāvatakaṁ asaṭhena amāyāvinā pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya.
he wouldn’t achieve what he could with honesty and integrity.

So cassa kusīto;
If he’s lazy,

yāvatakaṁ āraddhavīriyena pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya.
he wouldn’t achieve what he could with energy.

So cassa duppañño;
If he’s stupid,

yāvatakaṁ paññavatā pattabbaṁ taṁ na sampāpuṇeyya.
he wouldn’t achieve what he could with wisdom.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
What do you think, prince?

api nu so puriso tava santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyyā”ti?
Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?”

“Ekamekenāpi, bhante, aṅgena samannāgato so puriso na mama santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyya, ko pana vādo pañcahaṅgehī”ti.
“Sir, if he had even a single one of these factors he couldn’t train under me, let alone all five.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
“What do you think, prince?

idha puriso āgaccheyya:
Suppose a man were to come along thinking,

‘bodhi rājakumāro hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ jānāti;
‘Prince Bodhi knows the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant.

tassāhaṁ santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkhissāmī’ti.
I’ll train in that art under him.’

So cassa saddho;
If he’s faithful,

yāvatakaṁ saddhena pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya.
he’d achieve what he could with faith.

So cassa appābādho;
If he’s healthy,

yāvatakaṁ appābādhena pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya.
he’d achieve what he could with good health.

So cassa asaṭho amāyāvī;
If he’s honest and has integrity,

yāvatakaṁ asaṭhena amāyāvinā pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya.
he’d achieve what he could with honesty and integrity.

So cassa āraddhavīriyo;
If he’s energetic,

yāvatakaṁ āraddhavīriyena pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya.
he’d achieve what he could with energy.

So cassa paññavā;
If he’s wise,

yāvatakaṁ paññavatā pattabbaṁ taṁ sampāpuṇeyya.
he’d achieve what he could with wisdom.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, rājakumāra,
What do you think, prince?

api nu so puriso tava santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyyā”ti?
Could that man still train under you in the art of wielding a hooked goad while riding an elephant?”

“Ekamekenāpi, bhante, aṅgena samannāgato so puriso mama santike hatthārūḷhaṁ aṅkusagayhaṁ sippaṁ sikkheyya, ko pana vādo pañcahaṅgehī”ti.
“Sir, if he had even a single one of these factors he could train under me, let alone all five.”

“Evameva kho, rājakumāra, pañcimāni padhāniyaṅgāni.
“In the same way, prince, there are these five factors that support meditation.

Katamāni pañca?
What five?

Idha, rājakumāra, bhikkhu saddho hoti; saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ:
It’s when a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti;
‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

appābādho hoti appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya;
They are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation.

asaṭho hoti amāyāvī yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari vā viññūsu vā sabrahmacārīsu;
They’re not devious or deceitful. They reveal themselves honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions.

āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu;
They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammādukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Imāni kho, rājakumāra, pañca padhāniyaṅgāni.
These are the five factors that support meditation.

Imehi, rājakumāra, pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—
When a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could

yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya satta vassāni.
realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in seven years.

Tiṭṭhantu, rājakumāra, satta vassāni.
Let alone seven years,

Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—
they could

yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya chabbassāni …
realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in six years,

pañca vassāni …

cattāri vassāni …

tīṇi vassāni …

dve vassāni …

ekaṁ vassaṁ.
or as little as one year.

Tiṭṭhatu, rājakumāra, ekaṁ vassaṁ.
Let alone one year,

Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—
when a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could

yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya satta māsāni.
realize the supreme end of the spiritual path in seven months,

Tiṭṭhantu, rājakumāra, satta māsāni.

Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—

yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—

brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya cha māsāni …

pañca māsāni …

cattāri māsāni …

tīṇi māsāni …

dve māsāni …

ekaṁ māsaṁ …

aḍḍhamāsaṁ.

Tiṭṭhatu, rājakumāra, aḍḍhamāso.

Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—

yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—

brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya satta rattindivāni.

Tiṭṭhantu, rājakumāra, satta rattindivāni.

Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno—

yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—

brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihareyya cha rattindivāni …

pañca rattindivāni …

cattāri rattindivāni …

tīṇi rattindivāni …

dve rattindivāni …

ekaṁ rattindivaṁ.
or as little as one day.

Tiṭṭhatu, rājakumāra, eko rattindivo.
Let alone one day,

Imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu tathāgataṁ vināyakaṁ labhamāno sāyamanusiṭṭho pāto visesaṁ adhigamissati, pātamanusiṭṭho sāyaṁ visesaṁ adhigamissatī”ti.
when a mendicant with these five factors that support meditation has the Realized One as trainer, they could be instructed In the evening and achieve distinction in the morning, or be instructed in the morning and achieve distinction in the evening.”

Evaṁ vutte, bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he had spoken, Prince Bodhi said to the Buddha,

“aho buddho, aho dhammo, aho dhammassa svākkhātatā.
“Oh, the Buddha! Oh, the teaching! Oh, how well explained is the teaching!

Yatra hi nāma sāyamanusiṭṭho pāto visesaṁ adhigamissati, pātamanusiṭṭho sāyaṁ visesaṁ adhigamissatī”ti.
For someone could be instructed in the evening and achieve distinction in the morning, or be instructed in the morning and achieve distinction in the evening.”

Evaṁ vutte, sañjikāputto māṇavo bodhiṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavoca:
When he said this, Sañjikāputta said to Prince Bodhi,

“evameva panāyaṁ bhavaṁ bodhi:
“Though Mister Bodhi speaks like this,

‘aho buddho, aho dhammo, aho dhammassa svākkhātatā’ti ca vadeti;

atha ca pana na taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchati dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañcā”ti.
you don’t go for refuge to Mister Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.”

“Mā hevaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, avaca; mā hevaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, avaca.
“Don’t say that, dear Sañjikāputta, don’t say that!

Sammukhā metaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, ayyāya sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ”.
I have heard and learned this in the presence of my lady mother.

“Ekamidaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.
This one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambī, in Ghosita’s Monastery.

Atha kho me ayyā kucchimatī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho me ayyā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then my pregnant lady mother went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

‘yo me ayaṁ, bhante, kucchigato kumārako vā kumārikā vā so bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchati dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca.
‘Sir, the prince or princess in my womb goes for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the mendicant Saṅgha.

Upāsakaṁ taṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan’ti.
From this day forth, may the Buddha remember them as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.’

Ekamidaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, samayaṁ bhagavā idheva bhaggesu viharati susumāragire bhesakaḷāvane migadāye.
Another time the Buddha was staying here in the land of the Bhaggas at Crocodile Hill, in the deer park at Bhesakaḷā’s Wood.

Atha kho maṁ dhāti aṅkena haritvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho maṁ dhāti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then my nursemaid, carrying me on her hip, went to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

‘ayaṁ, bhante, bodhi rājakumāro bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchati dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca.
‘Sir, this Prince Bodhi goes for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.

Upāsakaṁ taṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan’ti.
From this day forth, may the Buddha remember him as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.’

Esāhaṁ, samma sañjikāputta, tatiyakampi bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca.
Now for a third time I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.

Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Bodhirājakumārasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ pañcamaṁ.