sutta » sn » sn4 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 4.23

Godhikasutta

With Godhika Godhika

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.
third …
A third time…

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

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

Catutthampi kho āyasmā godhiko tamhā …pe… parihāyi.

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

Pañcamampi kho āyasmā …pe… vimuttiyā parihāyi.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Atha kho māro pāpimā āyasmato godhikassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
And then Māra the Wicked, knowing Godhika’s train of thought, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
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:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.
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.

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

“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?
“Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”
“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?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Yo dhīro dhitisampanno,
“He was an attentive and steadfast sage,
“That steadfast man was resolute,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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