Selasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 92

With Sela · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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“Mayā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ,
(selāti bhagavā)
Dhammacakkaṁ anuttaraṁ;
Sāriputto anuvatteti,
Anujāto tathāgataṁ.
Abhiññeyyaṁ abhiññātaṁ,
bhāvetabbañca bhāvitaṁ;
Pahātabbaṁ pahīnaṁ me,
tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇa.
Vinayassu mayi kaṅkhaṁ,
adhimuccassu brāhmaṇa;
Dullabhaṁ dassanaṁ hoti,
sambuddhānaṁ abhiṇhaso.
Yesaṁ ve dullabho loke,
pātubhāvo abhiṇhaso;
Sohaṁ brāhmaṇa sambuddho,
sallakatto anuttaro.
Brahmabhūto atitulo,
mārasenappamaddano;
Sabbāmitte vasī katvā,
modāmi akutobhayo”.

“By me the wheel was rolled forth,” said the Buddha, “the supreme wheel of the teaching. Sāriputta, taking after the Realized One, keeps it rolling on. I have known what should be known, and developed what should be developed, and given up what should be given up: and so, brahmin, I am a Buddha. Dispel your doubt in me— make up your mind, brahmin! The sight of a Buddha is hard to find again. I am a Buddha, brahmin, the supreme surgeon, one of those whose appearance in the world is hard to find again. A manifestation of divinity, unequaled, crusher of Māra’s army; having subdued all my opponents, I rejoice, fearing nothing from any quarter.”

“Imaṁ bhonto nisāmetha,
yathā bhāsati cakkhumā;
Sallakatto mahāvīro,
sīhova nadatī vane.
Brahmabhūtaṁ atitulaṁ,
mārasenappamaddanaṁ;
Ko disvā nappasīdeyya,
api kaṇhābhijātiko.
Yo maṁ icchati anvetu,
yo vā nicchati gacchatu;
Idhāhaṁ pabbajissāmi,
varapaññassa santike”.

“Pay heed, sirs, to what is spoken by the Clear-eyed One. The surgeon, the great hero, roars like a lion in the jungle. A manifestation of divinity, unequaled, crusher of Māra’s army; who would not be inspired by him, even one born in a dark class? Those who wish may follow me; those who don’t may go. Right here, I’ll go forth in his presence, the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

“Etañce ruccati bhoto,
sammāsambuddhasāsanaṁ;
Mayampi pabbajissāma,
varapaññassa santike”.

“Sir, if you endorse the teaching of the Buddha, we’ll also go forth in his presence, the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

Brāhmaṇā tisatā ime,
yācanti pañjalīkatā;
“Brahmacariyaṁ carissāma,
bhagavā tava santike”.

“These three hundred brahmins with cupped palms held up, ask: ‘May we lead the spiritual life in your presence, Blessed One?’”

“Svākkhātaṁ brahmacariyaṁ,
(selāti bhagavā)
Sandiṭṭhikamakālikaṁ;
Yattha amoghā pabbajjā,
Appamattassa sikkhato”ti.

“The spiritual life is well explained,” said the Buddha, “apparent in the present life, immediately effective. Here the going forth isn’t in vain for one who trains with diligence.”

Alattha kho selo brāhmaṇo sapariso bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ.

And the brahmin Sela together with his assembly received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo tassā rattiyā accayena sake assame paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocāpesi:
“kālo, bho gotama, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena keṇiyassa jaṭilassa assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena.
Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi, sampavāresi.
Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ bhagavā imāhi gāthāhi anumodi:

And when the night had passed Keṇiya had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own hermitage. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, “It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.” Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Keṇiya’s hermitage, where he sat down on the seat spread out together with the Saṅgha of mendicants. Then Keṇiya served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Keṇiya took a low seat and sat to one side. The Buddha expressed his appreciation with these verses:

“Aggihuttamukhā yaññā,
sāvittī chandaso mukhaṁ;
Rājā mukhaṁ manussānaṁ,
nadīnaṁ sāgaro mukhaṁ.
Nakkhattānaṁ mukhaṁ cando,
ādicco tapataṁ mukhaṁ;
Puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānānaṁ,
saṅgho ve yajataṁ mukhan”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ imāhi gāthāhi anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

“The foremost of sacrifices is the offering to the sacred flame; the Sāvitrī is the foremost of prayer; of humans, the king is the foremost; the ocean’s the foremost of rivers; the foremost of stars is the moon; the sun is the foremost of blazes; for those who sacrifice seeking merit, the Saṅgha is the foremost.” When the Buddha had expressed his appreciation to Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic with these verses, he rose from his seat and left.

Atha kho āyasmā selo sapariso eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.
“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi.
Aññataro kho panāyasmā selo sapariso arahataṁ ahosi.

Then Venerable Sela and his assembly, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. They understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” And Venerable Sela together with his assembly became perfected.

Atha kho āyasmā selo sapariso yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:
“Yaṁ taṁ saraṇamāgamma,
ito aṭṭhami cakkhumā;
Sattarattena bhagavā,
dantamha tava sāsane.
Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā,
tuvaṁ mārābhibhū muni;
Tuvaṁ anusaye chetvā,
tiṇṇo tāresimaṁ pajaṁ.
Upadhī te samatikkantā,
āsavā te padālitā;
Sīhova anupādāno,
pahīnabhayabheravo.
Bhikkhavo tisatā ime,
tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā;
Pāde vīra pasārehi,
nāgā vandantu satthuno”ti.
Selasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.

Then Sela with his assembly went to the Buddha. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and said: “This is the eighth day since we went for refuge, O Clear-eyed One. In these seven days, Blessed One, we’ve become tamed in your teaching. You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher, you are the sage who has overcome Māra; you have cut off the underlying tendencies, you’ve crossed over, and you bring humanity across. You have transcended attachments, your defilements are shattered; like a lion free of grasping, with fear and dread given up. These three hundred mendicants stand with cupped palms raised. Stretch out your feet, great hero: let these giants bow to the Teacher.”

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