SN 7.18 Collecting Firewood

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati aññatarasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans in a certain forest grove.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarassa bhāradvājagottassa brāhmaṇassa sambahulā antevāsikā kaṭṭhahārakā māṇavakā yena vanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā addasaṁsu bhagavantaṁ tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. Disvāna yena bhāradvājagotto brāhmaṇo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhāradvājagottaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then several students, pupils of one of the Bhāradvāja brahmins, approached a forest grove while collecting firewood. They saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged at the root of a certain sal tree, his body set straight, and mindfulness brought to the present. Seeing this, they went up to Bhāradvāja and said to him,

“yagghe bhavaṁ jāneyyāsi.

“Please sir, you should know this.

Asukasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe samaṇo nisinno pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā”.

In such and such a forest grove the ascetic Gotama is sitting down cross-legged, his body set straight, and mindfulness brought to the present.”

Atha kho bhāradvājagotto brāhmaṇo tehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ yena so vanasaṇḍo tenupasaṅkami.

Then Bhāradvāja together with those young students went to that forest grove

Addasā kho bhagavantaṁ tasmiṁ vanasaṇḍe nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.

where he saw the Buddha sitting down cross-legged, his body set straight, and mindfulness brought to the present.

Disvāna yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi:

He went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:

“Gambhīrarūpe bahubherave vane,

“Deep in the jungle so full of terrors,

Suññaṁ araññaṁ vijanaṁ vigāhiya;

you’ve plunged into the empty, desolate wilderness.

Aniñjamānena ṭhitena vaggunā,

Still, steady, and graceful:

Sucārurūpaṁ vata bhikkhu jhāyasi.

how beautifully you meditate, mendicant!

Na yattha gītaṁ napi yattha vāditaṁ,

Where there is no song or music,

Eko araññe vanavassito muni;

a lonely sage resorts to the wilderness.

Accherarūpaṁ paṭibhāti maṁ idaṁ,

This strikes me as an amazing thing,

Yadekako pītimano vane vase.

that you dwell so joyfully alone in the jungle.

Maññāmahaṁ lokādhipatisahabyataṁ,

I suppose you wish to be reborn in the company

Ākaṅkhamāno tidivaṁ anuttaraṁ;

of the supreme world-sovereign of the Third Heaven.

Kasmā bhavaṁ vijanamaraññamassito,

Is that why you resort to the desolate wilderness,

Tapo idha kubbasi brahmapattiyā”ti.

to practice fervor for attaining divinity?”

“Yā kāci kaṅkhā abhinandanā vā,

“Any wishes and hopes that are always attached

Anekadhātūsu puthū sadāsitā;

to the many and various realms—

Aññāṇamūlappabhavā pajappitā,

the yearnings sprung from the root of unknowing—

Sabbā mayā byantikatā samūlikā.

I’ve eliminated them all down to the root.

Svāhaṁ akaṅkho asito anūpayo,

So I’m wishless, unattached, uninvolved;

Sabbesu dhammesu visuddhadassano;

amongst all things, my vision is clear.

Pappuyya sambodhimanuttaraṁ sivaṁ,

I’ve attained the state of grace, the supreme awakening;

Jhāyāmahaṁ brahma raho visārado”ti.

I meditate alone, brahmin, and self-assured.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhāradvājagotto brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he had spoken, Bhāradvāja said to the Buddha,

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …

ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”