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Majjhima Nikāya 37

Cūḷataṇhāsaṅkhayasutta

The Shorter Discourse on the Ending of Craving · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thenAtha indeedkho Sakkasakko andca gods·lorddevānamindo Vessavaṇavessavaṇo andca great·kingmahārājā venerableāyasmantaṁ great·Moggallānamahāmoggallānaṁ putting in frontpurakkhatvā whereyena Vejayantavejayanto palacepāsādo it·went totenupasaṅkamiṁsu.
they sawAddasaṁsu indeedkho of Sakkasakkassa gods·lorddevānamindassa maidsparicārikāyo venerableāyasmantaṁ great·Moggallānamahāmoggallānaṁ from afardūratova comingāgacchantaṁ;
having seendisvā being discreetottappamānā being prudenthirīyamānā ownsakaṁ ownsakaṁ bedroomovarakaṁ they enteredpavisiṁsu.

Then, putting Venerable Mahāmoggallāna in front, Sakka, lord of gods, and Vessavaṇa, the Great King, went to the Palace of Victory. When they saw Moggallāna coming off in the distance, Sakka’s maids, being discreet and prudent, each went to her own bedroom.

just asSeyyathāpi it is saidnāma a daughter-in-lawsuṇisā father-in-lawsasuraṁ having seendisvā is discreetottappati is prudent;hirīyati;
just soevameva of Sakkasakkassa of the lord of godsdevānamindassa the attendant womenparicārikāyo the venerableāyasmantaṁ Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallānaṁ having seendisvā being discreetottappamānā being prudenthirīyamānā ownsakaṁ ownsakaṁ inner chamberovarakaṁ they entered.pavisiṁsu.
thenAtha indeedkho Sakkasakko andca the lord of godsdevānamindo Vessavaṇavessavaṇo andca great·kingmahārājā the venerableāyasmantaṁ Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallānaṁ in Vejayantavejayante in the palacepāsāde they made walk aboutanucaṅkamāpenti they made explore:anuvicarāpenti:
"this too,“idampi, my goodmārisa Moggallāna,moggallāna, seepassa of Vejayantavejayantassa of the palacepāsādassa lovely thing;rāmaṇeyyakaṁ;
"this too,idampi, my goodmārisa Moggallāna,moggallāna, seepassa of Vejayantavejayantassa of the palacepāsādassa lovely thing."rāmaṇeyyakan”ti.
"It looks beautiful“Sobhati thisidaṁ for the venerableāyasmato Kosiya,kosiyassa, asyathā thattaṁ in the pastpubbe for one who has made merit.katapuññassa.
humans tooManussāpi somethingkiñcideva lovelyrāmaṇeyyakaṁ having seendisvā they say thus:evamāhaṁsu:
'it looks beautiful‘sobhati surelyvata sirbho asyathā of the godsdevānaṁ of the thirty-three.'tāvatiṁsānan’ti.
that indeedTayidaṁ for the venerableāyasmato Kosiyakosiyassa looks beautiful,sobhati, asyathā thattaṁ in the pastpubbe for one who has made merit."katapuññassā”ti.

They were just like a daughter-in-law who is discreet and prudent when they see their father-in-law. Then Sakka and Vessavaṇa encouraged Moggallāna to wander and explore the palace, saying, “See, in the palace, my good Moggallāna, this lovely thing! And that lovely thing!” “That looks beautiful for the venerable Kosiya, as befits one who has made merit in the past. Humans, when they see something lovely, also say: ‘It looks beautiful enough for the gods of the thirty-three!’ That looks beautiful for the venerable Kosiya, as befits one who has made merit in the past.”

thenAtha indeedkho of venerableāyasmato great·Moggallānamahāmoggallānassa this occurred to him:etadahosi:
excessively“atibāḷhaṁ indeedkho thisayaṁ spirityakkho negligentlypamatto livesviharati.
why don't IYannūnāhaṁ thisimaṁ spirityakkhaṁ should stir up a sense of urgencysaṁvejeyyan”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallāno such·kindtathārūpaṁ psychic + poweriddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ out·useabhisaṅkhāsi so thatyathā Victoryvejayantaṁ palacepāsādaṁ foot + big toepādaṅguṭṭhakena made shakesaṅkampesi made rocksampakampesi made tremblesampavedhesi.
thenAtha indeedkho Sakkasakko andca lord of godsdevānamindo, Vessavaṇavessavaṇo andca great kingmahārājā, godsdevā andca of the thirty-threetāvatiṁsā wonder + amazement·mind·arisenacchariyabbhutacittajātā becameahesuṁ:
incredible“acchariyaṁ indeedvata, oh lordbho, amazingabbhutaṁ indeedvata, oh lordbho.
of the asceticSamaṇassa great psychic powermahiddhikatā great mightmahānubhāvatā, sinceyatra indeedhi it isnāma heavenly + homedibbabhavanaṁ foot + big toepādaṅguṭṭhakena will make shakesaṅkampessati will make rocksampakampessati will make tremblesampavedhessatī”ti.

Then Moggallāna thought, “This spirit lives much too negligently. Why don’t I stir up a sense of urgency in him?” Then Moggallāna used his psychic power to make the Palace of Victory shake and rock and tremble with his big toe. Then Sakka, Vessavaṇa, and the gods of the thirty-three, their minds full of wonder and amazement, thought, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The ascetic has such power and might that he makes the god’s home shake and rock and tremble with his big toe!”

thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā great·Moggallānamahāmoggallāno Sakkasakkaṁ of gods·lorddevānamindaṁ shockedsaṁviggaṁ hair·bristling·becomelomahaṭṭhajātaṁ having knownviditvā Sakkasakkaṁ of gods·lorddevānamindaṁ this·saidetadavoca:
how“yathā howkathaṁ thenpana indeedkho, Kosiyakosiya, the Blessed Onebhagavā brieflysaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedomtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ explainedabhāsi?
pleaseSādhu we·toomayampi of thisetissā talkkathāya sharersbhāgino may we beassāma for hearingsavanāyā”ti.
Here I“Idhāhaṁ, my good fellowmārisa Moggallānamoggallāna, whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā approached himtenupasaṅkamiṁ; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ I stoodaṭṭhāsiṁ. to one sideEkamantaṁ standingṭhito indeedkho Iahaṁ, my good fellowmārisa Moggallānamoggallāna, the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavocaṁ:
to what extent‘kittāvatā thennu indeedkho, sirbhante, a mendicantbhikkhu brieflysaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto ishoti ultimate·endaccantaniṭṭho ultimate·sanctuary from the yokeaccantayogakkhemī ultimate·spiritual lifeaccantabrahmacārī ultimate·goalaccantapariyosāno bestseṭṭho among gods and humansdevamanussānan’ti?

Knowing that Sakka was shocked and awestruck, Moggallāna said to him, “Kosiya, how did the Buddha briefly explain freedom through the ending of craving? Please share this talk with me so that I can also get to hear it.” “My good fellow Moggallāna, I approached the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him, ‘Sir, how do you briefly define a mendicant who is freed with the ending of craving, who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal, and is best among gods and humans?’

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, friendmārisa Moggallānamoggallāna, the Blessed Onebhagavā to memaṁ said thisetadavoca:
here‘idha, of gods·lorddevānaminda, for a mendicantbhikkhuno heardsutaṁ there ishoti:
all“sabbe thingsdhammā not worthnālaṁ insisting onabhinivesāyā”ti.
thus·and·thisEvañcetaṁ, of gods·lorddevānaminda, for a mendicantbhikkhuno heardsutaṁ there ishoti
all“sabbe thingsdhammā not worthnālaṁ insisting onabhinivesāyā”ti.
heSo allsabbaṁ thingdhammaṁ directly·knowabhijānāti, allsabbaṁ thingdhammaṁ directly·knowabhiññāya allsabbaṁ thingdhammaṁ completely·knowparijānāti, allsabbaṁ thingdhammaṁ completely·knowpariññāya whateveryaṁ anykiñci feelingvedanaṁ experiencesvedeti pleasantsukhaṁ orvā unpleasantdukkhaṁ orvā not·painful + pleasantadukkhamasukhaṁ or.vā.
heSo in thosetāsu feelingsvedanāsu impermanent + observinganiccānupassī dwellsviharati, dispassion + observingvirāgānupassī dwellsviharati, cessation + observingnirodhānupassī dwellsviharati, letting go + observingpaṭinissaggānupassī dwells.viharati.
heSo in thosetāsu feelingsvedanāsu impermanent + observinganiccānupassī dwellingviharanto, dispassion + observingvirāgānupassī dwellingviharanto, cessation + observingnirodhānupassī dwellingviharanto, letting go + observingpaṭinissaggānupassī dwellingviharanto notna anythingkiñci in the worldloke near·graspupādiyati,
not·graspinganupādiyaṁ notna is anxiousparitassati, not·anxiousaparitassaṁ personal + indeedpaccattaññeva completely·extinguishparinibbāyati:
ended“khīṇā rebirthjāti, completedvusitaṁ spiritual·journeybrahmacariyaṁ, donekataṁ what had to be donekaraṇīyaṁ, not·furthernāparaṁ this state + quotation markeritthattāyā”ti forth·knowpajānāti.

When I had spoken the Buddha said to me: ‘Lord of gods, it’s when a mendicant has heard: “Nothing is worth insisting on.” When a mendicant has heard that nothing is worth insisting on, they directly know all things. Directly knowing all things, they completely understand all things. Having completely understood all things, when they experience any kind of feeling—pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral— they meditate observing impermanence, dispassion, cessation, and letting go in those feelings. Meditating in this way, they don’t grasp at anything in the world. Not grasping, they’re not anxious. Not being anxious, they personally become extinguished. They understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.”

to that extentEttāvatā indeedkho, of the gods·chiefdevānaminda, a mendicantbhikkhu brieflysaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto ishoti ultimate·endaccantaniṭṭho ultimate·sanctuary from the yokeaccantayogakkhemī ultimate·spiritual lifeaccantabrahmacārī ultimate·goalaccantapariyosāno bestseṭṭho among gods and humansdevamanussānan’ti.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho to meme, sirmārisa Moggallānamoggallāna, the Blessed Onebhagavā brieflysaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedomtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ explainedabhāsī”ti.

That’s how I briefly define a mendicant who is freed through the ending of craving, who has reached the ultimate end, the ultimate sanctuary from the yoke, the ultimate spiritual life, the ultimate goal, and is best among gods and humans.’ That’s how the Buddha briefly explained freedom through the ending of craving to me.”

thenAtha indeedkho Venerableāyasmā great·Moggallānamahāmoggallāno of Sakkasakkassa of-gods·lorddevānamindassa speechbhāsitaṁ toward·rejoiceabhinanditvā along·rejoice + just-asanumoditvā—seyyathāpi indeednāma strongbalavā personpuriso bentsamiñjitaṁ orvā armbāhaṁ would extendpasāreyya, forth·extendpasāritaṁ orvā armbāhaṁ would bendsamiñjeyya; just + godsevameva—devesu of the thirty-threetāvatiṁsesu having vanishedantarahito eastern·monasterypubbārāme Migāra's-mother·mansionmigāramātupāsāde appearedpāturahosi.
thenAtha indeedkho of Sakkasakkassa of-gods·lorddevānamindassa maidsparicārikāyo soon·departedacirapakkante when Venerableāyasmante great·Moggallānamahāmoggallāne to Sakkasakkaṁ of-gods·lorddevānamindaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
this one“eso nownu yourte, good fellowmārisa, thatso Blessed Onebhagavā Teacher?satthā”ti?
No“Na indeedkho myme, good fellowmārisa, thatso Blessed Onebhagavā Teachersatthā.
Spiritual companionSabrahmacārī myme thiseso Venerableāyasmā Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallāno”ti.
A gain“Lābhā for youte, good fellowmārisa, well·gainedsuladdhaṁ for youte, good fellowmārisa
sinceyassa yourte together·spiritual-companionsabrahmacārī such·great·psychic-powerevaṁmahiddhiko of such mightevaṁmahānubhāvo.
OhAho surelynūna yourte thatso Blessed Onebhagavā Teachersatthā”ti.

Moggallāna approved and agreed with what Sakka said. As easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, he vanished from among the gods of the thirty-three and reappeared in the Eastern Monastery. Soon after Moggallāna left, Sakka’s maids said to him, “Good fellow, was that the Blessed One, your Teacher?” “No, it was not. That was my spiritual companion Venerable Mahāmoggallāna.” “You’re fortunate, good fellow, so very fortunate, to have a spiritual companion of such power and might! We can’t believe that’s not the Blessed One, your Teacher!”

thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallāno toward whomyena the Blessed Onebhagavā he approached himtenupasaṅkami; up to·goupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ toward·speakabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ down·sitnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ down·sitnisinno indeedkho venerableāyasmā Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallāno the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ this·sayetadavoca:
he recalls“abhijānāti indeedno, sirbhante, the Blessed Onebhagavā wasahu of a certain well-knownñātaññatarassa illustriousmahesakkhassa spirityakkhassa in briefsaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedomtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ spokenbhāsitā”ti?
I recall“Abhijānāmahaṁ, Moggallānamoggallāna, hereidha Sakkasakko of devas·lorddevānamindo he approached meyenāhaṁ he approached himtenupasaṅkami; up to·goupasaṅkamitvā memaṁ toward·speakabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ near·standaṭṭhāsi. to one sideEkamantaṁ standingṭhito indeedkho, Moggallānamoggallāna, Sakkasakko of devas·lorddevānamindo to memaṁ this·sayetadavoca:
in what way‘kittāvatā nownu indeedkho, sirbhante, a bhikkhubhikkhu in briefsaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto ishoti uttermost·reachedaccantaniṭṭho uttermost·security from bondageaccantayogakkhemī uttermost·holy lifeaccantabrahmacārī uttermost·endaccantapariyosāno the bestseṭṭho of devas and humansdevamanussānan’ti.
thusEvaṁ when this was saidvutte, Iahaṁ, Moggallānamoggallāna, Sakkasakkaṁ of devas·lorddevānamindaṁ this·sayetadavocaṁ
here‘idha of devas·lorddevānaminda, to a bhikkhubhikkhuno heardsutaṁ ishoti
all“sabbe dhammasdhammā not enoughnālaṁ for attachmentabhinivesāyā”ti.
thusEvaṁ and·thiscetaṁ, of devas·lorddevānaminda, to a bhikkhubhikkhuno heardsutaṁ ishoti
all“sabbe dhammasdhammā not enoughnālaṁ for attachmentabhinivesāyā”ti.

Then Mahāmoggallāna went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, do you recall briefly explaining freedom through the ending of craving to a certain well-known and illustrious spirit?” “I do, Moggallāna.” And the Buddha retold all that happened when Sakka came to visit him, adding:

heSo allsabbaṁ phenomenadhammaṁ directly·knowabhijānāti, allsabbaṁ phenomenadhammaṁ directly·knowabhiññāya allsabbaṁ phenomenadhammaṁ fully·knowparijānāti, allsabbaṁ phenomenadhammaṁ fully·knowpariññāya whateveryaṁ anykiñci feelingvedanaṁ feelsvedeti pleasantsukhaṁ orvā painfuldukkhaṁ orvā not·painful·conjunction·not·pleasantadukkhamasukhaṁ orvā.
heSo in thosetāsu feelingsvedanāsu impermanent·contemplatinganiccānupassī dwellsviharati, dispassion·contemplatingvirāgānupassī dwellsviharati, cessation·contemplatingnirodhānupassī dwellsviharati, relinquishment·contemplatingpaṭinissaggānupassī dwellsviharati.
heSo in thosetāsu feelingsvedanāsu impermanent·contemplatinganiccānupassī while dwellingviharanto, dispassion·contemplatingvirāgānupassī while dwellingviharanto, cessation·contemplatingnirodhānupassī while dwellingviharanto,
relinquishment·contemplatingpaṭinissaggānupassī while dwellingviharanto notna anythingkiñci in the worldloke near·clingupādiyati,
not·clinganupādiyaṁ notna around·trembleparitassati, not·agitatedaparitassaṁ personal + justpaccattaññeva complete·nibbānaparinibbāyati:
“destroyed“khīṇā birthjāti, livedvusitaṁ holy·conductbrahmacariyaṁ, donekataṁ what had to be donekaraṇīyaṁ, not·furthernāparaṁ state of existence + quotation markeritthattāyā”ti understandspajānāti.
to this extentEttāvatā indeedkho, god·lorddevānaminda, a bhikkhubhikkhu in briefsaṅkhittena craving·ending·releasedtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimutto ishoti ultimate·consummationaccantaniṭṭho ultimate·security from bondageaccantayogakkhemī ultimate·spiritual lifeaccantabrahmacārī ultimate·conclusionaccantapariyosāno the bestseṭṭho god·human·quotation markerdevamanussānan’ti.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho Iahaṁ, Moggallānamoggallāna, directly·knowabhijānāmi of Sakkasakkassa god·lorddevānamindassa in briefsaṅkhittena craving·ending·freedomtaṇhāsaṅkhayavimuttiṁ speak·quotation markerbhāsitā”ti.
this·saidIdamavoca the Blessed Onebhagavā.
self·mindAttamano Venerableāyasmā great·Moggallānamahāmoggallāno of the Blessed Onebhagavato speechbhāsitaṁ toward·delight·quotation markerabhinandīti.
shorter·craving·ending·discourseCūḷataṇhāsaṅkhayasuttaṁ is finishedniṭṭhitaṁ the seventhsattamaṁ.

“That’s how I recall briefly explaining freedom through the ending of craving to Sakka, lord of gods.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna approved what the Buddha said.

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