sutta » sn » sn4 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.23

Godhikasutta

Godhika With Godhika

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
Thus have I heard.
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā godhiko isigilipasse viharati kāḷasilāyaṁ.
Now on that occasion the Venerable Godhika was dwelling on the Black Rock on the Isigili Slope.
Now at that time Venerable Godhika was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock.

Atha kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.
Then, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind,
Then Venerable Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Atha kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.
but he fell away from that temporary liberation of mind.
But then he fell away from that temporary freedom of heart.

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.
A second time, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind,
For a second …

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.
but he fell away from that temporary liberation of mind.

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.
A third time…
third …

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto …pe… vimuttiṁ phusi.
A fourth time …
fourth …

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā godhiko …pe… cetovimuttiṁ phusi.
A fifth time…
fifth …

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā …pe… vimuttiyā parihāyi.

Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.
A sixth time, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind,
sixth time Godhika experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Chaṭṭhampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihāyi.
but he fell away from that temporary liberation of mind.
But for a sixth time he fell away from it.

Sattamampi kho āyasmā godhiko appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto sāmayikaṁ cetovimuttiṁ phusi.
A seventh time, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind.
For a seventh time Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.

Atha kho āyasmato godhikassa etadahosi:
Then it occurred to the Venerable Godhika:
Then he thought,

“yāva chaṭṭhaṁ khvāhaṁ sāmayikāya cetovimuttiyā parihīno.
“Six times already I have fallen away from temporary liberation of mind.
“I’ve fallen away from this temporary freedom of heart no less than six times.

Yannūnāhaṁ satthaṁ āhareyyan”ti.
Let me use the knife. ”
Why don’t I slit my wrists?”

Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato godhikassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
Then Māra the Evil One, having known with his own mind the reflection in the Venerable Godhika’s mind, approached the Blessed One and addressed him with these verses:
And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Godhika’s train of thought, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“Mahāvīra mahāpañña,
“O great hero, great in wisdom,
“O great hero, O greatly wise!

iddhiyā yasasā jala;
Blazing forth with power and glory!
Shining with power and glory.

Sabbaverabhayātīta,
Who has overcome all enmity and fear.
You’ve gone beyond all threats and perils,

pāde vandāmi cakkhuma.
I worship your feet, One with Vision,
I bow to your feet, O Clear-eyed One!

Sāvako te mahāvīra,
Your disciple is longing for death.
Great hero, master of death,

maraṇaṁ maraṇābhibhū;
“O great hero who has vanquished death,
your disciple longs for death,

Ākaṅkhati cetayati,
He intends [to take his own life]:
he’s planning for it.

taṁ nisedha jutindhara.
Restrain him from this, O luminous one!
Stop him, O light-bringer!

Kathañhi bhagavā tuyhaṁ,
“How, O Blessed One, can your disciple—
For how, Blessed One, can a disciple of yours,

Sāvako sāsane rato;
One delighting in the Teaching,
one who loves your teaching,

Appattamānaso sekkho,
A trainee seeking his mind’s ideal—
a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire,

Kālaṁ kayirā janesutā”ti.
Take his own life, O widely famed?”
take his own life, O renowned one?”

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmatā godhikena satthaṁ āharitaṁ hoti.
Now on that occasion the Venerable Godhika had just used the knife.
Now at that time Venerable Godhika had already slit his wrists.

Atha kho bhagavā “māro ayaṁ pāpimā” iti viditvā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Māra the Evil One, ” addressed him in verse:
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:

“Evañhi dhīrā kubbanti,
“Such indeed is how the steadfast act:
“This is how the wise act,

nāvakaṅkhanti jīvitaṁ;
They are not attached to life.
for they don’t long for life.

Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
Having drawn out craving with its root,
Having plucked out craving, root and all,

godhiko parinibbuto”ti.
Godhika has attained final Nibbāna. ”
Godhika is extinguished.”

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus:
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,

“āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma yattha godhikena kulaputtena satthaṁ āharitan”ti.
“Come, bhikkhus, let us go to the Black Rock on the Isigili Slope, where the clansman Godhika has used the knife. ”
“Come, mendicants, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili where Godhika, who came from a good family, slit his wrists.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.
“Yes, venerable sir, ” those bhikkhus replied.
“Yes, sir,” they replied.

Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami.
Then the Blessed One, together with a number of bhikkhus, went to the Black Rock on the Isigili Slope.
Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.

Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ godhikaṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.
The Blessed One saw in the distance the Venerable Godhika lying on the bed with his shoulder turned.
The Buddha saw Godhika off in the distance lying on his cot, having cast off the aggregates.

Tena kho pana samayena dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ, gacchati adho, gacchati anudisaṁ.
Now on that occasion a cloud of smoke, a swirl of darkness, was moving to the east, then to the west, to the north, to the south, upwards, downwards, and to the intermediate quarters.
Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
The Blessed One then addressed the bhikkhus thus:
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,

“passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ, gacchati adho, gacchati anudisan”ti?
“Do you see, bhikkhus, that cloud of smoke, that swirl of darkness, moving to the east, then to the west, to the north, to the south, upwards, downwards, and to the intermediate quarters?”
“Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”

“Evaṁ, bhante”.
“Yes, venerable sir.”
“Yes, sir.”

“Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati:
“That, bhikkhus, is Māra the Evil One searching for the consciousness of the clansman Godhika, wondering:
“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Godhika’s consciousness, wondering:

‘kattha godhikassa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti?
‘Where now has the consciousness of the clansman Godhika been established?’
‘Where is Godhika’s consciousness established?’

Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena godhiko kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.
However, bhikkhus, with consciousness unestablished, the clansman Godhika has attained final Nibbāna. ”
But since his consciousness is not established, Godhika is extinguished.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā beluvapaṇḍuvīṇaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Māra the Evil One, taking a lute of yellow vilva-wood, approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:
Then Māra, carrying his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood apple, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“Uddhaṁ adho ca tiriyaṁ,
“Above, below, and across,
“Above, below, all round,

disā anudisā svahaṁ;
In the four quarters and in between,
in the four quarters and in-between,

Anvesaṁ nādhigacchāmi,
I have been searching but do not find
I’ve been searching without success:

godhiko so kuhiṁ gato”ti.
Where Godhika has gone. ”
where has that Godhika got to?”

“Yo dhīro dhitisampanno,
“That steadfast man was resolute,
“He was a wise and steadfast sage,

jhāyī jhānarato sadā;
A meditator always rejoicing in meditation,
a meditator who loved absorption.

Ahorattaṁ anuyuñjaṁ,
Applying himself day and night
By day and by night he applied himself,

jīvitaṁ anikāmayaṁ.
Without attachment even to life.
without concern for his life.

Jetvāna maccuno senaṁ,
“Having conquered the army of Death,
He defeated the army of death,

anāgantvā punabbhavaṁ;
Not returning to renewed existence,
and won’t return for any future life.

Samūlaṁ taṇhamabbuyha,
Having drawn out craving with its root,
Having plucked out craving, root and all

godhiko parinibbuto”ti.
Godhika has attained final Nibbāna. ”
Godhika is extinguished.”

Tassa sokaparetassa,
So much was he stricken with sorrow
So stricken with sorrow

vīṇā kacchā abhassatha;
That his lute dropped from his armpit.
that his harp dropped from his armpit,

Tato so dummano yakkho,
Thereupon that disappointed spirit
that spirit, downcast,

tatthevantaradhāyathāti.
Disappeared right on the spot.
vanished right there.