sutta » kn » snp » vagga5 » Sutta Nipāta 5.18

Pārāyanatthutigāthā

Homage to the Way to the Far Shore

Idamavoca bhagavā magadhesu viharanto pāsāṇake cetiye,
This was said by the Buddha while staying in the land of the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇake shrine.

paricārakasoḷasānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ajjhiṭṭho puṭṭho puṭṭho pañhaṁ byākāsi.
When requested by the sixteen brahmin devotees, he answered their questions one by one.

Ekamekassa cepi pañhassa atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjeyya, gaccheyyeva jarāmaraṇassa pāraṁ.
If you understand the meaning and the teaching of each of these questions, and practice accordingly, you may go right to the far shore of old age and death.

Pāraṅgamanīyā ime dhammāti, tasmā imassa dhammapariyāyassa pārāyananteva adhivacanaṁ.
These teachings are said to lead to the far shore, which is why the name of this exposition of the teaching is “The Way to the Far Shore”.

Ajito tissametteyyo,
Ajita, Tissametteyya,

puṇṇako atha mettagū;
Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,

Dhotako upasīvo ca,
Dhotaka and Upasiva,

nando ca atha hemako.
Nanda and then Hemaka,

Todeyya-kappā dubhayo,
both Todeyya and Kappa,

jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito;
and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,

Bhadrāvudho udayo ca,
Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,

posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo;
and the brahmin Posāla,

Mogharājā ca medhāvī,
Mogharājā the intelligent,

piṅgiyo ca mahāisi.
and Piṅgiya the great seer:

Ete buddhaṁ upāgacchuṁ,
they approached the Buddha,

sampannacaraṇaṁ isiṁ;
the seer of consummate conduct.

Pucchantā nipuṇe pañhe,
Asking their subtle questions,

buddhaseṭṭhaṁ upāgamuṁ.
they came to the most excellent Buddha.

Tesaṁ buddho pabyākāsi,
The Buddha answered their questions

pañhe puṭṭho yathātathaṁ;
in accordance with truth.

Pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena,
The sage satisfied the brahmins

tosesi brāhmaṇe muni.
with his answers to their questions.

Te tositā cakkhumatā,
Those who were satisfied by the Clear-eyed One,

buddhenādiccabandhunā;
the Buddha, kinsman of the Sun,

Brahmacariyamacariṁsu,
led the spiritual life in his presence,

varapaññassa santike.
the one of such splendid wisdom.

Ekamekassa pañhassa,
If you practice in accordance

yathā buddhena desitaṁ;
with each of these questions

Tathā yo paṭipajjeyya,
as taught by the Buddha,

gacche pāraṁ apārato.
you’ll go from the near shore to the far.

Apārā pāraṁ gaccheyya,
Developing the supreme path,

bhāvento maggamuttamaṁ;
you’ll go from the near shore to the far.

Maggo so pāraṁ gamanāya,
This path is for going to the far shore;

tasmā pārāyanaṁ iti.
that’s why it’s called “The Way to the Far Shore”.