Puṇṇovādasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 145

Advice to Puṇṇa · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa in the monasteryārāme.
thenAtha indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo in the late afternoonsāyanhasamayaṁ from retreatpaṭisallānā came outvuṭṭhito to whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā went up to himtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavoca:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Puṇṇa came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha,

well“sādhu memaṁ, sirbhante, the Blessed Onebhagavā in briefsaṅkhittena with adviceovādena may he adviseovadatu, which Iyamahaṁ of the Blessed Onebhagavato the Dhammadhammaṁ having heardsutvā aloneeko withdrawnvūpakaṭṭho diligentappamatto keenātāpī resolutepahitatto I would livevihareyyan”ti.
by that“Tena thenhi, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, listensuṇāhi, wellsādhukaṁ with the mindmanasi dokarohi; I will speakbhāsissāmī”ti.
yes“Evaṁ, sirbhante”ti indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo to the Blessed Onebhagavato repliedpaccassosi.
the Blessed OneBhagavā said thisetadavoca:

“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.” “Well then, Puṇṇa, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” replied Puṇṇa. The Buddha said this:

there are“Santi indeedkho, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, knowable by the eyecakkhuviññeyyā sightsrūpā likableiṭṭhā desirablekantā agreeablemanāpā pleasantpiyarūpā sensualkāmūpasaṁhitā arousingrajanīyā.
if thatTañce mendicantbhikkhu approvesabhinandati welcomesabhivadati clingingajjhosāya keepstiṭṭhati.
to itTassa to thattaṁ approvingabhinandato welcomingabhivadato clingingajjhosāya keepingtiṭṭhato gives rise touppajjati relishingnandī.
relishing is the origin‘Nandīsamudayā sufferingdukkhasamudayo, Puṇṇapuṇṇā’ti I sayvadāmi.
there areSanti indeedkho, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, knowable by the earsotaviññeyyā soundssaddā ……
knowable by the noseghānaviññeyyā smellsgandhā ……
knowable by the tonguejivhāviññeyyā tastesrasā ……
knowable by the bodykāyaviññeyyā touchesphoṭṭhabbā ……
knowable by the mindmanoviññeyyā ideasdhammā likableiṭṭhā desirablekantā agreeablemanāpā pleasantpiyarūpā sensualkāmūpasaṁhitā arousingrajanīyā.
if thatTañce mendicantbhikkhu approvesabhinandati welcomesabhivadati clingingajjhosāya keepstiṭṭhati.
to itTassa to thattaṁ approvingabhinandato welcomingabhivadato clingingajjhosāya keepingtiṭṭhato gives rise touppajjati relishingnandī.
relishing is the origin‘Nandīsamudayā sufferingdukkhasamudayo, Puṇṇapuṇṇā’ti I sayvadāmi.

“Puṇṇa, there are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them, this gives rise to relishing. Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say. There are sounds known by the ear … smells known by the nose … tastes known by the tongue … touches known by the body … ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them, this gives rise to relishing. Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say.

there areSanti andca indeedkho, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, known by the eyecakkhuviññeyyā sightsrūpā likableiṭṭhā desirablekantā agreeablemanāpā pleasantpiyarūpā sensualkāmūpasaṁhitā arousingrajanīyā.
if thatTañce a mendicantbhikkhu does not approvenābhinandati does not welcomenābhivadati does not keep clingingnājjhosāya standstiṭṭhati.
for himTassa thattaṁ not approvinganabhinandato not welcominganabhivadato not keeping clinginganajjhosāya standingtiṭṭhato relishingnandī ceasesnirujjhati.
from relishing ceasing‘Nandīnirodhā suffering ceasingdukkhanirodho, Puṇṇapuṇṇā’ti I sayvadāmi.
there areSanti andca indeedkho, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, known by the earsotaviññeyyā soundssaddā ……
known by the noseghānaviññeyyā smellsgandhā ……
known by the tonguejivhāviññeyyā tastesrasā ……
known by the bodykāyaviññeyyā touchesphoṭṭhabbā ……
known by the mindmanoviññeyyā ideasdhammā likableiṭṭhā desirablekantā agreeablemanāpā pleasantpiyarūpā sensualkāmūpasaṁhitā arousingrajanīyā.
if thatTañce a mendicantbhikkhu does not approvenābhinandati does not welcomenābhivadati does not keep clingingnājjhosāya standstiṭṭhati.
for himTassa thattaṁ not approvinganabhinandato not welcominganabhivadato not keeping clinginganajjhosāya standingtiṭṭhato relishingnandī ceasesnirujjhati.
from relishing ceasing‘Nandīnirodhā suffering ceasingdukkhanirodho, Puṇṇapuṇṇā’ti I sayvadāmi.

There are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases. When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say. There are sounds known by the ear … smells known by the nose … tastes known by the tongue … touches known by the body … ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases. When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say.

with thisIminā andca youtvaṁ, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, by memayā with briefsaṅkhittena with adviceovādena advisedovadito in whichkatarasmiṁ countryjanapade will you live?viharissasī”ti?
with this I“Imināhaṁ, sirbhante, by the Blessed Onebhagavatā with briefsaṅkhittena with adviceovādena advisedovadito, there isatthi Sunāparantasunāparanto namednāma countryjanapado, there Itatthāhaṁ I shall live.viharissāmī”ti.
wild“Caṇḍā indeedkho, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā;
roughpharusā indeedkho, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā.
ifSace youtaṁ, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā will abuseakkosissanti will insultparibhāsissanti, theretattha for youte, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, what?kinti will be?bhavissatī”ti?
if“Sace memaṁ, sirbhante, Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā will abuseakkosissanti will insultparibhāsissanti, theretattha for meme thusevaṁ will bebhavissati:
gracious‘bhaddakā truly thesevatime Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā, very gracioussubhaddakā truly thesevatime Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā, thatyaṁ for meme these notnayime with fistpāṇinā a blowpahāraṁ they givedentī’ti.
thus hereEvamettha, Blessed Onebhagavā, will bebhavissati;
thus hereevamettha, Holy Onesugata, will bebhavissatī”ti.
if“Sace butpana for youte, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, Sunāparantansunāparantakā peoplemanussā with fistpāṇinā a blowpahāraṁ will givedassanti, theretattha butpana for youte, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, what?kinti will be?bhavissatī”ti?

Puṇṇa, now that I’ve given you this brief advice, what country will you live in?” “Sir, there’s a country named Sunāparanta. I shall live there.” “The people of Sunāparanta are wild and rough, Puṇṇa. If they abuse and insult you, what will you think of them?” “If they abuse and insult me, I will think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t hit me with their fists.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do hit you with their fists, what will you think of them then?”

“If they hit me with their fists, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t throw stones at me.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do throw stones at you, what will you think of them then?” “If they throw stones at me, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t beat me with a club.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do beat you with a club, what will you think of them then?”

“If they beat me with a club, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t stab me with a knife.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do stab you with a knife, what will you think of them then?” “If they stab me with a knife, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t take my life with a sharp knife.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do take your life with a sharp knife, what will you think of them then?”

if“Sace memaṁ, venerable sirbhante, the people of Sunāparantasunāparantakā peoplemanussā with a sharptiṇhena knifesatthena of lifejīvitā they will deprivevoropessanti, theretattha to meme thusevaṁ it will bebhavissati:
there are‘santi indeedkho of the Blessed Onebhagavato disciplessāvakā with the bodykāye andca with lifejīvite andca horrifiedaṭṭīyamānā repelledharāyamānā disgustedjigucchamānā a suicide weaponsatthahārakaṁ they seekpariyesanti. thatTaṁ by meme thisidaṁ without lookingapariyiṭṭhaṁyeva a suicide weaponsatthahārakaṁ foundladdhan’ti.
thus hereEvamettha, Blessed Onebhagavā, it will bebhavissati;
thus hereevamettha, Holy Onesugata, it will bebhavissatī”ti.

“If they take my life with a sharp knife, I’ll think: ‘There are disciples of the Buddha who looked for a suicide weapon because they were horrified, repelled, and disgusted with the body and with life. And I have found this without looking!’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

good“Sādhu goodsādhu, Puṇṇapuṇṇa.
you will be ableSakkhissasi indeedkho youtvaṁ, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, with thisiminā with self-control and peacefulnessdamūpasamena endowedsamannāgato in Sunāparantasunāparantasmiṁ in the countryjanapade to liveviharituṁ.
nowYassadāni youtvaṁ, Puṇṇapuṇṇa, the timekālaṁ you thinkmaññasī”ti.

“Good, good Puṇṇa! Having such self-control and peacefulness, you will be quite capable of living in Sunāparanta. Now, Puṇṇa, go at your convenience.”

thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo of the Blessed Onebhagavato speechbhāsitaṁ having welcomedabhinanditvā having agreedanumoditvā having risen from his seatuṭṭhāyāsanā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā respectfully circlingpadakkhiṇaṁ having donekatvā lodgingssenāsanaṁ having set in ordersaṁsāmetvā taking his bowl and robepattacīvaramādāya whereyena Sunāparantasunāparanto countryjanapado theretena walking tourcārikaṁ set outpakkāmi.
stage by stageAnupubbena walking tourcārikaṁ travelingcaramāno whereyena Sunāparantasunāparanto countryjanapado arrived theretadavasari.
thereTatra indeedsudaṁ venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo in Sunāparantasunāparantasmiṁ in the countryjanapade dwellsviharati.
thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo within that same rainy seasontenevantaravassena about fivepañcamattāni hundred laymenupāsakasatāni confirmedpaṭivedesi, within that same rainy seasontenevantaravassena about fivepañcamattāni hundred laywomenupāsikasatāni confirmedpaṭivedesi, within that same rainy seasontenevantaravassena threetisso knowledgesvijjā realizedsacchākāsi.
thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Puṇṇapuṇṇo lateraparena timesamayena became fully extinguishedparinibbāyi.

And then Puṇṇa welcomed and agreed with the Buddha’s words. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for Sunāparanta. Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Sunāparanta, and stayed there. Within that rainy season he confirmed around five hundred male and five hundred female lay followers. And within that same rainy season he realized the three knowledges. Some time later he became fully extinguished.

thenAtha indeedkho manysambahulā mendicantsbhikkhū whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā there they approachedtenupasaṅkamiṁsu; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ they sat downnisīdiṁsu. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinnā indeedkho thosete mendicantsbhikkhū the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ this they saidetadavocuṁ:
who“yo thatso, sirbhante, Puṇṇapuṇṇo namednāma gentlemankulaputto by the Blessed Onebhagavatā in briefsaṅkhittena with adviceovādena advisedovadito heso has passed awaykālaṅkato.
hisTassa whatkā destinationgati, whatko next lifeabhisamparāyo”ti?
astute“Paṇḍito, mendicantsbhikkhave, Puṇṇapuṇṇo gentlemankulaputto practicedpaccapādi in line with the teachingdhammassānudhammaṁ, notna andca memaṁ about the teachingsdhammādhikaraṇaṁ did troubleviheṭhesi.
fully quenchedParinibbuto, mendicantsbhikkhave, Puṇṇapuṇṇo gentlemankulaputto”ti.
this he saidIdamavoca the Blessed Onebhagavā.
satisfiedAttamanā thosete mendicantsbhikkhū of the Blessed Onebhagavato speechbhāsitaṁ approvedabhinandunti.
the Advice to Puṇṇa discoursePuṇṇovādasuttaṁ finishedniṭṭhitaṁ the thirdtatiyaṁ.

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, the gentleman named Puṇṇa, who was advised in brief by the Buddha, has passed away. Where has he been reborn in his next life?” “Mendicants, Puṇṇa was astute. He practiced in line with the teaching, and did not trouble me about the teachings. Puṇṇa has become fully quenched.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

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