sutta » kn » ud » vagga4 » Udāna 4.1

Meghiyasutta

With Meghiya

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā cālikāyaṁ viharati cālike pabbate.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Cālikā, on the Cālikā mountain.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā meghiyo bhagavato upaṭṭhāko hoti.
Now, at that time Venerable Meghiya was the Buddha’s attendant.

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him,

“icchāmahaṁ, bhante, jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisitun”ti.
“Sir, I’d like to enter Jantu village for alms.”

“Yassadāni tvaṁ, meghiya, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.
“Please, Meghiya, go at your convenience.”

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then Meghiya robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Jantu village for alms.

Jantugāme piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkami.
After the meal, on his return from almsround in Jantu village, he went to the shore of Kimikālā river.

Addasā kho āyasmā meghiyo kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīre jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno ambavanaṁ pāsādikaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.
As he was going for a walk along the shore of the river he saw a lovely and delightful mango grove.

Disvānassa etadahosi:
When he saw this he thought,

“pāsādikaṁ vatidaṁ ambavanaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ. Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāya.
“Oh, this mango grove is lovely and delightful! This is good enough for striving for a gentleman wanting to strive.

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, āgaccheyyāhaṁ imaṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.
If the Buddha allows me, I’ll come back to this mango grove to meditate.”

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
Then Venerable Meghiya went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened, adding,

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya jantugāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

Jantugāme piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīraṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ.

Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, kimikāḷāya nadiyā tīre jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno ambavanaṁ pāsādikaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.

Disvāna me etadahosi:

‘pāsādikaṁ vatidaṁ ambavanaṁ manuññaṁ ramaṇīyaṁ.

Alaṁ vatidaṁ kulaputtassa padhānatthikassa padhānāya.

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujāneyya, āgaccheyyāhaṁ imaṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā’ti.

Sace maṁ, bhante, bhagavā anujānāti, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.
“If the Buddha allows me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā āyasmantaṁ meghiyaṁ etadavoca:
When he had spoken, the Buddha said to him,

“āgamehi tāva, meghiya, ekakamhi tāva, yāva aññopi koci bhikkhu āgacchatī”ti.
“We’re alone, Meghiya. Wait until another mendicant comes.”

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
For a second time Meghiya said to the Buddha,

“bhagavato, bhante, natthi kiñci uttari karaṇīyaṁ, natthi katassa vā paticayo.
“Sir, the Buddha has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement.

Mayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, atthi uttari karaṇīyaṁ, atthi katassa paticayo.
But I have.

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujānāti, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.
If you allow me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ meghiyaṁ etadavoca:
For a second time the Buddha said,

“āgamehi tāva, meghiya, ekakamhi tāva, yāva aññopi koci bhikkhu āgacchatī”ti.
“We’re alone, Meghiya. Wait until another mendicant comes.”

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
For a third time Meghiya said to the Buddha,

“bhagavato, bhante, natthi kiñci uttari karaṇīyaṁ, natthi katassa vā paticayo.
“Sir, the Buddha has nothing more to do, and nothing that needs improvement.

Mayhaṁ kho pana, bhante, atthi uttari karaṇīyaṁ, atthi katassa paticayo.
But I have.

Sace maṁ bhagavā anujānāti, gaccheyyāhaṁ taṁ ambavanaṁ padhānāyā”ti.
If you allow me, I’ll go back to that mango grove to meditate.”

“Padhānanti kho, meghiya, vadamānaṁ kinti vadeyyāma?
“Meghiya, since you speak of meditation, what can I say?

Yassadāni tvaṁ, meghiya, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.
Please, Meghiya, go at your convenience.”

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena taṁ ambavanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ ambavanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.
Then Meghiya got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went to that mango grove, and, having plunged deep into it, sat at the root of a certain tree for the day’s meditation.

Atha kho āyasmato meghiyassa tasmiṁ ambavane viharantassa yebhuyyena tayo pāpakā akusalā vitakkā samudācaranti, seyyathidaṁ—
But while Meghiya was meditating in that mango grove he was beset mostly by three kinds of bad, unskillful thoughts, namely,

kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko.
sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.

Atha kho āyasmato meghiyassa etadahosi:
Then he thought,

“acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.
“Oh, how incredible, how amazing!

Saddhāya ca vatamhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā.
I’ve gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness out of faith,

Atha ca panimehi tīhi pāpakehi akusalehi vitakkehi anvāsattā, seyyathidaṁ—
but I’m still harassed by these three kinds of bad, unskillful thoughts:

kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkena”.
sensual, malicious, and cruel thoughts.”

Atha kho āyasmā meghiyo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā meghiyo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Meghiya came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and told the Buddha what had happened.

“idha mayhaṁ, bhante, tasmiṁ ambavane viharantassa yebhuyyena tayo pāpakā akusalā vitakkā samudācaranti, seyyathidaṁ—

kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṁsāvitakko.

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:

‘acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho.

Saddhāya ca vatamhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā.

Atha ca panimehi tīhi pāpakehi akusalehi vitakkehi anvāsattā, seyyathidaṁ—

kāmavitakkena, byāpādavitakkena, vihiṁsāvitakkena’”.

“Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā pañca dhammā paripākāya saṁvattanti.
“Meghiya, when the heart’s release is not ripe, five things help it ripen.

Katame pañca?
What five?

Idha, meghiya, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.
Firstly, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates.

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ paṭhamo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.
This is the first thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.
Furthermore, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ dutiyo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.
This is the second thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā, santuṭṭhikathā, pavivekakathā, asaṁsaggakathā, vīriyārambhakathā, sīlakathā, samādhikathā, paññākathā, vimuttikathā, vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā; evarūpāya kathāya nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
Furthermore, a mendicant gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart and leads solely to disillusionment, dispassion, cessation, peace, insight, awakening, and extinguishment when they want, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom.’

Aparipākāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ tatiyo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.
This is the third thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati, akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.
Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ catuttho dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.
This is the fourth thing …

Puna caparaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
Furthermore, a mendicant is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ayaṁ pañcamo dhammo paripākāya saṁvattati.
This is the fifth thing that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, helps it ripen.

Aparipakkāya, meghiya, cetovimuttiyā ime pañca dhammā paripākāya saṁvattanti.
These are the five things that, when the heart’s release is not ripe, help it ripen.

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ sīlavā bhavissati, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharissati, ācāragocarasampanno, aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhissati sikkhāpadesu.
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be ethical …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā ekantanibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṁvattati, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā, santuṭṭhikathā, pavivekakathā, asaṁsaggakathā, vīriyārambhakathā, sīlakathā, samādhikathā, paññākathā, vimuttikathā, vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā; evarūpāya kathāya nikāmalābhī bhavissati akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ āraddhavīriyo viharissati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be energetic …

Kalyāṇamittassetaṁ, meghiya, bhikkhuno pāṭikaṅkhaṁ kalyāṇasahāyassa kalyāṇasampavaṅkassa yaṁ paññavā bhavissati, udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
A mendicant with good friends, companions, and associates can expect to be wise …

Tena ca pana, meghiya, bhikkhunā imesu pañcasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya cattāro dhammā uttari bhāvetabbā—
But then, a mendicant grounded on these five things should develop four further things.

asubhā bhāvetabbā rāgassa pahānāya, mettā bhāvetabbā byāpādassa pahānāya, ānāpānassati bhāvetabbā vitakkupacchedāya, aniccasaññā bhāvetabbā asmimānasamugghātāya.
They should develop the perception of ugliness to give up greed, love to give up hate, mindfulness of breathing to cut off thinking, and perception of impermanence to uproot the conceit ‘I am’.

Aniccasaññino hi, meghiya, anattasaññā saṇṭhāti,
When you perceive impermanence, the perception of not-self becomes stabilized.

anattasaññī asmimānasamugghātaṁ pāpuṇāti diṭṭheva dhamme nibbānan”ti.
Perceiving not-self, you uproot the conceit ‘I am’ and attain extinguishment in this very life.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Khuddā vitakkā sukhumā vitakkā,
“Lesser thoughts and subtle thoughts

Anugatā manaso uppilāvā;
arise, springing up in the mind.

Ete avidvā manaso vitakke,
Not understanding these thoughts,

Hurā huraṁ dhāvati bhantacitto.
one with mind astray runs all over the place.

Ete ca vidvā manaso vitakke,
Having understood these thoughts

Ātāpiyo saṁvaratī satīmā;
that arise, springing up in the mind,

Anugate manaso uppilāve,
an awakened one—keen, restrained, and mindful—

Asesamete pajahāsi buddho”ti.
has given them up without remainder.”

Paṭhamaṁ.