Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena yasojappamukhāni pañcamattāni bhikkhusatāni sāvatthiṁ anuppattāni honti bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Tedha kho āgantukā bhikkhū nevāsikehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ paṭisammodamānā senāsanāni paññāpayamānā pattacīvarāni paṭisāmayamānā uccāsaddā mahāsaddā ahesuṁ.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Now at that time, five hundred bhikkhus headed by |Yasoja::name of an Arahant monk; lit. born famous [yasoja]| had come to Sāvatthi to see the Blessed One. Then those visiting bhikkhus, while exchanging greetings with the resident bhikkhus, preparing their lodgings, and putting the bowls and robes in order, were making a loud noise and a great commotion.
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “ke panete, ānanda, uccāsaddā mahāsaddā kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti?
Then the Blessed One addressed the venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda, who are these making that loud noise and great commotion? One would think that it was the fishermen making a haul of fish.”
“Etāni, bhante, yasojappamukhāni pañcamattāni bhikkhusatāni sāvatthiṁ anuppattāni bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Tete āgantukā bhikkhū nevāsikehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ paṭisammodamānā senāsanāni paññāpayamānā pattacīvarāni paṭisāmayamānā uccāsaddā mahāsaddā”ti.
“These, venerable sir, are the five hundred bhikkhus headed by Yasoja who have come to Sāvatthi to see the Blessed One. These visiting bhikkhus, while exchanging greetings with the resident bhikkhus, preparing their lodgings, and putting the bowls and robes in order, are making a loud noise and a great commotion.”
“Tenahānanda, mama vacanena te bhikkhū āmantehi: ‘satthā āyasmante āmantetī’”ti.
“Well then, Ānanda, in my name, tell those bhikkhus: ‘The Teacher calls the venerable ones.’”
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū etadavoca: “satthā āyasmante āmantetī”ti.
“Yes, venerable sir,” the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Having replied to the Blessed One, he went to those bhikkhus, and on arrival said: “The Teacher calls the venerable ones.”
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū bhagavā etadavoca:
“Yes friend,” those bhikkhus replied to the venerable Ānanda. Having replied to the venerable Ānanda, they went to the Blessed One. Having approached the Blessed One, they paid homage and sat down to one side. When they were seated to one side, the Blessed One said this to those bhikkhus:
“Kiṁ nu tumhe, bhikkhave, uccāsaddā mahāsaddā, kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope”ti?
“Bhikkhus, what is with this loud noise and great commotion? One would think that it was the fishermen making a haul of fish.”
Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā yasojo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “imāni, bhante, pañcamattāni bhikkhusatāni sāvatthiṁ anuppattāni bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Teme āgantukā bhikkhū nevāsikehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ paṭisammodamānā senāsanāni paññāpayamānā pattacīvarāni paṭisāmayamānā uccāsaddā mahāsaddā”ti.
When this was said, the venerable Yasoja replied to the Blessed One: “These, venerable sir, are the five hundred bhikkhus who have come to Sāvatthi to see the Blessed One. These visiting bhikkhus, while exchanging greetings with the resident bhikkhus, preparing their lodgings, and putting the bowls and robes in order, are making a loud noise and a great commotion.”
“Gacchatha, bhikkhave, paṇāmemi vo; na vo mama santike vatthabban”ti.
“Go now, bhikkhus. I dismiss you; it is not proper for you to remain in my presence.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena vajjī tena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁsu. Vajjīsu anupubbena cārikaṁ caramānā yena vaggumudā nadī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā vaggumudāya nadiyā tīre paṇṇakuṭiyo karitvā vassaṁ upagacchiṁsu.
“Yes, venerable sir,” the bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. Then, rising from their seats, they paid homage to him, circumambulated him keeping him on their right, tidied their lodgings, and taking their bowls and robes, set out on tour in the direction of the Vajjis. Traveling in stages through the Vajji country, they arrived at the Vaggumudā river. There, on the riverbank, they built leaf huts and entered upon the rains retreat.
Atha kho āyasmā yasojo vassūpagato bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhagavatā mayaṁ, āvuso, paṇāmitā atthakāmena hitesinā, anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya. Handa mayaṁ, āvuso, tathā vihāraṁ kappema yathā no viharataṁ bhagavā attamano assā”ti. “Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato yasojassa paccassosuṁ. Atha kho te bhikkhū vūpakaṭṭhā appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharantā tenevantaravassena sabbeva tisso vijjā sacchākaṁsu.
Then, when the rains retreat had begun, the Venerable Yasoja addressed the bhikkhus: “Out of compassion for us, friends, the Blessed One dismissed us—desiring our welfare, wishing us well, compassionate toward us. Now, friends, let us so dwell that the Blessed One may be pleased with us.” “Yes, friend,” the bhikkhus replied to the venerable Yasoja. Then those bhikkhus, living |secluded::detached, solitary, withdrawn [vūpakaṭṭha]|, |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]|, |resolute::determined, intent [pahitatta]|, and |with continuous effort::ardent, zealous, with energy, with application [ātāpī]|, during that very rainy season, all realized the three true knowledges.
Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena vesālī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi. Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena vesālī tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.
Then the Blessed One, having dwelt at Sāvatthi for as long as he wished, set out on a walking tour toward |Vesāli::capital of the Licchavīs [vesālī]|. Traveling in stages, he arrived at Vesāli. There the Blessed One dwelled at Vesāli, in the Great Wood, in the Hall with the Peaked Roof.
Atha kho bhagavā vaggumudātīriyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasi karitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “ālokajātā viya me, ānanda, esā disā, obhāsajātā viya me, ānanda, esā disā; yassaṁ disāyaṁ vaggumudātīriyā bhikkhū viharanti gantuṁ appaṭikūlāsi me manasi kātuṁ. Pahiṇeyyāsi tvaṁ, ānanda, vaggumudātīriyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santike dūtaṁ: ‘satthā āyasmante āmanteti, satthā āyasmantānaṁ dassanakāmo’”ti.
Then the Blessed One, having encompassed the minds of the bhikkhus dwelling on the bank of Vaggumudā river with his own mind, addressed the venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda, this direction seems radiant to me, as if filled with light; my mind inclines to go toward the direction where those bhikkhus are dwelling on the bank of Vaggumudā river. Ānanda, send a messenger to those bhikkhus, saying: ‘The Teacher calls the venerable ones; the Teacher wishes to see the venerable ones.’”
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā yena aññataro bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca: “ehi tvaṁ, āvuso, yena vaggumudātīriyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā vaggumudātīriye bhikkhū evaṁ vadehi: ‘satthā āyasmante āmanteti, satthā āyasmantānaṁ dassanakāmo’”ti.
“Yes, venerable sir,” the venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Then, having assented, he approached a certain bhikkhu and said to him: “Come, friend, go to the bhikkhus dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā River. When you have gone there, say to them: ‘The Teacher calls the venerable ones; the Teacher wishes to see the venerable ones.’”
“Evamāvuso”ti kho so bhikkhu āyasmato ānandassa paṭissutvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ—mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ antarahito vaggumudāya nadiyā tīre tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ purato pāturahosi. Atha kho so bhikkhu vaggumudātīriye bhikkhū etadavoca: “satthā āyasmante āmanteti, satthā āyasmantānaṁ dassanakāmo”ti.
“Yes, friend,” that bhikkhu replied to the venerable Ānanda. Then, just as easily as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, he disappeared from the Hall with the Peaked Roof in the Great Wood and appeared before those bhikkhus dwelling on the bank of the Vaggumudā River. Then that bhikkhu said this to the bhikkhus on the bank of the Vaggumudā River: “The Teacher calls the venerable ones; the Teacher wishes to see the venerable ones.”
“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ—vaggumudāya nadiyā tīre antarahitā mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ bhagavato sammukhe pāturahesuṁ. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā āneñjena samādhinā nisinno hoti. Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “katamena nu kho bhagavā vihārena etarahi viharatī”ti? Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “āneñjena kho bhagavā vihārena etarahi viharatī”ti. Sabbeva āneñjasamādhinā nisīdiṁsu.
“Yes, friend,” those bhikkhus replied to that bhikkhu. Then, having tidied their lodgings and taken their bowls and robes, just as easily as a strong man might extend his drawn-in arm or draw in his extended arm, they disappeared from the bank of the Vaggumudā River and appeared at the Hall with the Peaked Roof in the Great Wood, in the presence of the Blessed One. Now, at that time, the Blessed One was sitting in the |imperturbable::motionless, perfectly still [āneñja]| |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]|. Then the thought occurred to those bhikkhus: “In what state is the Blessed One now dwelling?” Then it occurred to them: “The Blessed One is dwelling in the imperturbable collectedness.” And they too sat down in the imperturbable collectedness.
Atha kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante paṭhame yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti; nikkhanto paṭhamo yāmo; ciranisinnā āgantukā bhikkhū; paṭisammodatu, bhante, bhagavā āgantukehi bhikkhūhī”ti. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.
Then venerable Ānanda, when the night had progressed and the first watch of the night had passed, rose from his seat, draped his outer robe over one shoulder, and raising his hands in reverence towards the Blessed One, said to him: “The night has progressed, venerable sir, and the first watch of the night has passed. The visiting bhikkhus have been sitting for a long time. Venerable sir, may the Blessed One exchange greetings with the visiting bhikkhus.” When this was said, the Blessed One remained silent.
Dutiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante majjhime yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti; nikkhanto majjhimo yāmo; ciranisinnā āgantukā bhikkhū; paṭisammodatu, bhante, bhagavā āgantukehi bhikkhūhī”ti. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.
For a second time, venerable Ānanda, when the night had progressed and the middle watch had passed, rose from his seat, draped his outer robe over one shoulder, and raising his hands in reverence towards the Blessed One, said to him: “The night has progressed, venerable sir, and the middle watch has passed. The visiting bhikkhus have been sitting for a long time. Venerable sir, may the Blessed One exchange greetings with the visiting bhikkhus.” For a second time, the Blessed One remained silent.
Tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante pacchime yāme, uddhaste aruṇe, nandimukhiyā rattiyā uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti; nikkhanto pacchimo yāmo; uddhasto aruṇo; nandimukhī ratti; ciranisinnā āgantukā bhikkhū; paṭisammodatu, bhante, bhagavā, āgantukehi bhikkhūhī”ti.
For a third time, venerable Ānanda, when the night had progressed and the final watch of the night had passed, when dawn had arisen and the night had a joyful appearance, rose from his seat, draped his outer robe over one shoulder, and raising his hands in reverence towards the Blessed One, said to him: “The night has progressed, venerable sir, and the final watch of the night has passed. Dawn has arisen and the night has a joyful appearance. The visiting bhikkhus have been sitting for a long time. Venerable sir, may the Blessed One exchange greetings with the visiting bhikkhus.”
Atha kho bhagavā tamhā samādhimhā vuṭṭhahitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “sace kho tvaṁ, ānanda, jāneyyāsi ettakampi te nappaṭibhāseyya. Ahañca, ānanda, imāni ca pañca bhikkhusatāni sabbeva āneñjasamādhinā nisīdimhā”ti.
Then the Blessed One, having emerged from that collectedness, addressed the venerable Ānanda: “Ānanda, if you had known, you would not have spoken even this much. For I, Ānanda, and these five hundred bhikkhus have all been sitting in the imperturbable collectedness.”
Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then, understanding the significance of this, the Blessed One at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Yassa jito kāmakaṇḍako,
Akkoso ca vadho ca bandhanañca;
Pabbatova so ṭhito anejo,
Sukhadukkhesu na vedhatī sa bhikkhū”ti.
“He who has |conquered::mastered [jita]| the thorn of |sensual pleasures::sense desires, wishing, wanting, delighting in [kāma]|,
|insult::name calling, verbal abuse [akkosa]|, slaughter, and other bonds;
Like a mountain, he stands firm, imperturbable,
that bhikkhu does not |tremble::shake, agitate [vedhatī]| amid |pleasure and pain::ease and discomfort, happiness and sorrow [sukhadukkha]|.”