The Questions of Sāriputta · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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“Na me diṭṭho ito pubbe, (iccāyasmā sāriputto) Na suto uda kassaci; Evaṁ vagguvado satthā, Tusitā gaṇimāgato.
“Never before have I seen,” said Venerable Sāriputta, “or heard from anyone about a teacher of such graceful speech, come from Tusita heaven to lead a community.
Sadevakassa lokassa, yathā dissati cakkhumā; Sabbaṁ tamaṁ vinodetvā, ekova ratimajjhagā.
To all the world with its gods he appears as a Clear-eyed One who has dispelled all darkness, and alone attained to bliss.
Taṁ buddhaṁ asitaṁ tādiṁ, akuhaṁ gaṇimāgataṁ; Bahūnamidha baddhānaṁ, atthi pañhena āgamaṁ.
On behalf of the many here still bound, I have come seeking with a question to that Buddha, unattached and impartial, free of deceit, come to lead a community.
Bhikkhuno vijigucchato, bhajato rittamāsanaṁ; Rukkhamūlaṁ susānaṁ vā, pabbatānaṁ guhāsu vā.
Suppose a mendicant who loathes attachment frequents a lonely lodging— the root of a tree, a charnel ground, on mountains, or in caves.
Uccāvacesu sayanesu, kīvanto tattha bheravā; Yehi bhikkhu na vedheyya, nigghose sayanāsane.
In these many different lodgings, how many dangers are there at which a mendicant in their silent lodging ought not tremble?
Katī parissayā loke, gacchato agataṁ disaṁ; Ye bhikkhu abhisambhave, pantamhi sayanāsane.
On their journey to the untrodden place, how many adversities are there in the world that must they overcome in their remote lodging?
Kyāssa byappathayo assu, kyāssassu idha gocarā; Kāni sīlabbatānāssu, pahitattassa bhikkhuno.
What ways of speech should they have? Of what kind is their alms resort? What precepts and vows should a resolute mendicant uphold?
Kaṁ so sikkhaṁ samādāya, ekodi nipako sato; Kammāro rajatasseva, niddhame malamattano”.
Having undertaken what training, unified, alert, and mindful, would they purge their own stains, like a smith smelting silver?”
“Vijigucchamānassa yadidaṁ phāsu, (sāriputtāti bhagavā) Rittāsanaṁ sayanaṁ sevato ce; Sambodhikāmassa yathānudhammaṁ, Taṁ te pavakkhāmi yathā pajānaṁ.
“If one who loathes attachment frequents a lonely lodging,” said the Buddha to Sāriputta, “in their search for awakening—as accords with the teaching— I shall tell you, as I understand it, what is comfortable for them.
Pañcannaṁ dhīro bhayānaṁ na bhāye, Bhikkhu sato sapariyantacārī; Ḍaṁsādhipātānaṁ sarīsapānaṁ, Manussaphassānaṁ catuppadānaṁ.
An attentive one, a mindful mendicant living on the periphery should not be afraid of five perils: flies, mosquitoes, reptiles, human contact, or four-legged creatures.
Paradhammikānampi na santaseyya, Disvāpi tesaṁ bahubheravāni; Athāparāni abhisambhaveyya, Parissayāni kusalānuesī.
Nor should they fear followers of other teachings, even having seen the many threats they pose. And then one seeking the good should overcome any other adversities.
Ātaṅkaphassena khudāya phuṭṭho, Sītaṁ athuṇhaṁ adhivāsayeyya; So tehi phuṭṭho bahudhā anoko, Viriyaṁ parakkammadaḷhaṁ kareyya.
Afflicted by illness and hunger, they should endure cold and excessive heat. Though afflicted by many such things, the homeless one should exert energy, firmly striving.
Theyyaṁ na kāre na musā bhaṇeyya, Mettāya phasse tasathāvarāni; Yadāvilattaṁ manaso vijaññā, Kaṇhassa pakkhoti vinodayeyya.
They must not steal or lie; and should touch creatures firm or frail with love. If they notice any clouding of the mind, they should dispel it as Māra’s ally.
Kodhātimānassa vasaṁ na gacche, Mūlampi tesaṁ palikhañña tiṭṭhe; Athappiyaṁ vā pana appiyaṁ vā, Addhā bhavanto abhisambhaveyya.
They must not fall under the sway of anger or arrogance; having dug them out by the root, they would stand firm. Then, faced with likes and dislikes, they would surely overcome.
Paññaṁ purakkhatvā kalyāṇapīti, Vikkhambhaye tāni parissayāni; Aratiṁ sahetha sayanamhi pante, Caturo sahetha paridevadhamme.
Putting wisdom in the foremost place, rejoicing in goodness, they would put an end to those adversities. They’d vanquish discontent in their remote lodging. And they’d vanquish the four lamentations:
Kiṁsū asissāmi kuva vā asissaṁ, Dukkhaṁ vata settha kvajja sessaṁ; Ete vitakke paridevaneyye, Vinayetha sekho aniketacārī.
‘What will I eat? Where will I eat? Oh, I slept badly! Where will I sleep?’ The trainee, the migrant without abode, would dispel these lamentable thoughts.
Annañca laddhā vasanañca kāle, Mattaṁ so jaññā idha tosanatthaṁ; So tesu gutto yatacāri gāme, Rusitopi vācaṁ pharusaṁ na vajjā.
Receiving food and clothes in due season, they would know moderation for the sake of contentment. Guarded in these things, walking restrained in the village, they wouldn’t speak harshly even when provoked.
Okkhittacakkhu na ca pādalolo, Jhānānuyutto bahujāgarassa; Upekkhamārabbha samāhitatto, Takkāsayaṁ kukkucciyūpachinde.
Eyes downcast, not footloose, devoted to absorption, they’d be very wakeful. Grounded in equanimity, serene, they should cut off worrisome habits of thought.
Cudito vacībhi satimābhinande, Sabrahmacārīsu khilaṁ pabhinde; Vācaṁ pamuñce kusalaṁ nātivelaṁ, Janavādadhammāya na cetayeyya.
A mindful one would welcome reproach, and would dissolve hard-heartedness toward their spiritual companions. They may utter skillful speech, but not for too long, and they shouldn’t provoke people to blame.
Athāparaṁ pañca rajāni loke, Yesaṁ satīmā vinayāya sikkhe; Rūpesu saddesu atho rasesu, Gandhesu phassesu sahetha rāgaṁ.
And there are five more taints in the world, for the removal of which the mindful one should train, vanquishing desire for sights, sounds, flavors, smells, and touches.
Etesu dhammesu vineyya chandaṁ, Bhikkhu satimā suvimuttacitto; Kālena so sammā dhammaṁ parivīmaṁsamāno, Ekodibhūto vihane tamaṁ so”ti. Sāriputtasuttaṁ soḷasamaṁ. Aṭṭhakavaggo catuttho.
Having removed desire for these things, a mindful mendicant, their heart well freed, rightly investigating the Dhamma in good time, at one, would banish the darkness.”
Tassuddānaṁ Kāmaṁ guhañca duṭṭhā ca, suddhañca paramā jarā; Metteyyo ca pasūro ca, māgaṇḍi purābhedanaṁ.
Kalahaṁ dve ca byūhāni, punadeva tuvaṭṭakaṁ; Attadaṇḍavaraṁ suttaṁ, therapuṭṭhena soḷasa; Iti etāni suttāni, sabbānaṭṭhakavaggikāti.
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