SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 48 Linked Discourses on the Faculties – Indriyasaṁyutta > SN 48.49 About Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer

Linked Discourses 48.49 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.49

5. Old Age – 5. Jarāvagga

SN 48.49 About Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer – Piṇḍolabhāradvājasutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

At one time the Buddha was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.

Now at that time Venerable Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer had declared enlightenment:

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmatā piṇḍolabhāradvājena aññā byākatā hoti:

“I understand: ‘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 itthattāyāti pajānāmī”ti.

Then several bhikkhū went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then they said,

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

“Āyasmatā, bhante, piṇḍolabhāradvājena aññā byākatā:

‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmīti.

“What reason does Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer see for doing this?”

Kiṁ nu kho, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamānena āyasmatā piṇḍolabhāradvājena aññā byākatā:

‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmī”ti?

“It’s because Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer has developed and cultivated three faculties that he declares enlightenment:

“Tiṇṇannaṁ kho, bhikkhave, indriyānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā piṇḍolabhāradvājena bhikkhunā aññā byākatā:

‘I understand: “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 pajānāmīti.

What three?

Katamesaṁ tiṇṇannaṁ?

The faculties of mindfulness, samādhi, and wisdom.

Satindriyassa, samādhindriyassa, paññindriyassa—

It’s because Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer has developed and cultivated these three faculties that he declares enlightenment.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tiṇṇannaṁ indriyānaṁ bhāvitattā bahulīkatattā piṇḍolabhāradvājena bhikkhunā aññā byākatā:

‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmīti.

What’s the culmination of these three faculties?

Imāni ca, bhikkhave, tīṇindriyāni kimantāni?

They culminate in ending.

Khayantāni.

In the ending of what?

Kissa khayantāni?

Of rebirth, old age, and death.

Jātijarāmaraṇassa.

It’s because he sees that they culminate in the ending of rebirth, old age, and death that Bhāradvāja the Alms-gatherer declares enlightenment:

‘Jātijarāmaraṇaṁ khayan’ti kho, bhikkhave, sampassamānena piṇḍolabhāradvājena bhikkhunā aññā byākatā:

‘I understand: “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 pajānāmī”ti.