MN 34 The Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd

Medium Discourses Collection 34 – Majjhima Nikāya 34

MN 34 The Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd – Cūḷagopālakasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Vajjis near Ukkacelā on the bank of the Ganges river.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vajjīsu viharati ukkacelāyaṁ gaṅgāya nadiyā tīre.

1.3

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.4

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.5

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.6

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, there was an unintelligent Magadhan cowherd. In the last month of the rainy season, without inspecting the near shore or the far shore, he drove his cattle across a place with no ford on the Ganges river to the land of the Suvidehans on the northern shore.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, māgadhako gopālako duppaññajātiko, vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye, asamavekkhitvā gaṅgāya nadiyā orimaṁ tīraṁ, asamavekkhitvā pārimaṁ tīraṁ, atittheneva gāvo patāresi uttaraṁ tīraṁ suvidehānaṁ.

3.1

But the cattle bunched up in mid-stream and came to ruin right there.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, gāvo majjhegaṅgāya nadiyā sote āmaṇḍaliyaṁ karitvā tattheva anayabyasanaṁ āpajjiṁsu.

3.2

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

3.3

Because the unintelligent cowherd failed to inspect the shores before driving the cattle across at a place with no ford.

Tathā hi so, bhikkhave, māgadhako gopālako duppaññajātiko, vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye, asamavekkhitvā gaṅgāya nadiyā orimaṁ tīraṁ, asamavekkhitvā pārimaṁ tīraṁ, atittheneva gāvo patāresi uttaraṁ tīraṁ suvidehānaṁ.

3.4

In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who are unskilled in this world and the other world, unskilled in Māra’s domain and its opposite, and unskilled in Death’s domain and its opposite. If anyone thinks they are worth listening to and trusting, it will be for their lasting harm and suffering.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā akusalā imassa lokassa akusalā parassa lokassa, akusalā māradheyyassa akusalā amāradheyyassa, akusalā maccudheyyassa akusalā amaccudheyyassa, tesaṁ ye sotabbaṁ saddahātabbaṁ maññissanti, tesaṁ taṁ bhavissati dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.

4.1

Once upon a time, bhikkhū, there was an intelligent Magadhan cowherd. In the last month of the rainy season, after inspecting the near shore and the far shore, he drove his cattle across a ford on the Ganges river to the land of the Suvidehans on the northern shore.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, māgadhako gopālako sappaññajātiko, vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye, samavekkhitvā gaṅgāya nadiyā orimaṁ tīraṁ, samavekkhitvā pārimaṁ tīraṁ, tittheneva gāvo patāresi uttaraṁ tīraṁ suvidehānaṁ.

5.1

First he drove across the bulls, the fathers and leaders of the herd.

So paṭhamaṁ patāresi ye te usabhā gopitaro gopariṇāyakā.

5.2

They breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore.

Te tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu.

5.3

Then he drove across the strong and tractable cattle.

Athāpare patāresi balavagāvo dammagāvo.

5.4

They too breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore.

Tepi tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu.

5.5

Then he drove across the bullocks and heifers.

Athāpare patāresi vacchatare vacchatariyo.

5.6

They too breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore.

Tepi tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu.

5.7

Then he drove across the calves and weak cattle.

Athāpare patāresi vacchake kisābalake.

5.8

They too breasted the stream of the Ganges and safely reached the far shore.

Tepi tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu.

5.9

Once it happened that a baby calf had just been born. Urged on by its mother’s lowing, even it managed to breast the stream of the Ganges and safely reach the far shore.

Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, vacchako taruṇako tāvadeva jātako mātugoravakena vuyhamāno, sopi tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamāsi.

5.10

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

5.11

Because the intelligent cowherd inspected both shores before driving the cattle across at a ford.

Tathā hi so, bhikkhave, māgadhako gopālako sappaññajātiko, vassānaṁ pacchime māse saradasamaye, samavekkhitvā gaṅgāya nadiyā orimaṁ tīraṁ, samavekkhitvā pārimaṁ tīraṁ, tittheneva gāvo patāresi uttaraṁ tīraṁ suvidehānaṁ.

5.12

In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who are skilled in this world and the other world, skilled in Māra’s domain and its opposite, and skilled in Death’s domain and its opposite. If anyone thinks they are worth listening to and trusting, it will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā kusalā imassa lokassa kusalā parassa lokassa, kusalā māradheyyassa kusalā amāradheyyassa, kusalā maccudheyyassa kusalā amaccudheyyassa, tesaṁ ye sotabbaṁ saddahātabbaṁ maññissanti, tesaṁ taṁ bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

6.1

Just like the bulls, fathers and leaders of the herd, who crossed the Ganges to safety

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye te usabhā gopitaro gopariṇāyakā te tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu;

6.2

are the bhikkhū who are perfected, who have ended the cravings, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their own goal, utterly ended the fetters of rebirth, and are rightly freed through enlightenment. Having breasted Māra’s stream, they have safely crossed over to the far shore.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye te bhikkhū arahanto khīṇāsavā vusitavanto katakaraṇīyā ohitabhārā anuppattasadatthā parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojanā sammadaññāvimuttā, te tiriyaṁ mārassa sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṅgatā.

7.1

Just like the strong and tractable cattle who crossed the Ganges to safety

Seyyathāpi te, bhikkhave, balavagāvo dammagāvo tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu;

7.2

are the bhikkhū who, with the ending of the five lower fetters, are reborn spontaneously. They’re extinguished there, and are not liable to return from that world. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye te bhikkhū pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyino anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā, tepi tiriyaṁ mārassa sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ gamissanti.

8.1

Just like the bullocks and heifers who crossed the Ganges to safety

Seyyathāpi te, bhikkhave, vacchatarā vacchatariyo tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu;

8.2

are the bhikkhū who, with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, are once-returners. They come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye te bhikkhū tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṁ tanuttā sakadāgāmino sakideva imaṁ lokaṁ āgantvā dukkhassantaṁ karissanti, tepi tiriyaṁ mārassa sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ gamissanti.

9.1

Just like the calves and weak cattle who crossed the Ganges to safety

Seyyathāpi te, bhikkhave, vacchakā kisābalakā tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamaṁsu;

9.2

are the bhikkhū who, with the ending of three fetters are stream-enterers, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye te bhikkhū tiṇṇaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyanā, tepi tiriyaṁ mārassa sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ gamissanti.

10.1

Just like the baby calf who had just been born, but, urged on by its mother’s lowing, still managed to cross the Ganges to safety

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, vacchako taruṇako tāvadeva jātako mātugoravakena vuyhamāno tiriyaṁ gaṅgāya sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ agamāsi;

10.2

are the bhikkhū who are followers of dhamma, followers by faith. They too, having breasted Māra’s stream, will safely cross over to the far shore.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye te bhikkhū dhammānusārino saddhānusārino, tepi tiriyaṁ mārassa sotaṁ chetvā sotthinā pāraṁ gamissanti.

11.1

Bhikkhū, I am skilled in this world and the other world, skilled in Māra’s domain and its opposite, and skilled in Death’s domain and its opposite. If anyone thinks I am worth listening to and trusting, it will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”

Ahaṁ kho pana, bhikkhave, kusalo imassa lokassa kusalo parassa lokassa, kusalo māradheyyassa kusalo amāradheyyassa, kusalo maccudheyyassa kusalo amaccudheyyassa. Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, ye sotabbaṁ saddahātabbaṁ maññissanti, tesaṁ taṁ bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

12.1

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

12.2

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvā sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

12.3

“This world and the other world

“Ayaṁ loko paro loko,

12.4

have been clearly explained by one who knows;

jānatā suppakāsito;

12.5

as well as Māra’s reach,

Yañca mārena sampattaṁ,

12.6

and what’s out of Death’s reach.

appattaṁ yañca maccunā.

12.7

Directly knowing the whole world,

Sabbaṁ lokaṁ abhiññāya,

12.8

the Buddha who understands

sambuddhena pajānatā;

12.9

has flung open the door of the deathless,

Vivaṭaṁ amatadvāraṁ,

12.10

for realizing the sanctuary, extinguishment.

khemaṁ nibbānapattiyā.

12.11

The Wicked One’s stream has been cut,

Chinnaṁ pāpimato sotaṁ,

12.12

it’s blown away and mown down.

Viddhastaṁ vinaḷīkataṁ;

12.13

Be full of joy, bhikkhū,

Pāmojjabahulā hotha,

12.14

set your heart on the sanctuary!”

Khemaṁ pattattha bhikkhavo”ti.

12.15

Cūḷagopālakasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.