Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Atha kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo magadhamahāmatto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then Vassakāra the brahmin, a chief minister of Magadha, went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo magadhamahāmatto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:
“Catūhi kho mayaṁ, bho gotama, dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpema.
“Worthy Gotama, when someone has four qualities we describe him as a great man with great wisdom.
Katamehi catūhi?
What four?
Idha, bho gotama, bahussuto hoti tassa tasseva sutajātassa
They are very learned in diverse fields of learning.
tassa tasseva kho pana bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti: ‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti.
They understand the meaning of diverse statements, saying: ‘This is what that statement means; that is what this statement means.’
Satimā kho pana hoti cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā
They are mindful, able to remember and recollect what was said and done long ago.
yāni kho pana tāni gahaṭṭhakāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.
They are deft and tireless in household duties, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.
Imehi kho mayaṁ, bho gotama, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpema.
When someone possesses these four qualities we describe him as a great man with great wisdom.
Sace me, bho gotama, anumoditabbaṁ anumodatu me bhavaṁ gotamo;
If the worthy Gotama agrees with me, please say so.
sace pana me, bho gotama, paṭikkositabbaṁ paṭikkosatu me bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
If he disagrees, please say so.”
“Neva kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anumodāmi na paṭikkosāmi.
“Brahmin, I neither agree nor disagree with you,
Catūhi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpemi.
but when someone has four qualities I describe him as a great man with great wisdom.
Katamehi catūhi?
What four?
Idha, brāhmaṇa, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya;
It’s when someone practices for the welfare and happiness of the people.
bahu’ssa janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.
They’ve established many people in the noble system, that is, the principles of goodness and skillfulness.
So yaṁ vitakkaṁ ākaṅkhati vitakketuṁ taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakketi, yaṁ vitakkaṁ nākaṅkhati vitakketuṁ na taṁ vitakkaṁ vitakketi;
They think what they want to think, and don’t think what they don’t want to think.
yaṁ saṅkappaṁ ākaṅkhati saṅkappetuṁ taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti, yaṁ saṅkappaṁ nākaṅkhati saṅkappetuṁ na taṁ saṅkappaṁ saṅkappeti.
They consider what they want to consider, and don’t consider what they don’t want to consider.
Iti cetovasippatto hoti vitakkapathe.
Thus they have achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.
Catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.
Āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.
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.
Neva kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anumodāmi na pana paṭikkosāmi.
Brahmin, I neither agree nor disagree with you,
Imehi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpemī”ti.
but when someone possesses these four qualities I describe him as a great man with great wisdom.”
“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama.
“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing!
Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ bhotā gotamena.
How well said this was by the worthy Gotama!
Imehi ca mayaṁ, bho gotama, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ dhārema;
And we will remember the worthy Gotama as someone who possesses these four qualities.
bhavañhi gotamo bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya;
For the worthy Gotama practices for the welfare and happiness of the people …
bahu te janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.
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.
Bhavañhi gotamo cetovasippatto vitakkapathe.
The worthy Gotama has achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.
Bhavañhi gotamo catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
The worthy Gotama gets the four absorptions … when he wants, without trouble or difficulty.
Bhavañhi gotamo āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.
The worthy 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.”
“Addhā kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, āsajja upanīya vācā bhāsitā.
“Your words are clearly invasive and intrusive, brahmin.
Api ca tyāhaṁ byākarissāmi:
Nevertheless, I will answer you.
‘ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya;
For I do practice for the welfare and happiness of the people …
bahu me janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.
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.
Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, cetovasippatto vitakkapathe.
I have achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.
Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
I do get the four absorptions … when I want, without trouble or difficulty.
Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.
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.
Yo vedi sabbasattānaṁ,
He discovered release from the snare of death
maccupāsappamocanaṁ;
for all beings,
Hitaṁ devamanussānaṁ,
and explained the system of the teaching
ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ pakāsayi;
for the welfare of gods and humans.
Yaṁ ve disvā ca sutvā ca,
When they see him or hear him,
pasīdanti bahū janā.
many people become confident.
Maggāmaggassa kusalo,
He is skilled in what is the path and what is not the path,
Katakicco anāsavo;
he has completed the task and is free of defilements.
Buddho antimasārīro,
The Buddha, bearing his final body,
Mahāpañño mahāpurisoti vuccatī”ti.
is called ‘a great man, of great wisdom’.”
Pañcamaṁ.
Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Then Vassakāra the brahmin, a chief minister of Magadha, went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:
“Worthy Gotama, when someone has four qualities we describe him as a great man with great wisdom.
What four?
They are very learned in diverse fields of learning.
They understand the meaning of diverse statements, saying: ‘This is what that statement means; that is what this statement means.’
They are mindful, able to remember and recollect what was said and done long ago.
They are deft and tireless in household duties, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.
When someone possesses these four qualities we describe him as a great man with great wisdom.
If the worthy Gotama agrees with me, please say so.
If he disagrees, please say so.”
“Brahmin, I neither agree nor disagree with you,
but when someone has four qualities I describe him as a great man with great wisdom.
What four?
It’s when someone practices for the welfare and happiness of the people.
They’ve established many people in the noble system, that is, the principles of goodness and skillfulness.
They think what they want to think, and don’t think what they don’t want to think.
They consider what they want to consider, and don’t consider what they don’t want to consider.
Thus they have achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.
They get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty.
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.
Brahmin, I neither agree nor disagree with you,
but when someone possesses these four qualities I describe him as a great man with great wisdom.”
“It’s incredible, worthy Gotama, it’s amazing!
How well said this was by the worthy Gotama!
And we will remember the worthy Gotama as someone who possesses these four qualities.
For the worthy Gotama practices for the welfare and happiness of the people …
The worthy Gotama has achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.
The worthy Gotama gets the four absorptions … when he wants, without trouble or difficulty.
The worthy 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.”
“Your words are clearly invasive and intrusive, brahmin.
Nevertheless, I will answer you.
For I do practice for the welfare and happiness of the people …
I have achieved mental mastery of the paths of thought.
I do get the four absorptions … when I want, without trouble or difficulty.
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.
He discovered release from the snare of death
for all beings,
and explained the system of the teaching
for the welfare of gods and humans.
When they see him or hear him,
many people become confident.
He is skilled in what is the path and what is not the path,
he has completed the task and is free of defilements.
The Buddha, bearing his final body,
is called ‘a great man, of great wisdom’.”
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
Atha kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo magadhamahāmatto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vassakāro brāhmaṇo magadhamahāmatto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Catūhi kho mayaṁ, bho gotama, dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpema.
Katamehi catūhi?
Idha, bho gotama, bahussuto hoti tassa tasseva sutajātassa
tassa tasseva kho pana bhāsitassa atthaṁ jānāti: ‘ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho, ayaṁ imassa bhāsitassa attho’ti.
Satimā kho pana hoti cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā
yāni kho pana tāni gahaṭṭhakāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrupāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.
Imehi kho mayaṁ, bho gotama, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpema.
Sace me, bho gotama, anumoditabbaṁ anumodatu me bhavaṁ gotamo;
sace pana me, bho gotama, paṭikkositabbaṁ paṭikkosatu me bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“Neva kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anumodāmi na paṭikkosāmi.
Catūhi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpemi.
Katamehi catūhi?
Idha, brāhmaṇa, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno hoti bahujanasukhāya;
bahu’ssa janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.
So 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.
Iti cetovasippatto hoti vitakkapathe.
Catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
Āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati.
Neva kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, anumodāmi na pana paṭikkosāmi.
Imehi kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ mahāpaññaṁ mahāpurisaṁ paññāpemī”ti.
“Acchariyaṁ, bho gotama, abbhutaṁ, bho gotama.
Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ bhotā gotamena.
Imehi ca mayaṁ, bho gotama, catūhi dhammehi samannāgataṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ dhārema;
bhavañhi gotamo bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya;
bahu te janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.
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.
Bhavañhi gotamo cetovasippatto vitakkapathe.
Bhavañhi gotamo catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
Bhavañhi gotamo āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharatī”ti.
“Addhā kho tyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, āsajja upanīya vācā bhāsitā.
Api ca tyāhaṁ byākarissāmi:
‘ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya;
bahu me janatā ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā, yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatā kusaladhammatā.
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.
Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, cetovasippatto vitakkapathe.
Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.
Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharāmī’ti.
Yo vedi sabbasattānaṁ,
maccupāsappamocanaṁ;
Hitaṁ devamanussānaṁ,
ñāyaṁ dhammaṁ pakāsayi;
Yaṁ ve disvā ca sutvā ca,
pasīdanti bahū janā.
Maggāmaggassa kusalo,
Katakicco anāsavo;
Buddho antimasārīro,
Mahāpañño mahāpurisoti vuccatī”ti.
Pañcamaṁ.