SN 1.38 A Splinter

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati maddakucchismiṁ migadāye.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavato pādo sakalikāya khato hoti.

Now at that time the Buddha’s foot had been cut by a wooden splinter.

Bhusā sudaṁ bhagavato vedanā vattanti sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā;

The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable.

tā sudaṁ bhagavā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno.

But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.

Atha kho bhagavā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpetvā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno.

And then he spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware.

Atha kho sattasatā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ maddakucchiṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Then, late at night, seven hundred glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Maddakucchi, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“nāgo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;

“The ascetic Gotama is such an elephant, sir!

nāgavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

And as an elephant, he endures painful physical feelings that have come up—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable—unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“sīho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;

“The ascetic Gotama is such a lion, sir!

sīhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

And as a lion, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“ājānīyo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;

“The ascetic Gotama is such a thoroughbred, sir!

ājānīyavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

And as a thoroughbred, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“nisabho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;

“The ascetic Gotama is such a boss bull, sir!

nisabhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

And as a boss bull, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“dhorayho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;

“The ascetic Gotama is such a behemoth, sir!

dhorayhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

And as a behemoth, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“danto vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;

“The ascetic Gotama is truly tamed, sir!

dantavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

And as someone tamed, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:

“passa samādhiṁ subhāvitaṁ cittañca suvimuttaṁ, na cābhinataṁ na cāpanataṁ na ca sasaṅkhāraniggayhavāritagataṁ.

“See, his immersion is so well developed, and his mind is so well freed—not leaning forward or pulling back, and not held in place by forceful suppression.

Yo evarūpaṁ purisanāgaṁ purisasīhaṁ purisaājānīyaṁ purisanisabhaṁ purisadhorayhaṁ purisadantaṁ atikkamitabbaṁ maññeyya kimaññatra adassanā”ti.

If anyone imagines that they can overcome such an elephant of a man, a lion of a man, a thoroughbred of a man, a boss bull of a man, a behemoth of a man, a tamed man—what is that but a failure to see?”

“Pañcavedā sataṁ samaṁ,

“Learned in the five branches of Vedic lore,

Tapassī brāhmaṇā caraṁ;

brahmins practice fervent mortification for a full century.

Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ,

But their minds are not properly freed,

Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.

for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore.

Taṇhādhipannā vatasīlabaddhā,

Seized by craving, attached to precept and observance,

Lūkhaṁ tapaṁ vassasataṁ carantā;

they practice rough and fervent mortification for a hundred years.

Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ,

But their minds are not properly freed,

Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.

for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore.

Na mānakāmassa damo idhatthi,

Someone who’s fond of conceit can’t be tamed,

Na monamatthi asamāhitassa;

and someone without immersion can’t be a sage.

Eko araññe viharaṁ pamatto,

Living negligent alone in the wilderness,

Na maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.

they can’t cross beyond Death’s dominion.”

“Mānaṁ pahāya susamāhitatto,

“Having given up conceit, serene within oneself,

Sucetaso sabbadhi vippamutto;

with a good heart, everywhere free;

Eko araññe viharamappamatto,

living diligent alone in the wilderness,

Sa maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.

they cross beyond Death’s dominion.”