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Majjhima Nikāya 85

Bodhirājakumārasutta

With Prince Bodhi · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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of thatTassa to memayhaṁ, princerājakumāra, this occurred to meetadahosi:
to whom‘kassa nownu indeedkho Iahaṁ firstpaṭhamaṁ the teachingdhammaṁ I should teachdeseyyaṁ?
whoKo thisimaṁ the teachingdhammaṁ quicklykhippameva will understandājānissatī’ti?
of thatTassa to memayhaṁ, princerājakumāra, this occurred to meetadahosi:
very helpful‘bahukārā indeedkho to meme group of fivepañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū whoye memaṁ resolute in strivingpadhānapahitattaṁ they looked afterupaṭṭhahiṁsu.
why don't IYannūnāhaṁ to the group of fivepañcavaggiyānaṁ to the mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ firstpaṭhamaṁ the teachingdhammaṁ I should teachdeseyyan’ti.
of thatTassa to memayhaṁ, princerājakumāra, this occurred to meetadahosi:
where‘kahaṁ nownu indeedkho nowetarahi group of fivepañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū are stayingviharantī’ti.
I sawAddasaṁ indeed Ikhvāhaṁ, princerājakumāra, with divinedibbena eyecakkhunā purifiedvisuddhena surpassing the humanatikkantamānusakena the group of fivepañcavaggiye mendicantsbhikkhū at Varanasibārāṇasiyaṁ stayingviharante at Isipatanaisipatane in the deer parkmigadāye.

Then it occurred to me, ‘Who should I teach first of all? Who will quickly understand the teaching?’ Then it occurred to me, ‘The group of five mendicants were very helpful to me. They looked after me during my time of resolute striving. Why don’t I teach them first of all?’ Then it occurred to me, ‘Where are the group of five mendicants staying these days?’ With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman I saw that the group of five mendicants were staying near Varanasi in the deer park at Isipatana.

thenAtha and I indeedkhvāhaṁ, princerājakumāra, at Uruvelāuruvelāyaṁ as long as pleasedyathābhirantaṁ having stayedviharitvā towards whichyena Varanasibārāṇasī towards thattena on walking tourcārikaṁ I set outpakkamiṁ.
sawAddasā indeedkho memaṁ, princerājakumāra, Upakaupako Ājīvaka asceticājīvako betweenantarā andca Gayāgayaṁ betweenantarā andca Bodhgayabodhiṁ traveling along the roadaddhānamaggappaṭipannaṁ.
having seenDisvāna memaṁ said thisetadavoca:
very clear‘vippasannāni indeedkho yourte, friendāvuso, facultiesindriyāni, pureparisuddho complexionchavivaṇṇo brightpariyodāto.
in whose name indeedKaṁsi youtvaṁ, friendāvuso, in whose nameuddissa gone forthpabbajito? whoKo orvā yourte Teachersatthā? whoseKassa orvā youtvaṁ dhammadhammaṁ do you affirmrocesī’ti?
thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, Iahaṁ, princerājakumāra, Upakaupakaṁ Ājīvaka asceticājīvakaṁ in versesgāthāhi I addressedajjhabhāsiṁ:
vanquisher of all‘Sabbābhibhū knower of all am Isabbavidūhamasmi,
in allSabbesu thingsdhammesu unsulliedanūpalitto;
giving up allSabbañjaho in the ending of cravingtaṇhākkhaye freedvimutto,
myselfSayaṁ having knownabhiññāya whose follower should I bekamuddiseyyaṁ.
notNa myme tutorācariyo there isatthi,
likesadiso meme notna is foundvijjati;
with its godsSadevakasmiṁ in the worldlokasmiṁ,
there is notnatthi myme rivalpaṭipuggalo.
for IAhañhi perfected onearahā in the worldloke,
Iahaṁ Teachersatthā supremeanuttaro;
alone am IEkomhi fully awakenedsammāsambuddho,
cooled am Isītibhūtosmi quenchednibbuto.
wheel of DhammaDhammacakkaṁ to roll forthpavattetuṁ,
I goGacchāmi of Kāsikāsinaṁ citypuraṁ;
become blindAndhībhūtasmiṁ in the worldlokasmiṁ,
I will beatĀhañchaṁ drum of freedom from deathamatadundubhin’ti.

So, when I had stayed in Uruvelā as long as I pleased, I set out for Varanasi. While I was traveling along the road between Gayā and Bodhgaya, the Ājīvaka ascetic Upaka saw me and said, ‘Reverend, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. In whose name have you gone forth, reverend? Who is your Teacher? Whose teaching do you believe in?’ I replied to Upaka in verse: ‘I am the vanquisher of all, the knower of all, unsullied in the midst of all things. I’ve given up all, freed in the ending of craving. Since I know for myself, whose follower should I be? I have no tutor. There is no one like me. In the world with its gods, I have no rival. For in this world, I am the perfected one; I am the supreme Teacher. I alone am fully awakened, cooled, quenched. I am going to the city of Kāsi to roll forth the Wheel of Dhamma. In this world that is so blind, I’ll beat the drum of freedom from death!’

as‘Yathā indeedkho youtvaṁ, reverendāvuso, you claimpaṭijānāsi you ought to bearahasi the Infinite Victoranantajino’ti.
like me‘Mādisā indeedve victorsjinā they arehonti,
whoye reachedpattā the ending of defilementsāsavakkhayaṁ;
conqueredJitā by meme badpāpakā qualitiesdhammā,
that is why I am, Upakatasmāhamupaka a victorjino’ti.
thusEvaṁ when spokenvutte, princerājakumāra, Upakaupako the Ājīvakaājīvako if you say so, reverend‘hupeyyapāvuso’ti having saidvatvā his headsīsaṁ having shakenokampetvā a wrong turnummaggaṁ having takengahetvā leftpakkāmi.

‘According to what you claim, reverend, you ought to be the Infinite Victor.’ ‘The victors are those who, like me, have reached the ending of defilements. I have conquered bad qualities, Upaka— that’s why I’m a victor.’ When I had spoken, Upaka said: ‘If you say so, reverend.’ Shaking his head, he took a wrong turn and left.

thenAtha Ikhvāhaṁ, princerājakumāra, stage by stageanupubbena wanderingcārikaṁ travelingcaramāno whereyena Varanasibārāṇasī Isipatanaisipatanaṁ deer parkmigadāyo whereyena group of fivepañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū I approachedtenupasaṅkamiṁ.
they sawAddasaṁsu indeedkho memaṁ, princerājakumāra, group of fivepañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū from afardūratova comingāgacchantaṁ.
having seenDisvāna each otheraññamaññaṁ they stoppedsaṇṭhapesuṁ:
this‘ayaṁ indeedkho, friendsāvuso, asceticsamaṇo Gotamagotamo comesāgacchati indulgentbāhulliko strayed from the strugglepadhānavibbhanto returnedāvatto to indulgencebāhullāya.
heSo notneva should be bowed toabhivādetabbo, notna should be risen forpaccuṭṭhātabbo, nor hisnāssa bowl and robepattacīvaraṁ should be receivedpaṭiggahetabbaṁ;
butapi andca indeedkho a seatāsanaṁ should be set outṭhapetabbaṁ—sace heso will wishākaṅkhissati he will sitnisīdissatī’ti.
asYathā asyathā indeedkho Iahaṁ, princerājakumāra, group of fivepañcavaggiye mendicantsbhikkhū I approachedupasaṅkamiṁ sotathā sotathā group of fivepañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū were unablenāsakkhiṁsu their ownsakāya agreementkatikāya to stopsaṇṭhātuṁ.
someAppekacce memaṁ having come out to greetpaccuggantvā bowl and robepattacīvaraṁ receivedpaṭiggahesuṁ. someAppekacce a seatāsanaṁ spread outpaññapesuṁ. someAppekacce water for the feetpādodakaṁ set outupaṭṭhapesuṁ.
butApi andca indeedkho memaṁ by namenāmena andca as reverendāvusovādena andca they addressedsamudācaranti.

Traveling stage by stage, I arrived at Varanasi, and went to see the group of five mendicants in the deer park at Isipatana. The group of five mendicants saw me coming off in the distance and stopped each other, saying, ‘Here comes the ascetic Gotama. He’s so indulgent; he strayed from the struggle and returned to indulgence. We shouldn’t bow to him or rise for him or receive his bowl and robe. But we can set out a seat; he can sit if he likes.’ Yet as I drew closer, the group of five mendicants were unable to stop themselves per their own agreement. Some came out to greet me and receive my bowl and robe, some spread out a seat, while others set out water for washing my feet. But they still addressed me by name and as ‘reverend’.

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, Iahaṁ, princerājakumāra, to the group of fivepañcavaggiye monksbhikkhū said thisetadavocaṁ:
do not‘mā, monksbhikkhave, the Realized Onetathāgataṁ by namenāmena andca with the word friendāvusovādena andca addresssamudācaratha;
perfectedarahaṁ, monksbhikkhave, the Realized Onetathāgato fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho.
lendOdahatha, monksbhikkhave, earsotaṁ. freedom from death achievedAmatamadhigataṁ I instructahamanusāsāmi, Iahaṁ Dhammadhammaṁ teachdesemi.
as instructedYathānusiṭṭhaṁ sotathā practicingpaṭipajjamānā before long indeed for whose sakenacirasseva—yassatthāya good family sonskulaputtā rightly indeedsammadeva from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ go forthpabbajanti, that supreme culmination of the spiritual pathtadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ in this very lifediṭṭheva dhammadhamme yourselfsayaṁ with direct knowledgeabhiññā having realizedsacchikatvā having attainedupasampajja you will dwellviharissathā’ti.
thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, princerājakumāra, the group of fivepañcavaggiyā monksbhikkhū memaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
by that too‘tāyapi indeedkho youtvaṁ, reverendāvuso Gotamagotama, by conductiriyāya by thattāya by practicepaṭipadāya by thattāya by grueling workdukkarakārikāya did not achievenājjhagamā superhumanuttari superhuman distinctionmanussadhammā distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble onesalamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; howkiṁ thenpana youtvaṁ nowetarahi indulgentbāhulliko strayed from the strugglepadhānavibbhanto fallenāvatto into indulgencebāhullāya will achieveadhigamissasi superhumanuttari superhuman distinctionmanussadhammā distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble onesalamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?
thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, Iahaṁ, princerājakumāra, to the group of fivepañcavaggiye monksbhikkhū said thisetadavocaṁ:
not‘na, monksbhikkhave, the Realized Onetathāgato indulgentbāhulliko notna strayed from the strugglepadhānavibbhanto notna fallenāvatto into indulgencebāhullāya.
perfectedArahaṁ, monksbhikkhave, the Realized Onetathāgato fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddho.

So I said to them, ‘Mendicants, don’t address me by name and as “reverend”. The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha. Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’ But they said to me, ‘Reverend Gotama, even by that conduct, that practice, that grueling work you did not achieve any superhuman distinction in knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones. How could you have achieved such a state now that you’ve become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence?’ So I said to them, ‘The Realized One has not become indulgent, strayed from the struggle and fallen into indulgence. The Realized One is Perfected, a fully awakened Buddha.

listen!Odahatha, mendicantsbhikkhave, earsotaṁ. deathless attainedAmatamadhigataṁ I instructahamanusāsāmi, Iahaṁ dhammadhammaṁ I teachdesemi.
as instructedYathānusiṭṭhaṁ sotathā practicingpaṭipajjamānā before long—for whose sakenacirasseva—yassatthāya clansmenkulaputtā rightlysammadeva from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ go forthpabbajanti, that supreme—culmination of the spiritual pathtadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ in this very lifediṭṭheva in dhammadhamme oneselfsayaṁ by insightabhiññā having realizedsacchikatvā having attainedupasampajja you will liveviharissathā’ti.
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho, princerājakumāra, of the group of fivepañcavaggiyā mendicantsbhikkhū memaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
by that too‘tāyapi indeedkho youtvaṁ, friendāvuso Gotamagotama, by conductiriyāya by thattāya by practicepaṭipadāya by thattāya by difficult deedsdukkarakārikāya you did not attainnājjhagamā beyonduttari superhuman statesmanussadhammā distinction of noble knowledge and visionalamariyañāṇadassanavisesaṁ; whatkiṁ thenpana youtvaṁ nowetarahi indulgentbāhulliko negligent in strivingpadhānavibbhanto turnedāvatto to indulgencebāhullāya you will attainadhigamissasi beyonduttari superhuman statesmanussadhammā distinction of noble knowledge and visionalamariyañāṇadassanavisesan’ti?
for a second timeDutiyampi indeedkho Iahaṁ, princerājakumāra, to the group of fivepañcavaggiye mendicantsbhikkhū said thisetadavocaṁ:
not‘na, mendicantsbhikkhave, Realized Onetathāgato indulgentbāhulliko notna negligent in strivingpadhānavibbhanto notna turnedāvatto to indulgencebāhullāya.
the Worthy OneArahaṁ, mendicantsbhikkhave, Realized Onetathāgato fully awakenedsammāsambuddho.
listen!Odahatha, mendicantsbhikkhave, earsotaṁ. deathless attainedAmatamadhigataṁ I instructahamanusāsāmi, Iahaṁ dhammadhammaṁ I teachdesemi.

Listen up, mendicants: I have achieved freedom from death! I shall instruct you, I will teach you the Dhamma. By practicing as instructed you will soon realize the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. You will live having achieved with your own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.’ But for a second time they said to me, ‘Reverend Gotama … you’ve fallen into indulgence.’ So for a second time I said to them, ‘The Realized One has not become indulgent …’

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