AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.11 At Verañja

Numbered Discourses 8.11 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.11

2. The Great Chapter – 2. Mahāvagga

AN 8.11 At Verañja – Verañjasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying in Verañja at the root of a neem tree dedicated to Naḷeru.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā verañjāyaṁ viharati naḷerupucimandamūle.

1.3

Then the brahmin Verañja went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

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

1.4

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 verañjo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Master Gotama, I have heard that

“Sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama:

2.2

the ascetic Gotama doesn’t bow to old brahmins, the elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat.

‘na samaṇo gotamo brāhmaṇe jiṇṇe vuḍḍhe mahallake addhagate vayoanuppatte abhivādeti vā paccuṭṭheti vā āsanena vā nimantetī’ti.

2.3

And this is indeed the case,

Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, tatheva.

2.4

for Master Gotama does not bow to old brahmins, elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat.

Na hi bhavaṁ gotamo brāhmaṇe jiṇṇe vuḍḍhe mahallake addhagate vayoanuppatte abhivādeti vā paccuṭṭheti vā āsanena vā nimanteti.

2.5

This is not appropriate, Master Gotama.”

Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, na sampannamevā”ti.

2.6

“Brahmin, I don’t see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—for whom I should bow down or rise up or offer a seat.

“Nāhaṁ taṁ, brāhmaṇa, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yamahaṁ abhivādeyyaṁ vā paccuṭṭheyyaṁ vā āsanena vā nimanteyyaṁ.

2.7

If the Realized One bowed down or rose up or offered a seat to anyone, their head would explode!”

Yañhi, brāhmaṇa, tathāgato abhivādeyya vā paccuṭṭheyya vā āsanena vā nimanteyya, muddhāpi tassa vipateyyā”ti.

3.1

“Master Gotama lacks taste.”

“Arasarūpo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

3.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

3.3

that I lack taste.

‘arasarūpo samaṇo gotamo’ti.

3.4

For the Realized One has given up taste for sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Ye te, brāhmaṇa, rūparasā saddarasā gandharasā rasarasā phoṭṭhabbarasā, te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

3.5

In this sense you could rightly say that I lack taste.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

3.6

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘arasarūpo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

4.1

“Master Gotama is indelicate.”

“Nibbhogo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

4.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

4.3

that I’m indelicate.

‘nibbhogo samaṇo gotamo’ti.

4.4

For the Realized One has given up delight in sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Ye te, brāhmaṇa, rūpabhogā saddabhogā gandhabhogā rasabhogā phoṭṭhabbabhogā, te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

4.5

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m indelicate.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

4.6

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘nibbhogo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

5.1

“Master Gotama is a teacher of inaction.”

“Akiriyavādo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

5.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

5.3

I’m a teacher of inaction.

‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti.

5.4

For I teach inaction regarding bad bodily, verbal, and mental conduct, and the many kinds of unskillful things.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, akiriyaṁ vadāmi kāyaduccaritassa vacīduccaritassa manoduccaritassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ akiriyaṁ vadāmi.

5.5

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a teacher of inaction.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

5.6

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

6.1

“Master Gotama is a teacher of annihilationism.”

“Ucchedavādo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

6.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

6.3

I’m a teacher of annihilationism.

‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti.

6.4

For I teach the annihilation of greed, hate, and delusion, and the many kinds of unskillful things.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, ucchedaṁ vadāmi rāgassa dosassa mohassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ucchedaṁ vadāmi.

6.5

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a teacher of annihilationism.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

6.6

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

7.1

“Master Gotama is disgusted.”

“Jegucchī bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

7.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

7.3

I’m disgusted.

‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo’ti.

7.4

For I’m disgusted by bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and by attainment of the many kinds of unskillful things.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, jigucchāmi kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena; jigucchāmi anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā.

7.5

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m disgusted.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

7.6

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

8.1

“Master Gotama is an exterminator.”

“Venayiko bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

8.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

8.3

I’m an exterminator.

‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo’ti.

8.4

For I teach the extermination of greed, hate, and delusion, and the many kinds of unskillful things.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi rāgassa dosassa mohassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi.

8.5

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m an exterminator.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

8.6

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

9.1

“Master Gotama is a mortifier.”

“Tapassī bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

9.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

9.3

I’m a mortifier.

‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo’ti.

9.4

For I say that bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind should be mortified.

Tapanīyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pāpake akusale dhamme vadāmi kāyaduccaritaṁ vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ.

9.5

I say that a mortifier is someone who has given up unskillful qualities that should be mortified. They’ve cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future.

Yassa kho, brāhmaṇa, tapanīyā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘tapassī’ti vadāmi.

9.6

The Realized One is someone who has given up unskillful qualities that should be mortified. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future.

Tathāgatassa kho, brāhmaṇa, tapanīyā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

9.7

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a mortifier.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

9.8

But that’s not what you’re talking about.”

‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.

10.1

“Master Gotama is an abortionist.”

“Apagabbho bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.

10.2

“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that

“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

10.3

I’m an abortionist.

‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo’ti.

10.4

I say that an abortionist is someone who has given up future wombs and rebirth into a new state of existence. They’ve cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future.

Yassa kho, brāhmaṇa, āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘apagabbho’ti vadāmi.

10.5

The Realized One has given up future wombs and rebirth into a new state of existence. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future.

Tathāgatassa kho, brāhmaṇa, āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā.

10.6

In this sense you could rightly say that I’m an abortionist.

Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

10.7

But that’s not what you’re talking about.

‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesi.

11.1

Suppose, brahmin, there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs.

Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni aṭṭha vā dasa vā dvādasa vā.

11.2

And she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated.

Tānāssu kukkuṭiyā sammā adhisayitāni sammā pariseditāni sammā paribhāvitāni.

11.3

Now, the chick that is first to break out of the eggshell with its claws and beak and hatch safely: should that be called the eldest or the youngest?”

Yo nu kho tesaṁ kukkuṭacchāpakānaṁ paṭhamataraṁ pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjeyya, kinti svāssa vacanīyo: ‘jeṭṭho vā kaniṭṭho vā’”ti?

11.4

“Master, Gotama, that should be called the eldest. For it is the eldest among them.”

“Jeṭṭho tissa, bho gotama, vacanīyo. So hi nesaṁ, bho gotama, jeṭṭho hotī”ti.

12.1

“In the same way, in this population lost in ignorance, trapped in their shells, I alone have broken open the egg of ignorance and realized the supreme perfect awakening.

“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, avijjāgatāya pajāya aṇḍabhūtāya pariyonaddhāya avijjaṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā ekova loke anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddho.

12.2

So, brahmin, I am the eldest and the first in the world.

Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, jeṭṭho seṭṭho lokassa.

13.1

My energy was roused up and unflagging, my mindfulness was established and lucid, my body was tranquil and undisturbed, and my mind was immersed in samādhi.

Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, brāhmaṇa, vīriyaṁ ahosi asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ.

13.2

Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

So kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi;

13.3

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected were stilled, I entered and remained in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of samādhi, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi;

13.4

And with the fading away of rapture, I entered and remained in the third absorption, where I meditated with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi;

13.5

With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the ending of former happiness and sadness, I entered and remained in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

14.1

When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward recollection of past lives.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ.

14.2

I recollected many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. I remembered: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so I recollected my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.

So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto. So tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto. So tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi.

15.1

This was the first knowledge, which I achieved in the first watch of the night.

Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā paṭhame yāme paṭhamā vijjā adhigatā;

15.2

Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.

avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.

15.3

This was my first breaking out, like a chick breaking out of the eggshell.

Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, paṭhamā abhinibbhidā ahosi kukkuṭacchāpakasseva aṇḍakosamhā.

16.1

When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings.

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṁ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ.

16.2

With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds: ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They spoke ill of the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they acted out of that wrong view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never spoke ill of the noble ones; they had right view; and they acted out of that right view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds.

So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā, vacīduccaritena samannāgatā, manoduccaritena samannāgatā, ariyānaṁ upavādakā, micchādiṭṭhikā, micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā. Te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannāti. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā, vacīsucaritena samannāgatā, manosucaritena samannāgatā, ariyānaṁ anupavādakā, sammādiṭṭhikā, sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā. Te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi.

17.1

This was the second knowledge, which I achieved in the middle watch of the night.

Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā majjhime yāme dutiyā vijjā adhigatā;

17.2

Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.

avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.

17.3

This was my second breaking out, like a chick breaking out of the eggshell.

Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, dutiyā abhinibbhidā ahosi kukkuṭacchāpakasseva aṇḍakosamhā.

18.1

So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṁ khayañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ.

18.2

I truly understood: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.

So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ;

18.3

I truly understood: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’.

‘ime āsavā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ āsavasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ.

18.4

Knowing and seeing like this, my mind was freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.

Tassa me evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha.

18.5

When it was freed, I knew it was freed.

Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ ahosi.

18.6

I understood: ‘Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is no return to any state of existence.’

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti abbhaññāsiṁ.

19.1

This was the third knowledge, which I achieved in the last watch of the night.

Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā pacchime yāme tatiyā vijjā adhigatā;

19.2

Ignorance was destroyed and knowledge arose; darkness was destroyed and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute.

avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato.

19.3

This was my third breaking out, like a chick breaking out of the eggshell.”

Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, tatiyā abhinibbhidā ahosi kukkuṭacchāpakasseva aṇḍakosamhā”ti.

20.1

When he said this, the brahmin Verañja said to the Buddha:

Evaṁ vutte, verañjo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

20.2

“Master Gotama is the eldest! Master Gotama is the best!

“jeṭṭho bhavaṁ gotamo, seṭṭho bhavaṁ gotamo.

20.3

Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent!

Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama.

20.4

As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with good eyes can see what’s there, Master Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways.

Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito.

20.5

I go for refuge to Master Gotama, to the teaching, and to the bhikkhu Saṅgha.

Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca.

20.6

From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

20.7

Paṭhamaṁ.