Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 133

Mahākaccānabhaddekarattasutta

Mahākaccāna and One Fine Night · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heard—sutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā at Rājagaharājagahe was stayingviharati in the Hot Springs Monastery.tapodārāme.
thenAtha indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Samiddhisamiddhi of the nightrattiyā at the crack of dawnpaccūsasamayaṁ having risenpaccuṭṭhāya whereyena the hot springstapodo there he approachedtenupasaṅkami his limbsgattāni to bathe.parisiñcituṁ.
in the hot springsTapode his limbsgattāni having bathedparisiñcitvā having emergedpaccuttaritvā in one robeekacīvaro he stoodaṭṭhāsi his limbsgattāni dryingpubbāpayamāno.
thenAtha indeedkho a certainaññatarā deitydevatā lateabhikkantāya of the nightrattiyā gloriousabhikkantavaṇṇā the entirekevalakappaṁ hot springstapodaṁ having lit upobhāsetvā where Venerableyenāyasmā Samiddhisamiddhi there she approached;tenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā to one sideekamantaṁ she stood.aṭṭhāsi. to one sideEkamantaṁ standingṭhitā indeedkho thatsā deitydevatā to Venerableāyasmantaṁ Samiddhisamiddhiṁ this she said:etadavoca:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Hot Springs Monastery. Then Venerable Samiddhi rose at the crack of dawn and went to the hot springs to bathe. When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs. Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire hot springs, went up to Samiddhi, stood to one side, and said to Samiddhi:

“Mendicant, do you remember the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night?” “No, reverend, I do not. Do you?” “I also do not. But do you remember just the verses on the one who has one fine night?” “I do not. Do you?” “I also do not. Learn the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night, mendicant, memorize it, and remember it. It is beneficial and relevant to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.” That is what that deity said, before vanishing right there.

thenAtha indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Samiddhisamiddhi of thattassā nightrattiyā by the passingaccayena whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā he approached himtenupasaṅkami; near·goupasaṅkamitvā to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ toward·speakabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Samiddhisamiddhi to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:
Here I“Idhāhaṁ, revered sirbhante, of the nightrattiyā dawn·timepaccūsasamayaṁ having risenpaccuṭṭhāya whereyena Tapodātapodo I approached ittenupasaṅkamiṁ my limbsgattāni to batheparisiñcituṁ.
at TapodāTapode my limbsgattāni around·sprinkleparisiñcitvā having emergedpaccuttaritvā with one robeekacīvaro I stoodaṭṭhāsiṁ my limbsgattāni dryingpubbāpayamāno.
thenAtha indeedkho revered sirbhante, a certainaññatarā deitydevatā of the advancedabhikkantāya nightrattiyā of beautiful appearanceabhikkantavaṇṇā whole·extentkevalakappaṁ Tapodātapodaṁ having illuminatedobhāsetvā where Iyenāhaṁ she approached metenupasaṅkami; near·goupasaṅkamitvā to one sideekamantaṁ stoodaṭṭhāsi. to one sideEkamantaṁ standingṭhitā indeedkho thatsā deitydevatā to memaṁ said thisetadavoca:
do you remember‘dhāresi youtvaṁ, monkbhikkhu, one fine·nightbhaddekarattassa the summary anduddesañca the analysis?vibhaṅgañcā’ti?

Then, when the night had passed, Samiddhi went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then he added:

“Sir, please teach me the summary recital and the analysis of the one who has one fine night.”

by that“Tena thenhi, mendicantbhikkhu, listensuṇāhi, wellsādhukaṁ mindmanasi applykarohi; I will speakbhāsissāmī”ti.
yes“Evaṁ, sirbhante”ti indeedkho venerableāyasmā Samiddhisamiddhi to the Blessed Onebhagavato repliedpaccassosi.
the Blessed OneBhagavā this + saidetadavoca:

“Well then, mendicant, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” Samiddhi replied. The Buddha said this:

the past“Atītaṁ should not run back tonānvāgameyya,
should not anticipatenappaṭikaṅkhe the futureanāgataṁ;
what·pastYadatītaṁ left behindpahīnaṁ thattaṁ,
unarrived + andappattañca the futureanāgataṁ.
present + andPaccuppannañca whoyo phenomenondhammaṁ,
in every casetattha in every casetattha discernsvipassati;
unfalteringAsaṁhīraṁ unshakableasaṅkuppaṁ,
thattaṁ having knownvidvā should fostermanubrūhaye.
today indeedAjjeva work with keennesskiccamātappaṁ,
whoko knowsjaññā deathmaraṇaṁ tomorrowsuve;
noNa indeedhi for usno bargainsaṅgaraṁ with himtena,
with the mighty-hordedmahāsenena with Deathmaccunā.
thus·dwellEvaṁvihāriṁ keenātāpiṁ,
tireless night and dayahorattamatanditaṁ;
that oneTaṁ indeedve has one fine nightbhaddekarattoti,
the peacefulsanto declaresācikkhate sagemunī”ti.

“Don’t run back to the past, don’t anticipate the future. What’s past is left behind, the future has not arrived; and any present phenomenon you clearly discern in every case. The unfaltering, the unshakable: having known that, foster it. Today’s the day to keenly work— who knows, tomorrow may bring death! For there is no bargain to be struck with Death and his mighty horde. One who keenly meditates like this, tireless all night and day: that’s who has one fine night— so declares the peaceful sage.”

this + saidIdamavoca the Blessed One;bhagavā;
thisidaṁ having spokenvatvāna the Holy Onesugato from his seatuṭṭhāyāsanā dwellingvihāraṁ he entered.pāvisi.

That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

thenAtha indeedkho of thosetesaṁ of the monksbhikkhūnaṁ, recent·departedacirapakkantassa of the Blessed Onebhagavato, this occurredetadahosi:
this“idaṁ indeedkho to usno, friendsāvuso, the Blessed Onebhagavā in briefsaṅkhittena summaryuddesaṁ up·pointuddisitvā in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ not·apart·divideavibhajitvā having risen from the seatuṭṭhāyāsanā dwellingvihāraṁ enteredpaviṭṭho:
the past‘Atītaṁ one should not pursuenānvāgameyya,
one should not long fornappaṭikaṅkhe the futureanāgataṁ;
what is pastYadatītaṁ abandonedpahīnaṁ thattaṁ,
unreached·andappattañca futureanāgataṁ.
and the presentPaccuppannañca whoyo dhammadhammaṁ,
heretattha theretattha sees clearlyvipassati;
unshakableAsaṁhīraṁ unwaveringasaṅkuppaṁ,
thattaṁ wise onevidvā should cultivatemanubrūhaye.
today onlyAjjeva the work of ardorkiccamātappaṁ,
whoko may knowjaññā deathmaraṇaṁ tomorrowsuve;
notNa indeedhi for usno bargainsaṅgaraṁ with thattena,
great·armymahāsenena with deathmaccunā.
one living thusEvaṁvihāriṁ ardentātāpiṁ,
day and night, untiringahorattamatanditaṁ;
himTaṁ surelyve one fine nightbhaddekarattoti,
peacefulsanto toward·tellācikkhate the sagemunī’ti.
whoKo thennu indeedkho of thisimassa by the Blessed Onebhagavatā in briefsaṅkhittena of the summaryuddesassa up·givenuddiṭṭhassa in detailvitthārena the meaningatthaṁ of the unexplainedavibhattassa in detailvitthārena meaningatthaṁ would explainvibhajeyyā”ti?
thenAtha indeedkho of thosetesaṁ of the monksbhikkhūnaṁ this occurredetadahosi:
this“ayaṁ indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Mahākaccānamahākaccāno by the Teachersatthu bothceva together·praisedsaṁvaṇṇito together·esteemedsambhāvito andca of sensibleviññūnaṁ of spiritual companionssabrahmacārīnaṁ;

Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered, “The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. … Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary given by the Buddha?” Then those mendicants thought: “This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.

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