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Gaṇikāsutta

The Courtesan

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Tena kho pana samayena rājagahe dve pūgā aññatarissā gaṇikāya sārattā honti paṭibaddhacittā;
Now at that time two gangs were both hopelessly in love with a certain courtesan.

bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ pāṇīhipi upakkamanti, leḍḍūhipi upakkamanti, daṇḍehipi upakkamanti, satthehipi upakkamanti.
Quarreling, arguing, and disputing, they attacked each other with fists, stones, rods, and swords,

Te tattha maraṇampi nigacchanti maraṇamattampi dukkhaṁ.
resulting in death and deadly pain.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁsu.
Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Rājagaha for alms.

Rājagahe piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.
Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was happening.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Idha, bhante, rājagahe dve pūgā aññatarissā gaṇikāya sārattā paṭibaddhacittā;

bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ pāṇīhipi upakkamanti, leḍḍūhipi upakkamanti, daṇḍehipi upakkamanti, satthehipi upakkamanti.

Te tattha maraṇampi nigacchanti maraṇamattampi dukkhan”ti.

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

“Yañca pattaṁ yañca pattabbaṁ, ubhayametaṁ rajānukiṇṇaṁ, āturassānusikkhato.
“What has been attained and what is to be attained are both strewn over with dust for that one training while still sick.

Ye ca sikkhāsārā sīlabbataṁ jīvitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ upaṭṭhānasārā, ayameko anto.
Those for whom the training is the essence, or precepts and observances, celibacy, and service as the essence: this is one extreme.

Ye ca evaṁvādino:
Those who say,

‘natthi kāmesu doso’ti, ayaṁ dutiyo anto.
‘There’s nothing wrong with sensual pleasures’: this is the second extreme.

Iccete ubho antā kaṭasivaḍḍhanā, kaṭasiyo diṭṭhiṁ vaḍḍhenti.
Thus these two extremes swell the charnel grounds, while the charnel grounds swell wrong view.

Etete ubho ante anabhiññāya olīyanti eke, atidhāvanti eke.
Not realizing these two extremes, some get stuck and some overreach.

Ye ca kho te abhiññāya tatra ca nāhesuṁ, tena ca nāmaññiṁsu, vaṭṭaṁ tesaṁ natthi paññāpanāyā”ti.
Those who realize these things, who were not found there, who did not conceive by that, there is no cycle of rebirths to be found.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.