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  Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One: “The ascetic Gotama is indeed a chief bull, sir! <59> And when bodily feelings have arisen that are painful ... disagreeable, through his chief bull’s manner he endures them, mindful and clearly comprehending, without becoming distressed.”

  Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One: “The ascetic Gotama is indeed a beast of burden, sir! And when bodily feelings have arisen that are painful ... disagreeable, through his beast-of-burden’s manner he endures them, mindful and clearly comprehending, without becoming distressed.”

  Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One: “The ascetic Gotama is indeed tamed, sir! And when bodily feelings have arisen that are painful, racking, sharp, piercing, harrowing, disagreeable, through his tamed manner he endures them, mindful and clearly comprehending, without becoming distressed.”

  Then another devatā uttered this inspired utterance in the presence of the Blessed One: “See his concentration well developed and his mind well liberated—not bent forward and not bent back, and not blocked and checked by forceful suppression! 88 If anyone would think such a one could be violated—such a nāga of a man, such a lion of a man, [29] such a thoroughbred of a man, <60> such a chief bull of a man, such a beast of burden of a man, such a tamed man—what is that due to apart from lack of vision?”

  125 Though brahmins learned in the five Vedas

  Practise austerities for a hundred years,

  Their minds are not rightly liberated:

  Those of low nature do not reach the far shore.89

  126 They founder in craving, bound to vows and rules,

  Practising rough austerity for a hundred years,

  But their minds are not rightly liberated:

  Those of low nature do not reach the far shore.

  127 There is no taming here for one fond of conceit,

  Nor is there sagehood for the unconcentrated:

  Though dwelling alone in the forest, heedless, <61>

  One cannot cross beyond the realm of Death.

  128 Having abandoned conceit, well concentrated,

  With lofty mind, everywhere released:

  While dwelling alone in the forest, diligent,

  One can cross beyond the realm of Death.

  39 (9) Pajjunna’s Daughter (1)

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Then, when the night had advanced, Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Great Wood, approached the Blessed One.90 Having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:91 129 “I worship the Buddha, the best of beings,

  Dwelling in the woods at Vesālī. [30] <62>

  Kokanadā am I,

  Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter.92

  130 “Earlier I had only heard that the Dhamma

  Has been realized by the One with Vision;

  But now I know it as a witness

  While the Sage, the Fortunate One, teaches.

  131 “Those ignorant people who go about

  Criticizing the noble Dhamma

  Pass on to the terrible Roruva hell

  And experience suffering for a long time.93

  132 “But those who have peace and acquiescence

  In regard to the noble Dhamma,

  On discarding the human body,

  Will fill the host of devas.”94

  40 (10) Pajjunna’s Daughter (2) <63>

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesālī in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof. Then, when the night had advanced, Cūḷakokanadā, Pajjunna’s [younger] daughter, of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Great Wood, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, she paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:133 “Here came Kokanadā, Pajjunna’s daughter,

  Beautiful as the gleam of lightning.

  Venerating the Buddha and the Dhamma,

  She spoke these verses full of meaning. [31]

  134 “Though the Dhamma is of such a nature

  That I might analyse it in many ways,

  I will state its meaning briefly

  To the extent I have learnt it by heart.95

  135 “One should do no evil in all the world, <64>

  Not by speech, mind, or body.

  Having abandoned sense pleasures,

  Mindful and clearly comprehending,

  One should not pursue a course

  That is painful and harmful.”

  V. ABLAZE

  41 (1) Ablaze

  Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then, when the night had advanced, a certain devatā of stunning beauty, illuminating the entire Jeta’s Grove, approached the Blessed One. <65> Having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One, stood to one side, and recited these verses in the presence of the Blessed One:136 “When one’s house is ablaze

  The vessel taken out

  Is the one that is useful,

  Not the one left burnt inside.

  137 “So when the world is ablaze

  With [the fires of] aging and death,

  One should take out [one’s wealth] by giving:

  What is given is well salvaged. [32] <66>

  13996 “What is given yields pleasant fruit,

  But not so what is not given.

  Thieves take it away, or kings,

  It gets burnt by fire or is lost.

  140 “Then in the end one leaves the body

  Along with one’s possessions.

  Having understood this, the wise person

  Should enjoy himself but also give.

  Having given and enjoyed as fits his means,

  Blameless he goes to the heavenly state.”

  42 (2) Giving What?

  [A devatā:]141 “Giving what does one give strength?

  Giving what does one give beauty?

  Giving what does one give ease?

  Giving what does one give sight?

  Who is the giver of all?

  Being asked, please explain to me.” <67>

  [The Blessed One:]142 “Giving food, one gives strength;

  Giving clothes, one gives beauty;

  Giving a vehicle, one gives ease;

  Giving a lamp, one gives sight.

  143 “The one who gives a residence

  Is the giver of all.

  But the one who teaches the Dhamma

  Is the giver of the Deathless.”

  43 (3) Food

  144 “They always take delight in food,

  Both devas and human beings.

  So what sort of spirit could it be

  That does not take delight in food?”97

  145 “When they give out of faith

  With a heart of confidence,

  Food accrues to [the giver] himself

  Both in this world and the next. <68>

  146 “Therefore, having removed stinginess,

  The conqueror of the stain should give a gift.

  Merits are the support for living beings

  [When they arise] in the other world.”

  44 (4) One Root

  [A devatā:]147 “The seer has crossed over the abyss

  With its one root, two whirlpools,

  Three stains, five extensions,

  An ocean with twelve eddies.”98 [33]

  45 (5) Perfect

  [A devatā:]148 “Behold him of perfect name,

  The seer of the subtle goal,

  The giver of wisdom, unattached

  To the lair of sensual pleasures. <69>

  Behold the wise one, all-knowing,

  The great seer treading the noble pa
th.”99

  46 (6) Nymphs

  149 “Resounding with a host of nymphs,

  Haunted by a host of demons!

  This grove is to be called ‘Deluding’:

  How does one escape from it?”100

  150 “‘The straight way’ that path is called,

  And ‘fearless’ is its destination.

  The chariot is called ‘unrattling,’

  Fitted with wheels of wholesome states.

  151 “The sense of shame is its leaning board,

  Mindfulness its upholstery;

  I call the Dhamma the charioteer,

  With right view running out in front.101 <70>

  152 “One who has such a vehicle—

  Whether a woman or a man—

  Has, by means of this vehicle,

  Drawn close to Nibbāna.”102

  47 (7) Planters of Groves

  153 “For whom does merit always increase,

  Both by day and by night?

  Who are the people going to heaven,

  Established in Dhamma, endowed with virtue?”

  154 “Those who set up a park or a grove,

  The people who construct a bridge,

  A place to drink and a well,

  Those who give a residence:103

  155 “For them merit always increases,

  Both by day and by night;

  Those are the people going to heaven,

  Established in Dhamma, endowed with virtue.” <71>

  48 (8) Jeta’s Grove

  [The devatā Anāthapiṇḍika:]156 “This indeed is that Jeta’s Grove,

  The resort of the Order of seers,

  Dwelt in by the Dhamma King,

  A place that gives me joy.104 [34]

  157 “Action, knowledge, righteousness,

  Virtue, an excellent life:

  By this are mortals purified,

  Not by clan or wealth.

  158 “Therefore a person who is wise,

  Out of regard for his own good,

  Should carefully examine the Dhamma:

  Thus he is purified in it.

  159 “Sāriputta truly is endowed with wisdom,

  With virtue and with inner peace.

  Even a bhikkhu who has gone beyond

  At best can only equal him.”105 <72>

  49 (9) Stingy

  [A devatā:]160 “Those who are stingy here in the world,

  Niggardly folk, revilers,

  People who create obstacles

  For others engaged in giving alms:

  161 What kind of result do they reap?

  What kind of future destiny?

  We’ve come to ask the Blessed One this:

  How are we to understand it?”

  [The Blessed One:]162 “Those who are stingy here in the world,

  Niggardly folk, revilers,

  People who create obstacles

  For others engaged in giving alms:

  They might be reborn in hell,

  In the animal realm or Yama’s world.106

  163 “If they come back to the human state

  They are born in a poor family <73>

  Where clothes, food, pleasures, and sport

  Are obtained only with difficulty.

  164 “Whatever the fools may expect from others,

  Even that they do not obtain.

  This is the result in this very life;

  And in the future a bad destination.”

  [A devatā:]165 “We understand thus what you have said;

  We ask, O Gotama, another question:

  Those here who, on gaining the human state,

  Are amiable and generous,

  Confident in the Buddha and the Dhamma

  And deeply respectful towards the Saṅgha:

  166 What kind of result do they reap?

  What kind of future destiny?

  We’ve come to ask the Blessed One this:

  How are we to understand it?” <74>

  [The Blessed One:]167 “Those here who, on gaining the human state,

  Are amiable and generous,

  Confident in the Buddha and the Dhamma

  And deeply respectful towards the Saṅgha,

  These brighten up the heavens

  Where they’ve been reborn.107 [35]

  168 “If they come back to the human state

  They are reborn in a rich family

  Where clothes, food, pleasures, and sport

  Are obtained without difficulty.

  169 “They rejoice like the devas who control

  The goods amassed by others.108

  This is the result in this very life;

  And in the future a good destination.” <75>

  50 (10) Ghaṭīkāra

  [The devatā Ghaṭīkāra:]170 “Seven bhikkhus reborn in Avihā

  Have been fully liberated.

  With lust and hatred utterly destroyed,

  They have crossed over attachment to the world.”109

  [The Blessed One:]171 “And who are those who crossed the swamp,

  The realm of Death so hard to cross?

  Who, having left the human body,

  Have overcome the celestial bond?”110

  [Ghaṭīkāra:]172 “Upaka and Palagaṇḍa,

  With Pukkusāti—these are three.

  Then Bhaddiya and Bhaddadeva,

  And Bāhudantī and Piṅgiya.

  These, having left the human body,

  Have overcome the celestial bond.”111

  [The Blessed One:] <76>173 “Good is the word you speak of them,

  Of those who have abandoned Māra’s snares.

  Whose Dhamma was it that they understood

  Whereby they cut through the bondage of existence?”112

  [Ghaṭīkāra:]174 “It was not apart from the Blessed One!

  It was not apart from your Teaching!

  By having understood your Dhamma

  They cut through the bondage of existence.

  175 “Where name-and-form ceases,

  Stops without remainder:

  By understanding that Dhamma here

  They cut through the bondage of existence.”113

  [The Blessed One:]176 “Deep is the speech you utter,

  Hard to understand, very hard to grasp.

  Having understood whose Dhamma

  Do you utter such speech?” <77>

  [Ghaṭīkāra:]177 “In the past I was the potter,

  Ghaṭīkāra in Vehaḷiṅga.

  I supported my mother and father then

  As a lay follower of the Buddha Kassapa. [36]

  178 “I abstained from sexual intercourse,

  I was celibate, free from carnal ties.

  I was your fellow villager,

  In the past I was your friend.

  179 “I am the one who knows

  These seven liberated bhikkhus,

  Who with lust and hatred utterly destroyed

  Have crossed over attachment to the world.”

  [The Blessed One:]180 “Just so it was at that time,

  As you say, O Bhaggava:114

  In the past you were the potter, <78>

  Ghaṭīkara in Vehaḷiṅga.

  You supported your mother and father then

  As a lay follower of the Buddha Kassapa.

  181 “You abstained from sexual intercourse,

  You were celibate, free from carnal ties.

  You were my fellow villager,

  In the past you were my friend.”

  182 Such was the meeting that took place

  Between those friends from the past,

  Both now inwardly developed,

  Bearers of their final bodies.115

  <79>

  VI. OLD AGE

  51 (1) Old Age

  [A devatā:]183 “What is good until old age?

  What is good when established?

  What is the precious gem of humans?

  What is hard for thieves to steal?”


  [The Blessed One:]184 “Virtue is good until old age;

  Faith is good when established;

  Wisdom is the precious gem of humans;

  Merit is hard for thieves to steal.”

  52 (2) Undecaying <80>

  185 “What is good by not decaying?

  What is good when made secure?

  What is the precious gem of humans?

  What cannot be stolen by thieves?”116 [37]

  186 “Virtue is good by not decaying;

  Faith is good when made secure;

  Wisdom is the precious gem of humans;

  Merit cannot be stolen by thieves.”