sutta » sn » sn7 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 7.17

Navakammikasutta

The Builder Navakammika

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.
At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Kosalans in a certain woodland thicket.

Tena kho pana samayena navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe kammantaṁ kārāpeti.
Now at that time the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Builder was doing some building work in that jungle thicket.
Now on that occasion the brahmin Navakammika Bhāradvāja was getting some work done in that woodland thicket.

Addasā kho navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ sālarukkhamūle nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.
He saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged at the root of a certain sal tree, his body set straight, and mindfulness established in his presence.
The brahmin Navakammika Bhāradvāja saw the Blessed One sitting at the foot of a certain sal tree with his legs folded crosswise, holding his body erect, having set up mindfulness in front of him.

Disvānassa etadahosi:
Seeing this, it occurred to him,
Having seen him, he thought:

“ahaṁ kho imasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe kammantaṁ kārāpento ramāmi.
“I enjoy doing this building work here in the jungle.
“I take delight in getting work done in this woodland thicket.

Ayaṁ samaṇo gotamo kiṁ kārāpento ramatī”ti?
I wonder what the ascetic Gotama enjoys doing?”
What does this ascetic Gotama take delight in getting done?”

Atha kho navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:
Then Bhāradvāja the Builder went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
Then the brahmin Navakammika Bhāradvāja approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:

“Ke nu kammantā karīyanti,
“What kind of work do you do
“With what kind of work are you engaged

bhikkhu sālavane tava;
as a mendicant in the sal jungle?
Here in this sal woods, bhikkhu,

Yadekako araññasmiṁ,
How do you find enjoyment
By reason of which you find delight

ratiṁ vindati gotamo”ti.
alone in the wilderness, Gotama?”
Alone in the forest, Gotama?”

“Na me vanasmiṁ karaṇīyamatthi,
“There’s nothing I need to do in the jungle;
“There is nothing in the woods I need to do;

Ucchinnamūlaṁ me vanaṁ visūkaṁ;
my jungle’s cut down at the root, it’s withered away.
Cut down at the root, my woods is dried up.

Svāhaṁ vane nibbanatho visallo,
With jungle cleared and free of thorns,
Woodless and dartless, discontent cast off,

Eko rame aratiṁ vippahāyā”ti.
I enjoy being alone in the jungle, <j>having given up discontent.”
I find delight alone in the woods.

Evaṁ vutte, navakammikabhāradvājo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he had spoken, the brahmin Bhāradvāja the Builder said to the Buddha,
When this was said,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…
“Excellent, Mister Gotama …
Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent, Master Gotama!…

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
From this day forth, may Mister Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Let Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who from today has gone for refuge for life.