The venerable Hemaka dismisses the hearsay and speculation of previous teachers, asking instead for the Dhamma that leads to the destruction of craving.
“Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu,
(iccāyasmā hemako)
Huraṁ gotamasāsanā;
Iccāsi iti bhavissati,
Sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ;
Sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ,
Nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ.
“Those who explained to me before,”
(said the venerable Hemaka)
“outside of Gotama’s teaching;
saying ‘So it was, so it will be,’
all that is but hearsay;
All that increases |speculation::reasoning, hypothesizing, theorizing [takka]|,
I did not delight in that.
Tvañca me dhammamakkhāhi,
taṇhānigghātanaṁ muni;
Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,
tare loke visattikaṁ”.
Please explain to me the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|,
O Sage, the |destruction::crushing, demolition [nigghātana]| of |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|;
Having understood which, living mindfully,
one can cross over |attachment to::ensnarement in, entanglement in [visattika]| the world.”
“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu,
Piyarūpesu hemaka;
Chandarāgavinodanaṁ,
Nibbānapadamaccutaṁ.
“Here, regarding the seen, heard, |sensed::smelled, tasted, felt, or thought [muta]|, and |cognized::known, understood [viññāta]|,
and whatever has an |agreeable::cherished, endearing [piyarūpa]| nature, Hemaka;
The dispelling of |desire and attachment::desire-passion, sensual craving, intention of sensuality and lust [chandarāga]| [toward these],
is the |imperishable::stable [accutaṁ]| |state of Nibbāna::state of complete quenching [nibbānapada]|.
Etadaññāya ye satā,
Diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;
Upasantā ca te sadā,
Tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.
Understanding this, the mindful ones,
are quenched in this very life;
Always |composed::calmed, tranquil [upasanta]|, they,
have crossed over attachment to the world.”
“Those who explained to me before,”
(said the venerable Hemaka)
“outside of Gotama’s teaching;
saying ‘So it was, so it will be,’
all that is but hearsay;
All that increases |speculation::reasoning, hypothesizing, theorizing [takka]|,
I did not delight in that.
Please explain to me the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|,
O Sage, the |destruction::crushing, demolition [nigghātana]| of |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]|;
Having understood which, living mindfully,
one can cross over |attachment to::ensnarement in, entanglement in [visattika]| the world.”
“Here, regarding the seen, heard, |sensed::smelled, tasted, felt, or thought [muta]|, and |cognized::known, understood [viññāta]|,
and whatever has an |agreeable::cherished, endearing [piyarūpa]| nature, Hemaka;
The dispelling of |desire and attachment::desire-passion, sensual craving, intention of sensuality and lust [chandarāga]| [toward these],
is the |imperishable::stable [accutaṁ]| |state of Nibbāna::state of complete quenching [nibbānapada]|.
Understanding this, the mindful ones,
are quenched in this very life;
Always |composed::calmed, tranquil [upasanta]|, they,
have crossed over attachment to the world.”
“Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu,
(iccāyasmā hemako)
Huraṁ gotamasāsanā;
Iccāsi iti bhavissati,
Sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ;
Sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ,
Nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ.
Tvañca me dhammamakkhāhi,
taṇhānigghātanaṁ muni;
Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,
tare loke visattikaṁ”.
“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu,
Piyarūpesu hemaka;
Chandarāgavinodanaṁ,
Nibbānapadamaccutaṁ.
Etadaññāya ye satā,
Diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā;
Upasantā ca te sadā,
Tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.