Udāna 2.1
Translators: sujato
Heartfelt Sayings 2.1
Mucalindasutta
With Mucalinda
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruvelāyaṁ viharati najjā nerañjarāya tīre mucalindamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
At one time, when he was first awakened, the Buddha was staying in Uruvelā at the root of the Mucalinda tree on the bank of the Nerañjarā River.
Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sattāhaṁ ekapallaṅkena nisinno hoti vimuttisukhapaṭisaṁvedī.
There the Buddha sat cross-legged for seven days without moving, experiencing the bliss of freedom.
Tena kho pana samayena mahā akālamegho udapādi sattāhavaddalikā sītavātaduddinī.
Just then a great storm blew up out of season, bringing seven days of rain, cold winds, and clouds.
Atha kho mucalindo nāgarājā sakabhavanā nikkhamitvā bhagavato kāyaṁ sattakkhattuṁ bhogehi parikkhipitvā uparimuddhani mahantaṁ phaṇaṁ vihacca aṭṭhāsi:
Mucalinda, the dragon king, came out from his abode, encircled the Buddha’s body with seven coils and spread his large hood over his head, thinking,
“mā bhagavantaṁ sītaṁ, mā bhagavantaṁ uṇhaṁ, mā bhagavantaṁ ḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphasso”ti.
“May the Buddha not be hot or cold, nor be bothered by flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, or reptiles.”
Atha kho bhagavā tassa sattāhassa accayena tamhā samādhimhā vuṭṭhāsi.
When seven days had passed, the Buddha emerged from that state of immersion.
Atha kho mucalindo nāgarājā viddhaṁ vigatavalāhakaṁ devaṁ viditvā bhagavato kāyā bhoge viniveṭhetvā sakavaṇṇaṁ paṭisaṁharitvā māṇavakavaṇṇaṁ abhinimminitvā bhagavato purato aṭṭhāsi pañjaliko bhagavantaṁ namassamāno.
When he knew the heavens were clear and cloudless, Mucalinda unwrapped his coils from the Buddha’s body. Hiding his own form, he manifested in the form of a brahmin youth. He stood in front of the Buddha, venerating him with joined palms.
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“Sukho viveko tuṭṭhassa,
“Seclusion is happiness for the contented
sutadhammassa passato;
who see the teaching they have learned.
Abyāpajjaṁ sukhaṁ loke,
Kindness for the world is happiness
pāṇabhūtesu saṁyamo.
for one who’d not harm a living creature.
Sukhā virāgatā loke,
Dispassion for the world is happiness
kāmānaṁ samatikkamo;
for one who has gone beyond sensual pleasures.
Asmimānassa yo vinayo,
But dispelling the conceit ‘I am’
etaṁ ve paramaṁ sukhan”ti.
is truly the ultimate happiness.”
Paṭhamaṁ.