MN 92 With Sela

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

¶ 1So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā aṅguttarāpesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ aḍḍhateḷasehi bhikkhusatehi yena āpaṇaṁ nāma aṅguttarāpānaṁ nigamo tadavasari.

¶ 2At one time the Buddha was wandering together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants in the land of the Aṅguttarāpans when he arrived at a town of theirs named Āpaṇa.

Assosi kho keṇiyo jaṭilo:

¶ 3The matted-hair ascetic Keṇiya heard:

“samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito aṅguttarāpesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ aḍḍhateḷasehi bhikkhusatehi āpaṇaṁ anuppatto.

¶ 4“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Āpaṇa, together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants.

Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato:

¶ 5He has this good reputation:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

¶ 6‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti.

¶ 7He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others.

So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti.

¶ 8He proclaims a teaching that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

¶ 9It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

¶ 10So Keṇiya approached the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

¶ 11When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.

¶ 12The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk.

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 13Then he said to the Buddha,

“adhivāsetu me bhavaṁ gotamo svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.

¶ 14“Would Mister Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 15When he said this, the Buddha said to him,

“mahā kho, keṇiya, bhikkhusaṅgho aḍḍhateḷasāni bhikkhusatāni, tvañca brāhmaṇesu abhippasanno”ti.

¶ 16“The Saṅgha is large, Keṇiya; there are 1,250 mendicants. And you are devoted to the brahmins.”

Dutiyampi kho keṇiyo jaṭilo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 17For a second time, Keṇiya asked the Buddha to accept a meal offering.

“kiñcāpi kho, bho gotama, mahā bhikkhusaṅgho aḍḍhateḷasāni bhikkhusatāni, ahañca brāhmaṇesu abhippasanno;

¶ 18“Never mind that the Saṅgha is large, with 1,250 mendicants, and that I am devoted to the brahmins.

adhivāsetu me bhavaṁ gotamo svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.

¶ 19Would Mister Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 20And for a second time, the Buddha gave the same reply.

“mahā kho, keṇiya, bhikkhusaṅgho aḍḍhateḷasāni bhikkhusatāni, tvañca brāhmaṇesu abhippasanno”ti.

Tatiyampi kho keṇiyo jaṭilo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 22For a third time, Keṇiya asked the Buddha to accept a meal offering.

“kiñcāpi kho, bho gotama, mahā bhikkhusaṅgho aḍḍhateḷasāni bhikkhusatāni, ahañca brāhmaṇesu abhippasanno;

¶ 23“Never mind that the Saṅgha is large, with 1,250 mendicants, and that I am devoted to the brahmins.

adhivāsetu me bhavaṁ gotamo svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.

¶ 24Would Mister Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?”

Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

¶ 25The Buddha consented with silence.

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena sako assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mittāmacce ñātisālohite āmantesi:

¶ 26Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Keṇiya rose from his seat and went to his own hermitage. There he addressed his friends and colleagues, relatives and kin,

“suṇantu me bhonto, mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā;

¶ 27“My friends and colleagues, relatives and kin: please listen!

samaṇo me gotamo nimantito svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena.

¶ 28The ascetic Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha has been invited by me for tomorrow’s meal.

Yena me kāyaveyyāvaṭikaṁ kareyyāthā”ti.

¶ 29Please help me out with the manual preparations.”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho keṇiyassa jaṭilassa mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā keṇiyassa jaṭilassa paṭissutvā appekacce uddhanāni khaṇanti, appekacce kaṭṭhāni phālenti, appekacce bhājanāni dhovanti, appekacce udakamaṇikaṁ patiṭṭhāpenti, appekacce āsanāni paññapenti.

¶ 30“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied. Some dug ovens, some chopped wood, some washed dishes, some set out a water jar, and some spread out seats.

Keṇiyo pana jaṭilo sāmaṁyeva maṇḍalamālaṁ paṭiyādeti.

¶ 31Meanwhile, Keṇiya set up the pavilion himself.

Tena kho pana samayena selo brāhmaṇo āpaṇe paṭivasati tiṇṇaṁ vedānaṁ pāragū sanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ sākkharappabhedānaṁ itihāsapañcamānaṁ, padako, veyyākaraṇo, lokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo, tīṇi ca māṇavakasatāni mante vāceti.

¶ 32Now at that time the brahmin Sela was residing in Āpaṇa. He had mastered the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knew them word-by-word, and their grammar. He was well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. And he was teaching three hundred young students to recite the hymns.

Tena kho pana samayena keṇiyo jaṭilo sele brāhmaṇe abhippasanno hoti.

¶ 33And at that time Keṇiya was devoted to Sela.

Atha kho selo brāhmaṇo tīhi māṇavakasatehi parivuto jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno yena keṇiyassa jaṭilassa assamo tenupasaṅkami.

¶ 34Then Sela, while going for a walk escorted by the three hundred young students, approached Keṇiya’s hermitage.

Addasā kho selo brāhmaṇo keṇiyassa jaṭilassa assame appekacce uddhanāni khaṇante, appekacce kaṭṭhāni phālente, appekacce bhājanāni dhovante, appekacce udakamaṇikaṁ patiṭṭhāpente, appekacce āsanāni paññapente, keṇiyaṁ pana jaṭilaṁ sāmaṁyeva maṇḍalamālaṁ paṭiyādentaṁ.

¶ 35He saw the preparations going on,

Disvāna keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 36and said to Keṇiya,

“kiṁ nu bhoto keṇiyassa āvāho vā bhavissati vivāho vā bhavissati mahāyañño vā paccupaṭṭhito, rājā vā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro nimantito svātanāya saddhiṁ balakāyenā”ti?

¶ 37“Keṇiya, is your son or daughter being married? Or are you setting up a big sacrifice? Or has King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha been invited for tomorrow’s meal?”

“Na me, bho sela, āvāho bhavissati napi vivāho bhavissati napi rājā māgadho seniyo bimbisāro nimantito svātanāya saddhiṁ balakāyena;

¶ 38“There is no marriage, Sela, and the king is not coming.

api ca kho me mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito.

¶ 39Rather, I am setting up a big sacrifice.

Atthi, bho, samaṇo gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito aṅguttarāpesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ aḍḍhateḷasehi bhikkhusatehi āpaṇaṁ anuppatto.

¶ 40The ascetic Gotama has arrived at Āpaṇa, together with a large Saṅgha of 1,250 mendicants.

Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato:

¶ 41He has this good reputation:

‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

¶ 42‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’

So me nimantito svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti.

¶ 43He has been invited by me for tomorrow’s meal together with the mendicant Saṅgha.”

“Buddhoti—bho keṇiya, vadesi”?

¶ 44“Worthy Keṇiya, did you say ‘the awakened one’?”

“Buddhoti—bho sela, vadāmi”.

¶ 45“I said ‘the awakened one’.”

“Buddhoti—bho keṇiya, vadesi”?

¶ 46“Did you say ‘the awakened one’?”

“Buddhoti—bho sela, vadāmī”ti.

¶ 47“I said ‘the awakened one’.”

Atha kho selassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi:

¶ 48Then Sela thought,

“ghosopi kho eso dullabho lokasmiṁ—yadidaṁ ‘buddho’ti.

¶ 49“It’s hard to even find the word ‘awakened one’ in the world.

Āgatāni kho panamhākaṁ mantesu dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yehi samannāgatassa mahāpurisassa dveyeva gatiyo bhavanti anaññā.

¶ 50The thirty-two marks of a great man have been handed down in our hymns. A great man who possesses these has only two possible destinies, no other.

Sace agāraṁ ajjhāvasati, rājā hoti cakkavattī dhammiko dhammarājā cāturanto vijitāvī janapadatthāvariyappatto sattaratanasamannāgato.

¶ 51If he stays at home he becomes a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. His dominion extends to all four sides, he achieves stability in the country, and he possesses the seven treasures.

Tassimāni satta ratanāni bhavanti, seyyathidaṁ—

¶ 52He has the following seven treasures:

cakkaratanaṁ, hatthiratanaṁ, assaratanaṁ, maṇiratanaṁ, itthiratanaṁ, gahapatiratanaṁ, pariṇāyakaratanameva sattamaṁ.

¶ 53the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure.

Parosahassaṁ kho panassa puttā bhavanti sūrā vīraṅgarūpā parasenappamaddanā.

¶ 54He has over a thousand sons who are valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of his enemies.

So imaṁ pathaviṁ sāgarapariyantaṁ adaṇḍena asatthena dhammena abhivijiya ajjhāvasati.

¶ 55After conquering this land girt by sea, he reigns by principle, without rod or sword.

Sace pana agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajati, arahaṁ hoti sammāsambuddho loke vivaṭṭacchado”.

¶ 56But if he goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, he becomes a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, who casts off the veil from the world.”

“Kahaṁ pana, bho keṇiya, etarahi so bhavaṁ gotamo viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho”ti?

¶ 57“But Keṇiya, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”

Evaṁ vutte, keṇiyo jaṭilo dakkhiṇaṁ bāhuṁ paggahetvā selaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavoca:

¶ 58When he said this, Keṇiya pointed with his right arm and said,

“yenesā, bho sela, nīlavanarājī”ti.

¶ 59“There, worthy Sela, at that line of blue forest.”

Atha kho selo brāhmaṇo tīhi māṇavakasatehi saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami.

¶ 60Then Sela, together with his young students, approached the Buddha.

Atha kho selo brāhmaṇo te māṇavake āmantesi:

¶ 61He said to his young students,

“appasaddā bhonto āgacchantu pade padaṁ nikkhipantā;

¶ 62“Come quietly, gentlemen, tread gently.

durāsadā hi te bhagavanto sīhāva ekacarā.

¶ 63For the Buddhas are intimidating, like a lion living alone.

Yadā cāhaṁ, bho, samaṇena gotamena saddhiṁ manteyyaṁ, mā me bhonto antarantarā kathaṁ opātetha.

¶ 64When I’m consulting with the ascetic Gotama, don’t interrupt.

Kathāpariyosānaṁ me bhavanto āgamentū”ti.

¶ 65Wait until I’ve finished speaking.”

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

¶ 66Then Sela went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

¶ 67When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side,

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho selo brāhmaṇo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni samannesi.

¶ 68and scrutinized the Buddha’s body for the thirty-two marks of a great man.

Addasā kho selo brāhmaṇo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve.

¶ 69He saw all of them except for two,

Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati—

¶ 70which he had doubts about:

kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya ca.

¶ 71whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi:

¶ 72Then it occurred to the Buddha,

“passati kho me ayaṁ selo brāhmaṇo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve.

¶ 73“Sela sees all the marks except for two,

Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati—

¶ 74which he has doubts about:

kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya cā”ti.

¶ 75whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.”

Atha kho bhagavā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi, yathā addasa selo brāhmaṇo bhagavato kosohitaṁ vatthaguyhaṁ.

¶ 76The Buddha used his psychic power to will that Sela would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin.

Atha kho bhagavā jivhaṁ ninnāmetvā ubhopi kaṇṇasotāni anumasi paṭimasi; ubhopi nāsikasotāni anumasi paṭimasi; kevalampi nalāṭamaṇḍalaṁ jivhāya chādesi.

¶ 77And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue.

Atha kho selassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi:

¶ 78Then Sela thought,

“samannāgato kho samaṇo gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi paripuṇṇehi, no aparipuṇṇehi;

¶ 79“The ascetic Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.

no ca kho naṁ jānāmi buddho vā no vā.

¶ 80But I don’t know whether or not he is an awakened one.

Sutaṁ kho pana metaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ:

¶ 81I have heard that brahmins of the past who were elderly and senior, the tutors of tutors, said,

‘ye te bhavanti arahanto sammāsambuddhā te sake vaṇṇe bhaññamāne attānaṁ pātukarontī’ti.

¶ 82‘Those who are perfected ones, fully awakened Buddhas reveal themselves when praised.’

Yannūnāhaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthaveyyan”ti.

¶ 83Why don’t I extoll him in his presence with fitting verses?”

Atha kho selo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ sammukhā sāruppāhi gāthāhi abhitthavi:

¶ 84Then Sela extolled the Buddha in his presence with fitting verses:

“Paripuṇṇakāyo suruci,

¶ 85“O Blessed One, your body’s perfect,

Sujāto cārudassano;

¶ 86you’re radiant, handsome, lovely to behold;

Suvaṇṇavaṇṇosi bhagavā,

¶ 87golden colored,

Susukkadāṭhosi vīriyavā.

¶ 88with teeth so white; you’re strong.

Narassa hi sujātassa,

¶ 89The characteristics

ye bhavanti viyañjanā;

¶ 90of a handsome man,

Sabbe te tava kāyasmiṁ,

¶ 91the marks of a great man,

mahāpurisalakkhaṇā.

¶ 92are all found on your body.

Pasannanetto sumukho,

¶ 93Your eyes are clear, your face is fair,

brahā uju patāpavā;

¶ 94you’re formidable, upright, majestic.

Majjhe samaṇasaṅghassa,

¶ 95In the midst of the Saṅgha of ascetics,

ādiccova virocasi.

¶ 96you shine like the sun.

Kalyāṇadassano bhikkhu,

¶ 97You’re a mendicant fine to see,

kañcanasannibhattaco;

¶ 98with skin that shines like lustrous gold.

Kiṁ te samaṇabhāvena,

¶ 99But with such excellent appearance,

evaṁ uttamavaṇṇino.

¶ 100what do you want with the ascetic life?

Rājā arahasi bhavituṁ,

¶ 101You’re fit to be a king,

cakkavattī rathesabho;

¶ 102a wheel-turning monarch, chief of charioteers,

Cāturanto vijitāvī,

¶ 103victorious in the four quarters,

jambusaṇḍassa issaro.

¶ 104lord of the Black Plum Tree Land.

Khattiyā bhogirājāno,

¶ 105Aristocrats, nobles, and kings

anuyantā bhavantu te;

¶ 106ought follow your rule.

Rājābhirājā manujindo,

¶ 107Gotama, may you reign

rajjaṁ kārehi gotama”.

¶ 108as king of kings, lord of mankind!”

“Rājāhamasmi selāti,

¶ 109“I am a king, Sela,

dhammarājā anuttaro;

¶ 110the supreme king of the teaching.

Dhammena cakkaṁ vattemi,

¶ 111By the teaching I roll forth the wheel

cakkaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ”.

¶ 112which cannot be rolled back.”

“Sambuddho paṭijānāsi,

¶ 113“You claim to be awakened,

dhammarājā anuttaro;

¶ 114the supreme king of the teaching.

‘Dhammena cakkaṁ vattemi’,

¶ 115‘I roll forth the teaching’:

iti bhāsasi gotama.

¶ 116so you say, Gotama.

Ko nu senāpati bhoto,

¶ 117Then who is your general,

sāvako satthuranvayo;

¶ 118the disciple who follows the Teacher’s way?

Ko tetamanuvatteti,

¶ 119Who keeps rolling the wheel

dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ”.

¶ 120of teaching you rolled forth?”

“Mayā pavattitaṁ cakkaṁ,

¶ 121“By me the wheel was rolled forth,”

(selāti bhagavā)

¶ 122said the Buddha,

Dhammacakkaṁ anuttaraṁ;

¶ 123“the supreme wheel of teaching.

Sāriputto anuvatteti,

¶ 124Sāriputta, taking after the Realized One,

Anujāto tathāgataṁ.

¶ 125keeps it rolling on.

Abhiññeyyaṁ abhiññātaṁ,

¶ 126I have known what should be known,

bhāvetabbañca bhāvitaṁ;

¶ 127and developed what should be developed,

Pahātabbaṁ pahīnaṁ me,

¶ 128and given up what should be given up:

tasmā buddhosmi brāhmaṇa.

¶ 129and so, brahmin, I am a Buddha.

Vinayassu mayi kaṅkhaṁ,

¶ 130Dispel your doubt in me—

adhimuccassu brāhmaṇa;

¶ 131make up your mind, brahmin!

Dullabhaṁ dassanaṁ hoti,

¶ 132The sight of a Buddha

sambuddhānaṁ abhiṇhaso.

¶ 133is hard to find again.

Yesaṁ ve dullabho loke,

¶ 134I am a Buddha, brahmin,

pātubhāvo abhiṇhaso;

¶ 135the supreme surgeon,

Sohaṁ brāhmaṇa sambuddho,

¶ 136one of those whose appearance in the world

sallakatto anuttaro.

¶ 137is hard to find again.

Brahmabhūto atitulo,

¶ 138A manifestation of divinity, unequaled,

mārasenappamaddano;

¶ 139crusher of Māra’s army;

Sabbāmitte vasī katvā,

¶ 140having subdued all my opponents,

modāmi akutobhayo”.

¶ 141I rejoice, fearing nothing from any quarter.”

“Imaṁ bhonto nisāmetha,

¶ 142“Pay heed, sirs, to what

yathā bhāsati cakkhumā;

¶ 143is spoken by the Clear-eyed One.

Sallakatto mahāvīro,

¶ 144The surgeon, the great hero,

sīhova nadatī vane.

¶ 145roars like a lion in the jungle.

Brahmabhūtaṁ atitulaṁ,

¶ 146A manifestation of divinity, unequaled,

mārasenappamaddanaṁ;

¶ 147crusher of Māra’s army;

Ko disvā nappasīdeyya,

¶ 148who would not be inspired by him,

api kaṇhābhijātiko.

¶ 149even one born in a dark class?

Yo maṁ icchati anvetu,

¶ 150Those who wish may follow me;

yo vā nicchati gacchatu;

¶ 151those who don’t may go.

Idhāhaṁ pabbajissāmi,

¶ 152Right here, I’ll go forth in his presence,

varapaññassa santike”.

¶ 153the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

“Etañce ruccati bhoto,

¶ 154“Sir, if you endorse

sammāsambuddhasāsanaṁ;

¶ 155the teaching of the Buddha,

Mayampi pabbajissāma,

¶ 156we’ll also go forth in his presence,

varapaññassa santike”.

¶ 157the one of such outstanding wisdom.”

Brāhmaṇā tisatā ime,

¶ 158“These three hundred brahmins

yācanti pañjalīkatā;

¶ 159with cupped palms held up, ask:

“Brahmacariyaṁ carissāma,

¶ 160‘May we lead the spiritual life

bhagavā tava santike”.

¶ 161in your presence, Blessed One?’”

“Svākkhātaṁ brahmacariyaṁ,

¶ 162“The spiritual life is well explained,”

(selāti bhagavā)

¶ 163said the Buddha,

Sandiṭṭhikamakālikaṁ;

¶ 164“apparent in the present life, immediately effective.

Yattha amoghā pabbajjā,

¶ 165Here the going forth isn’t in vain

Appamattassa sikkhato”ti.

¶ 166for one who trains with diligence.”

Alattha kho selo brāhmaṇo sapariso bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ.

¶ 167And the brahmin Sela together with his assembly received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence.

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo tassā rattiyā accayena sake assame paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocāpesi:

¶ 168And when the night had passed Keṇiya had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own hermitage. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying,

“kālo, bho gotama, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.

¶ 169“It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.”

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena keṇiyassa jaṭilassa assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena.

¶ 170Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Keṇiya’s hermitage, where he sat on the seat spread out, together with the Saṅgha of mendicants.

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi, sampavāresi.

¶ 171Then Keṇiya served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods.

Atha kho keṇiyo jaṭilo bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

¶ 172When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Keṇiya took a low seat and sat to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ bhagavā imāhi gāthāhi anumodi:

¶ 173The Buddha expressed his appreciation with these verses:

“Aggihuttamukhā yaññā,

¶ 174“The foremost of sacrifices is the offering to the sacred flame;

sāvittī chandaso mukhaṁ;

¶ 175the Sāvitrī is the foremost of prayer;

Rājā mukhaṁ manussānaṁ,

¶ 176of humans, the king is the foremost;

nadīnaṁ sāgaro mukhaṁ.

¶ 177the ocean’s the foremost of rivers;

Nakkhattānaṁ mukhaṁ cando,

¶ 178the foremost of stars is the moon;

ādicco tapataṁ mukhaṁ;

¶ 179the sun is the foremost of blazes;

Puññaṁ ākaṅkhamānānaṁ,

¶ 180for those who sacrifice seeking merit,

saṅgho ve yajataṁ mukhan”ti.

¶ 181the Saṅgha is the foremost.”

Atha kho bhagavā keṇiyaṁ jaṭilaṁ imāhi gāthāhi anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

¶ 182When the Buddha had expressed his appreciation to Keṇiya the matted-hair ascetic with these verses, he rose from his seat and left.

Atha kho āyasmā selo sapariso eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti, tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi.

¶ 183Then Venerable Sela and his assembly, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme end of the spiritual path in this very life. They lived having achieved with their own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi.

¶ 184They understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.”

Aññataro kho panāyasmā selo sapariso arahataṁ ahosi.

¶ 185And Venerable Sela together with his assembly became perfected.

Atha kho āyasmā selo sapariso yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ katvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

¶ 186Then Sela with his assembly went to see the Buddha. He arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and said:

“Yaṁ taṁ saraṇamāgamma,

¶ 187“This is the eighth day since

ito aṭṭhami cakkhumā;

¶ 188we went for refuge, O Clear-eyed One.

Sattarattena bhagavā,

¶ 189In these seven days, Blessed One,

dantamha tava sāsane.

¶ 190we’ve become tamed in your teaching.

Tuvaṁ buddho tuvaṁ satthā,

¶ 191You are the Buddha, you are the Teacher,

tuvaṁ mārābhibhū muni;

¶ 192you are the sage who has overcome Māra;

Tuvaṁ anusaye chetvā,

¶ 193you have cut off the underlying tendencies,

tiṇṇo tāresimaṁ pajaṁ.

¶ 194you’ve crossed over, and you bring humanity across.

Upadhī te samatikkantā,

¶ 195You have transcended attachments,

āsavā te padālitā;

¶ 196your defilements are shattered;

Sīhova anupādāno,

¶ 197by not grasping, like a lion,

pahīnabhayabheravo.

¶ 198you’ve given up fear and dread.

Bhikkhavo tisatā ime,

¶ 199These three hundred mendicants

tiṭṭhanti pañjalīkatā;

¶ 200stand with cupped palms raised.

Pāde vīra pasārehi,

¶ 201Stretch out your feet, great hero:

nāgā vandantu satthuno”ti.

¶ 202let these giants bow to the Teacher.”

Selasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.