Udāna 6.1

Translators: sujato

Heartfelt Sayings 6.1

Āyusaṅkhārossajjanasutta

Surrendering the Life Force

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Vesāliyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda:

“gaṇhāhi, ānanda, nisīdanaṁ.
“Ānanda, get your sitting cloth.

Yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā”ti.
Let’s go to the Cāpāla shrine for the day’s meditation.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā nisīdanaṁ ādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his sitting cloth he followed behind the Buddha.

Atha kho bhagavā yena cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Then the Buddha went up to the Cāpāla shrine, where he sat on the seat spread out.

Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
When he was seated he said to Venerable Ānanda:

“Ramaṇīyā, ānanda, vesālī; ramaṇīyaṁ udenaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ gotamakaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sattambaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ bahuputtaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ sārandadaṁ cetiyaṁ; ramaṇīyaṁ cāpālaṁ cetiyaṁ.
“Ānanda, Vesālī is lovely. And the Udena, Gotamaka, Seven Maidens, Many Sons, Sārandada, and Cāpāla Tree-shrines are all lovely.

Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, so ākaṅkhamāno (…) kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.
Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

Tathāgatassa kho, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā. Ākaṅkhamāno, ānanda, tathāgato kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā”ti.
The Realized One has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power, made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them. If he wished, the Realized One could live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.”

Evampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavatā oḷārike nimitte kayiramāne, oḷārike obhāse kayiramāne, nāsakkhi paṭivijjhituṁ;
But Ānanda didn’t get it, even though the Buddha dropped such an obvious hint, such a clear sign.

na bhagavantaṁ yāci:
He didn’t beg the Buddha,

“tiṭṭhatu, bhante, bhagavā kappaṁ; tiṭṭhatu sugato kappaṁ bahujanahitāya bahujanasukhāya lokānukampāya atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānan”ti, yathā taṁ mārena pariyuṭṭhitacitto.
“Sir, may the Blessed One please remain for the eon! May the Holy One please remain for the eon! That would be for the welfare and happiness of the people, out of compassion for the world, for the benefit, welfare, and happiness of gods and humans.” For his mind was as if possessed by Māra.

Dutiyampi kho …pe…
For a second time …

tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
and for a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda:

Yassa kassaci, ānanda, cattāro iddhipādā bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā, so ākaṅkhamāno kappaṁ vā tiṭṭheyya kappāvasesaṁ vā.
Whoever has developed and cultivated the four bases of psychic power—made them a vehicle and a basis, kept them up, consolidated them, and properly implemented them—may, if they wish, live for the proper lifespan or what’s left of it.

na bhagavantaṁ yāci:
He didn’t beg the Buddha,

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda,

“gaccha tvaṁ, ānanda, yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī”ti.
“Go now, Ānanda, at your convenience.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā avidūre aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi.
“Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. He rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before sitting at the root of a tree close by.

Atha kho māro pāpimā, acirapakkante āyasmante ānande, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho māro pāpimā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
And then, not long after Ānanda had left, Māra the Wicked went up to the Buddha, stood to one side, and said to him:

“Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
“May the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One now become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
Sir, you once made this statement:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhū na sāvakā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino, sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have monk disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned, have memorized the teachings, and practice in line with the teachings. Not until they practice properly, living in line with the teaching. Not until they’ve learned their own tradition, and explain, teach, assert, establish, disclose, analyze, and make it clear. Not until they can legitimately and completely refute the doctrines of others that come up, and teach with a demonstrable basis.’

Etarahi kho pana, bhante, bhikkhū bhagavato sāvakā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
Today you do have such monk disciples.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.
May the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One now become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
Sir, you once made this statement:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me bhikkhuniyo na sāvikā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have nun disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’ …

Etarahi kho pana, bhante, bhikkhuniyo bhagavato sāvikā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
Today you do have such nun disciples.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me upāsakā na sāvakā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have layman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’

Etarahi kho pana, bhante, upāsakā bhagavato sāvakā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacārino sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
Today you do have such layman disciples.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me upāsikā na sāvikā bhavissanti viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhissanti desessanti paññapessanti paṭṭhapessanti vivarissanti vibhajissanti uttānīkarissanti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desessantī’ti.
‘Wicked One, I shall not become fully extinguished until I have laywoman disciples who are competent, educated, assured, learned …’

Etarahi kho pana, bhante, upāsikā bhagavato sāvikā viyattā vinītā visāradā bahussutā dhammadharā dhammānudhammappaṭipannā sāmīcippaṭipannā anudhammacāriniyo sakaṁ ācariyakaṁ uggahetvā ācikkhanti desenti paññapenti paṭṭhapenti vivaranti vibhajanti uttānīkaronti uppannaṁ parappavādaṁ sahadhammena suniggahitaṁ niggahetvā sappāṭihāriyaṁ dhammaṁ desenti.
Today you do have such laywoman disciples.

Bhāsitā kho panesā, bhante, bhagavatā vācā:
Sir, you once made this statement:

‘na tāvāhaṁ, pāpima, parinibbāyissāmi yāva me idaṁ brahmacariyaṁ na iddhañceva bhavissati phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitan’ti.
‘I shall not become fully extinguished until my spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.’

Etarahi kho pana, bhante, bhagavato brahmacariyaṁ iddhañceva phītañca vitthārikaṁ bāhujaññaṁ puthubhūtaṁ yāva devamanussehi suppakāsitaṁ.
Today your spiritual path is successful and prosperous, extensive, popular, widespread, and well proclaimed wherever there are gods and humans.

Parinibbātu dāni, bhante, bhagavā; parinibbātu sugato; parinibbānakālo dāni, bhante, bhagavato”ti.
May the Blessed One now become fully extinguished! May the Holy One now become fully extinguished! Now is the time for the Buddha to become fully extinguished.

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā māraṁ pāpimantaṁ etadavoca:
When this was said, the Buddha said to Māra,

“appossukko tvaṁ, pāpima, hohi. Na ciraṁ tathāgatassa parinibbānaṁ bhavissati.
“Relax, Wicked One. The final extinguishment of the Realized One will be soon.

Ito tiṇṇaṁ māsānaṁ accayena tathāgato parinibbāyissatī”ti.
Three months from now the Realized One will finally be extinguished.”

Atha kho bhagavā cāpāle cetiye sato sampajāno āyusaṅkhāraṁ ossaji.
So at the Cāpāla Tree-shrine the Buddha, mindful and aware, surrendered the life force.

Ossaṭṭhe ca bhagavatā āyusaṅkhāre mahābhūmicālo ahosi bhiṁsanako lomahaṁso, devadundubhiyo ca phaliṁsu.
When he did so there was a great earthquake, awe-inspiring and hair-raising, and thunder cracked the sky.

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

“Tulamatulañca sambhavaṁ,
“Comparing the incomparable <j>with the creation of prolonged life,

Bhavasaṅkhāramavassaji muni;
the sage surrendered the life force.

Ajjhattarato samāhito,
Happy inside, serene,

Abhindi kavacamivattasambhavan”ti.
he shattered self-creation like a suit of armor.”

Paṭhamaṁ.