AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.35 With Vassakāra

Numbered Discourses 4.35 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.35

4. Situations – 4. Cakkavagga

AN 4.35 With Vassakāra – Vassakārasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.

1.2

Then Vassakāra the brahmin, a chief minister of Magadha, went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo magadhamahāmatto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

1.3

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo magadhamahāmatto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Master Gotama, when someone has four qualities we describe him as a great man with great wisdom.

“Catūhi kho mayaṁ, bho gotama, dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpema.

2.2

What four?

Katamehi catūhi?

2.3

They are very learned in diverse fields of learning.

Idha, bho gotama, bahussuto hoti tassa tasseva sutajātassa

2.4

They understand the meaning of diverse statements, saying: ‘This is what that statement means; that is what this statement means.’

tassa tasseva kho pana bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti: ‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti.

2.5

They are mindful, able to remember and recollect what was said and done long ago.

Satimā kho pana hoti cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā

2.6

They are deft and tireless in household duties, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.

yāni kho pana tāni gahaṭṭhakāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.

2.7

When someone has these four qualities we describe him as a great man with great wisdom.

Imehi kho mayaṁ, bho gotama, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpema.

2.8

If Master Gotama agrees with me, please say so.

Sace me, bho gotama, anumoditabbaṁ anumodatu me bhavaṁ gotamo;

2.9

If he disagrees, please say so.”

sace pana me, bho gotama, paṭikkositabbaṁ paṭikkosatu me bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

3.1

“Brahmin, I neither agree nor disagree with you,

“Neva kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anumodāmi na paṭikkosāmi.

3.2

but when someone has four qualities I describe him as a great man with great wisdom.

Catūhi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpemi.

3.3

What four?

Katamehi catūhi?

3.4

It’s when someone practices for the welfare and happiness of the people.

Idha, brāhmaṇa, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya;

3.5

They’ve established many people in the noble method, that is, the dhamma of goodness and skillfulness.

bahu’ssa janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.

3.6

They think what they want to think, and don’t think what they don’t want to think.

So yaṁ vitakkaṁ ākaṅkhati vitakketuṁ taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakketi, yaṁ vitakkaṁ nākaṅkhati vitakketuṁ na taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakketi;

3.7

They consider what they want to consider, and don’t consider what they don’t want to consider.

yaṁ saṅkappaṁ ākaṅkhati saṅkappetuṁ taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti, yaṁ saṅkappaṁ nākaṅkhati saṅkappetuṁ na taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti.

3.8

Thus they have achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.

Iti cetovasippatto hoti vitakkapathe.

3.9

They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

3.10

They realize the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. And they live having realized it with their own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.

3.11

Brahmin, I neither agree nor disagree with you,

Neva kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anumodāmi na pana paṭikkosāmi.

3.12

but when someone has these four qualities I describe him as a great man with great wisdom.”

Imehi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpemī”ti.

4.1

“It’s incredible, Master Gotama, it’s amazing!

“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama.

4.2

How well said this was by Master Gotama!

Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ bhotā gotamena.

4.3

And we will remember Master Gotama as someone who has these four qualities.

Imehi ca mayaṁ, bho gotama, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ dhārema;

4.4

For Master Gotama practices for the welfare and happiness of the people …

bhavañhi gotamo bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya;

4.5

bahu te janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.

4.6

Bhavañhi gotamo yaṁ vitakkaṁ ākaṅkhati vitakketuṁ taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakketi, yaṁ vitakkaṁ nākaṅkhati vitakketuṁ na taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakketi, yaṁ saṅkappaṁ ākaṅkhati saṅkappetuṁ taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti, yaṁ saṅkappaṁ nākaṅkhati saṅkappetuṁ na taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti.

4.7

Master Gotama has achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.

Bhavañhi gotamo cetovasippatto vitakkapathe.

4.8

Master Gotama gets the four absorptions … when he wants, without trouble or difficulty.

Bhavañhi gotamo catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

4.9

Master Gotama has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. He lives having realized it with his own insight due to the ending of defilements.”

Bhavañhi gotamo āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.

5.1

“Your words are clearly invasive and intrusive, brahmin.

“Addhā kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, āsajja upanīya vācā bhāsitā.

5.2

Nevertheless, I will answer you.

Api ca tyāhaṁ byākarissāmi:

5.3

For I do practice for the welfare and happiness of the people …

‘ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya;

5.4

bahu me janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.

5.5

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, yaṁ vitakkaṁ ākaṅkhāmi vitakketuṁ taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakkemi, yaṁ vitakkaṁ nākaṅkhāmi vitakketuṁ na taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakkemi, yaṁ saṅkappaṁ ākaṅkhāmi saṅkappetuṁ taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappemi, yaṁ saṅkappaṁ nākaṅkhāmi saṅkappetuṁ na taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappemi.

5.6

I have achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, cetovasippatto vitakkapathe.

5.7

I do get the four absorptions … when I want, without trouble or difficulty.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

5.8

I have realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life. I live having realized it with my own insight due to the ending of defilements.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.

6.1

He discovered release from the snare of death

Yo vedi sabbasattānaṁ,

6.2

for all beings,

maccupāsappamocanaṁ;

6.3

and explained the method of the teaching

Hitaṁ devamanussānaṁ,

6.4

for the welfare of gods and humans.

ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ pakāsayi;

6.5

When they see him or hear him,

Yaṁ ve disvā ca sutvā ca,

6.6

many people become confident.

pasīdanti bahū janā.

7.1

He is skilled in the variety of paths,

Maggāmaggassa kusalo,

7.2

he has completed the task and is free of defilements.

Katakicco anāsavo;

7.3

The Buddha, bearing his final body,

Buddho antimasārīro,

7.4

is called ‘a great man, of great wisdom’.”

Mahāpañño mahāpurisoti vuccatī”ti.

7.5

Pañcamaṁ.