Introductory Verses · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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Kosalānaṁ purā rammā, agamā dakkhiṇāpathaṁ; Ākiñcaññaṁ patthayāno, brāhmaṇo mantapāragū.
From the fair city of the Kosalans to the southern region came a brahmin expert in hymns, aspiring to nothingness.
So assakassa visaye, aḷakassa samāsane; Vasi godhāvarīkūle, uñchena ca phalena ca.
He settled in a region under the shared dominion of Assaka and Muḷaka, where he lived on the bank of the Godāvarī River, getting by on gleanings and fruit.
Tasseva upanissāya, gāmo ca vipulo ahu; Tato jātena āyena, mahāyaññamakappayi.
He was supported by a prosperous village nearby. With the revenue earned from there he performed a great sacrifice.
Mahāyaññaṁ yajitvāna, puna pāvisi assamaṁ; Tasmiṁ paṭipaviṭṭhamhi, añño āgañchi brāhmaṇo.
When he had completed the great sacrifice, he returned to his hermitage once more. Upon his return, another brahmin arrived.
Ugghaṭṭapādo tasito, paṅkadanto rajassiro; So ca naṁ upasaṅkamma, satāni pañca yācati.
Foot-sore and thirsty, with grotty teeth and dusty head, he approached the other and asked for five hundred coins.
Tamenaṁ bāvarī disvā, āsanena nimantayi; Sukhañca kusalaṁ pucchi, idaṁ vacanamabravi.
When Bāvari saw him, he invited him to sit down, asked of his happiness and well-being, and said the following.
“Yaṁ kho mama deyyadhammaṁ, Sabbaṁ visajjitaṁ mayā; Anujānāhi me brahme, Natthi pañcasatāni me”.
“Whatever I had available to give, I have already distributed. Believe me, brahmin, I don’t have five hundred coins.”
“Sace me yācamānassa, bhavaṁ nānupadassati; Sattame divase tuyhaṁ, muddhā phalatu sattadhā”.
“If, good fellow, you do not give me what I ask, then on the seventh day, let your head explode in seven!”
Abhisaṅkharitvā kuhako, bheravaṁ so akittayi; Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā, bāvarī dukkhito ahu.
After performing a ritual, that charlatan uttered his dreadful curse. When he heard these words, Bāvari became distressed.
Ussussati anāhāro, Sokasallasamappito; Athopi evaṁ cittassa, Jhāne na ramatī mano.
Not eating, he grew emaciated, stricken by the dart of sorrow. And in such a state of mind, he could not enjoy absorption.
Utrastaṁ dukkhitaṁ disvā, Devatā atthakāminī; Bāvariṁ upasaṅkamma, Idaṁ vacanamabravi.
Seeing him anxious and distraught, a goddess wishing to help, approached Bāvari and said the following.
“Na so muddhaṁ pajānāti, Kuhako so dhanatthiko; Muddhani muddhapāte vā, Ñāṇaṁ tassa na vijjati”.
“That charlatan understands nothing about the head, he only wants money. When it comes to heads or head-splitting, he has no knowledge at all.”
“Bhotī carahi jānāsi, Taṁ me akkhāhi pucchitā; Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca, Taṁ suṇoma vaco tava”.
“Then you, Madam, must know— please answer my question. Let me hear what you say about heads and head-splitting.”
“Ahampetaṁ na jānāmi, Ñāṇamettha na vijjati; Muddhani muddhādhipāte ca, Jinānaṁ hettha dassanaṁ”.
“I too do not know that, I have no knowledge in that matter. When it comes to heads or head-splitting, it is the Victors who have vision.”
“Atha ko carahi jānāti, Asmiṁ pathavimaṇḍale; Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca, Taṁ me akkhāhi devate”.
“So who then, in all this vast territory, does know about heads and head-splitting? Please tell me, goddess.”
“Purā kapilavatthumhā, Nikkhanto lokanāyako; Apacco okkākarājassa, Sakyaputto pabhaṅkaro.
“From the city of Kapilavatthu the World Leader has gone forth. He is a scion of King Okkāka, a Sakyan, and a beacon.
So hi brāhmaṇa sambuddho, Sabbadhammāna pāragū; Sabbābhiññābalappatto, Sabbadhammesu cakkhumā; Sabbakammakkhayaṁ patto, Vimutto upadhikkhaye.
For he, brahmin, is the Awakened One! He has gone beyond all things; he has attained to all knowledge and power; his eye sees clearly in all things, he has attained the end of all deeds; he is freed with the ending of attachments.
Buddho so bhagavā loke, Dhammaṁ deseti cakkhumā; Taṁ tvaṁ gantvāna pucchassu, So te taṁ byākarissati”.
That Buddha, the Blessed One in the world, the Clear-eyed One, teaches Dhamma. Go to him and ask— he will answer you.”
Sambuddhoti vaco sutvā, Udaggo bāvarī ahu; Sokassa tanuko āsi, Pītiñca vipulaṁ labhi.
When he heard the word “Buddha”, Bāvari was elated. His sorrow faded, and he was filled to brimming with joy.
So bāvarī attamano udaggo, Taṁ devataṁ pucchati vedajāto; “Katamamhi gāme nigamamhi vā pana, Katamamhi vā janapade lokanātho; Yattha gantvāna passemu, Sambuddhaṁ dvipaduttamaṁ”.
Uplifted, elated, and inspired, Bāvari questioned that goddess: “But in what village or town, or in what land is the protector of the world, where we may go and pay respects to the Awakened One, best of men?”
“Sāvatthiyaṁ kosalamandire jino, Pahūtapañño varabhūrimedhaso; So sakyaputto vidhuro anāsavo, Muddhādhipātassa vidū narāsabho”.
“Near Sāvatthī, home of the Kosalans, is the Victor abounding in wisdom, vast in intelligence. That Sakyan is indefatigable, free of defilements, that captain of men understands head-splitting.”
Tato āmantayī sisse, Brāhmaṇe mantapārage; “Etha māṇavā akkhissaṁ, Suṇātha vacanaṁ mama.
Therefore he addressed his acolytes, brahmins who had mastered the hymns: “Come, students, I shall speak. Listen to what I say.
Yasseso dullabho loke, Pātubhāvo abhiṇhaso; Svājja lokamhi uppanno, Sambuddho iti vissuto; Khippaṁ gantvāna sāvatthiṁ, Passavho dvipaduttamaṁ”.
Today has arisen in the world one whose appearance in the world is hard to find again— he is renowned as the Awakened One. Quickly go to Sāvatthī and see the best of men.”
“Kathaṁ carahi jānemu, Disvā buddhoti brāhmaṇa; Ajānataṁ no pabrūhi, Yathā jānemu taṁ mayaṁ”.
“Brahmin, how then are we to know the Buddha when we see him? We don’t know, please tell us, so we can recognize him.”
“Āgatāni hi mantesu, Mahāpurisalakkhaṇā; Dvattiṁsāni ca byākkhātā, Samattā anupubbaso.
“The marks of a great man have been handed down in our hymns. Thirty-two have been described, complete and in order.
Yassete honti gattesu, Mahāpurisalakkhaṇā; Dveyeva tassa gatiyo, Tatiyā hi na vijjati.
One upon whose body is found these marks of a great man has two possible destinies, there is no third.
Sace agāraṁ āvasati, Vijeyya pathaviṁ imaṁ; Adaṇḍena asatthena, Dhammena manusāsati.
If he stays at home, having conquered this land without rod or sword, he shall govern by principle.
Sace ca so pabbajati, Agārā anagāriyaṁ; Vivaṭṭacchado sambuddho, Arahā bhavati anuttaro.
But if he goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, he becomes an Awakened One, a perfected one, with veil cast off, supreme.
Jātiṁ gottañca lakkhaṇaṁ, Mante sisse punāpare; Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca, Manasāyeva pucchatha.
Ask him about my birth, clan, and marks, my hymns and acolytes; and further, about heads and head-splitting— but do so only in your mind!
Anāvaraṇadassāvī, Yadi buddho bhavissati; Manasā pucchite pañhe, Vācāya vissajessati”.
If he is the Buddha of unhindered vision, he will answer with his voice the questions in your mind.”
Bāvarissa vaco sutvā, Sissā soḷasa brāhmaṇā; Ajito tissametteyyo, Puṇṇako atha mettagū.
Sixteen brahmin acolytes heard what Bāvari said: Ajita, Tissametteyya, Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,
Dhotako upasīvo ca, Nando ca atha hemako; Todeyya-kappā dubhayo, Jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito.
Dhotaka and Upasīva, Nanda and then Hemaka, both Todeyya and Kappa, and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,
Bhadrāvudho udayo ca, Posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo; Mogharājā ca medhāvī, Piṅgiyo ca mahāisi.
Bhadrāvudha and Udaya, and the brahmin Posāla, Mogharāja the intelligent, and Piṅgiya the great seer.
Paccekagaṇino sabbe, Sabbalokassa vissutā; Jhāyī jhānaratā dhīrā, Pubbavāsanavāsitā.
Each of them had their own following, they were renowned the whole world over. Those attentive ones, meditators who love absorption, were redolent with the potential of their past deeds.
Bāvariṁ abhivādetvā, Katvā ca naṁ padakkhiṇaṁ; Jaṭājinadharā sabbe, Pakkāmuṁ uttarāmukhā.
Having bowed to Bāvari, and circled him to his right, they set out for the north, with their dreadlocks and hides.
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