Naḷakapānasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 68

At Naḷakapāna · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā among the Kosalanskosalesu was stayingviharati near Naḷakapānanaḷakapāne in the grove of flame-of-the-forest treespalāsavane.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans near Naḷakapāna in the grove of flame-of-the-forest trees.

at thatTena indeedkho nowpana at the timesamayena severalsambahulā well-knownabhiññātā well-knownabhiññātā gentlemenkulaputtā to the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ with reference touddissa out of faithsaddhā from the lay lifeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajitā werehonti—
venerableāyasmā andca Anuruddhaanuruddho, venerableāyasmā andca Bhaddiyabhaddiyo, venerableāyasmā andca Kimbilakimilo, venerableāyasmā andca Bhagubhagu, venerableāyasmā andca Koṇḍaññakoṇḍañño, venerableāyasmā andca Revatarevato, venerableāyasmā andca Ānandaānando, otheraññe andca well-knownabhiññātā well-knownabhiññātā gentlemenkulaputtā.

Now at that time several very well-known gentlemen had gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness in the Buddha’s name— The venerables Anuruddha, Bhaddiya, Kimbila, Bhagu, Kuṇḍadhāna, Revata, Ānanda, and other very well-known gentlemen.

by thatTena indeedkho thenpana at that timesamayena the Blessed Onebhagavā surrounded by the Saṅgha of mendicantsbhikkhusaṅghaparivuto in the openabbhokāse seatednisinno washoti.
thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā thosete gentlemenkulaputte with reference toārabbha the mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
those who“ye thosete, mendicantsbhikkhave, gentlemenkulaputtā memamaṁ on account ofuddissa out of faithsaddhā from the household lifeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajitā, I trustkacci thosete, mendicantsbhikkhave, mendicantsbhikkhū satisfied withabhiratā with the spiritual life?brahmacariye”ti?
when thisEvaṁ was saidvutte, thosete mendicantsbhikkhū silenttuṇhī wereahesuṁ.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā thosete gentlemenkulaputte with reference toārabbha the mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
those who“ye thosete, mendicantsbhikkhave, gentlemenkulaputtā memamaṁ on account ofuddissa out of faithsaddhā from the household lifeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajitā, I trustkacci thosete, mendicantsbhikkhave, mendicantsbhikkhū satisfied withabhiratā with the spiritual life?brahmacariye”ti?
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho thosete mendicantsbhikkhū silenttuṇhī wereahesuṁ.
for a third timeTatiyampi indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā thosete gentlemenkulaputte with reference toārabbha the mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
those who“ye thosete, mendicantsbhikkhave, gentlemenkulaputtā memamaṁ on account ofuddissa out of faithsaddhā from the household lifeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajitā, I trustkacci thosete, mendicantsbhikkhave, mendicantsbhikkhū satisfied withabhiratā with the spiritual life?brahmacariye”ti?
for a third timeTatiyampi indeedkho thosete mendicantsbhikkhū silenttuṇhī wereahesuṁ.

Now at that time the Buddha was sitting in the open, surrounded by the mendicant Saṅgha. Then the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about those gentlemen: “Mendicants, those gentlemen who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness in my name—I trust they’re satisfied with the spiritual life?” When this was said, the mendicants kept silent. For a second and a third time the Buddha asked the same question. For a third time, the mendicants kept silent.

thenAtha indeedkho to the Buddhabhagavato this occurred to himetadahosi:
why don't I“yannūnāhaṁ thosete gentlemenkulaputte I might questionpuccheyyan”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho the Buddhabhagavā venerableāyasmantaṁ Anuruddhaanuruddhaṁ addressedāmantesi:
I hope“kacci youtumhe, Anuruddhasanuruddhā, satisfiedabhiratā with the spiritual lifebrahmacariye”ti?
indeed“Taggha wemayaṁ, sirbhante, satisfiedabhiratā with the spiritual lifebrahmacariye”ti.

Then it occurred to the Buddha, “Why don’t I question just those gentlemen?” Then the Buddha said to Venerable Anuruddha, “Anuruddha and friends, I hope you’re satisfied with the spiritual life?” “Indeed, sir, we are satisfied with the spiritual life.”

“Good, good, Anuruddha and friends! It’s appropriate for gentlemen like yourselves, who have gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, to be satisfied with the spiritual life. Since you’re blessed with youth, in the prime of life, with pristine black hair, you could have enjoyed sensual pleasures; yet you have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness. But you didn’t go forth to escape a summons by a king or a summons for a bandit, or because you were in debt or in fear, or in order to make a living. Rather, didn’t you go forth thinking: ‘I’m swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I’m swamped by suffering, mired in suffering. Hopefully I can make an end to this entire mass of suffering’?”

thus“Evaṁ, sirbhante”.

“Yes, sir.”

thus“Evaṁ by one gone forthpabbajitena andca butpana, Anuruddhasanuruddhā, by a son of a good familykulaputtena for him whatkimassa to be donekaraṇīyaṁ?
seclusionVivekaṁ, Anuruddhasanuruddhā, from sensual pleasureskāmehi seclusionvivekaṁ from unskillfulakusalehi qualitiesdhammehi rapture and blisspītisukhaṁ does not achievenādhigacchati otheraññaṁ orvā than thattato more peacefulsantataraṁ, of himtassa desire tooabhijjhāpi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati, ill will toobyāpādopi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati, dullness and drowsiness toothinamiddhampi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati restlessness and remorse toouddhaccakukkuccampi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati, doubt toovicikicchāpi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati, discontent tooaratīpi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati, sloth tootandīpi mindcittaṁ having occupiedpariyādāya persiststiṭṭhati.
seclusionVivekaṁ, Anuruddhasanuruddhā, from sensual pleasureskāmehi seclusionvivekaṁ from unskillfulakusalehi qualitiesdhammehi rapture and blisspītisukhaṁ does not achievenādhigacchati otheraññaṁ orvā than thattato more peacefulsantataraṁ.

“But, Anuruddha and friends, when a gentleman has gone forth like this, what should he do? Take someone who doesn’t achieve the rapture and bliss that are secluded from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities, or something even more peaceful than that. Their mind is still occupied by desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, doubt, discontent, and sloth. That’s someone who doesn’t achieve the rapture and bliss that are secluded from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities, or something even more peaceful than that.

seclusionVivekaṁ, Anuruddhasanuruddhā, from sensual pleasureskāmehi seclusionvivekaṁ from unskillful qualitiesakusalehi from qualitiesdhammehi rapture and blisspītisukhaṁ achievesadhigacchati anotheraññaṁ orvā than thattato more peacefulsantataraṁ, theirtassa desire tooabhijjhāpi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati, ill will toobyāpādopi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati, dullness and drowsiness toothinamiddhampi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati, restlessness and remorse toouddhaccakukkuccampi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati, doubt toovicikicchāpi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati, discontent tooaratīpi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati, sloth tootandīpi mindcittaṁ notna having occupiedpariyādāya remainstiṭṭhati.
seclusionVivekaṁ, Anuruddhasanuruddhā, from sensual pleasureskāmehi seclusionvivekaṁ from unskillful qualitiesakusalehi from qualitiesdhammehi rapture and blisspītisukhaṁ achievesadhigacchati anotheraññaṁ orvā than thattato more peacefulsantataraṁ.

Take someone who does achieve the rapture and bliss that are secluded from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities, or something even more peaceful than that. Their mind is not occupied by desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, doubt, discontent, and sloth. That’s someone who does achieve the rapture and bliss that are secluded from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities, or something even more peaceful than that.

Is this what you think of me? ‘The Realized One has not given up the defilements that are corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death. That’s why, after appraisal, he uses some things, endures some things, avoids some things, and dispels some things.’” “No sir, we don’t think of you that way. We think of you this way: ‘The Realized One has given up the defilements that are corrupting, leading to future lives, hurtful, resulting in suffering and future rebirth, old age, and death. That’s why, after appraisal, he uses some things, endures some things, avoids some things, and dispels some things.’” “Good, good, Anuruddha and friends!

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version