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Ajitamāṇavapucchā

The Questions of Ajita

“Kenassu nivuto loko,
“By what is the world shrouded?”

(iccāyasmā ajito)
said Venerable Ajita.

Kenassu nappakāsati;
“Why does it not shine?

Kissābhilepanaṁ brūsi,
Tell me, what is its tar pit?

Kiṁsu tassa mahabbhayaṁ”.
What is its greatest fear?”

“Avijjāya nivuto loko,
“The world is shrouded in ignorance.”

(ajitāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha.

Vevicchā pamādā nappakāsati;
“Avarice and negligence make it not shine.

Jappābhilepanaṁ brūmi,
Prayer is its tar pit.

Dukkhamassa mahabbhayaṁ”.
Suffering is its greatest fear.”

“Savanti sabbadhi sotā,
“The streams flow everywhere,”

(iccāyasmā ajito)
said Venerable Ajita.

Sotānaṁ kiṁ nivāraṇaṁ;
“What is there to block them?

Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūhi,
And tell me the restraint of streams—

Kena sotā pidhiyyare”.
by what are they locked out?”

“Yāni sotāni lokasmiṁ,
“The streams in the world,”

(ajitāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,

Sati tesaṁ nivāraṇaṁ;
“are blocked by mindfulness.

Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūmi,
I tell you the restraint of streams—

Paññāyete pidhiyyare”.
they are locked out by wisdom.”

“Paññā ceva sati yañca,
“That wisdom and mindfulness,”

(iccāyasmā ajito)
said Venerable Ajita,

Nāmarūpañca mārisa;
“and that which is name and form, good sir;

Etaṁ me puṭṭho pabrūhi,
when questioned, please tell me of this:

Katthetaṁ uparujjhati”.
where does this all cease?”

“Yametaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi,
“This question which you have asked,

ajita taṁ vadāmi te;
I shall answer you, Ajita.

Yattha nāmañca rūpañca,
Where name and form

asesaṁ uparujjhati;
cease with nothing left over—

Viññāṇassa nirodhena,
with the cessation of consciousness,

etthetaṁ uparujjhati”.
that’s where they cease.”

“Ye ca saṅkhātadhammāse,
“There are those who have appraised the teaching,

ye ca sekhā puthū idha;
and many kinds of trainees here.

Tesaṁ me nipako iriyaṁ,
Tell me about their behavior, good sir,

puṭṭho pabrūhi mārisa”.
when asked, for you are alert.”

“Kāmesu nābhigijjheyya,
“Not greedy for sensual pleasures,

Manasānāvilo siyā;
their mind would be unclouded.

Kusalo sabbadhammānaṁ,
Skilled in all things,

Sato bhikkhu paribbaje”ti.
a mendicant would wander mindful.”

Ajitamāṇavapucchā paṭhamā.