UD 5.1  Piyatara sutta - Dearer

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ uparipāsādavaragato hoti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavoca: “atthi nu kho te, mallike, kocañño attanā piyataro”ti?

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, King Pasenadi of Kosala was staying together with Queen Mallikā in the upper palace. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala said to Queen Mallikā: “Mallikā, is there anyone |dearer::more beloved [piyatara]| to you than yourself?”

“Natthi kho me, mahārāja, kocañño attanā piyataro. Tuyhaṁ pana, mahārāja, atthañño koci attanā piyataro”ti? “Mayhampi kho, mallike, natthañño koci attanā piyataro”ti.

“There is indeed no one, Great King, dearer to me than myself. But for you, Great King, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?” “For me too, Mallikā, there is indeed no one dearer than myself.”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo pāsādā orohitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala, having descended from the palace, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said this to the Blessed One:

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ uparipāsādavaragato mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘atthi nu kho te, mallike, kocañño attanā piyataro’ti? Evaṁ vutte, mallikā devī maṁ etadavoca: ‘natthi kho me, mahārāja, kocañño attanā piyataro. Tuyhaṁ pana, mahārāja, atthañño koci attanā piyataro’ti? Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘mayhampi kho, mallike, natthañño koci attanā piyataro’”ti.

Here, venerable sir, while I was staying together with Queen Mallikā in the upper palace, I said this to Queen Mallikā: “Mallikā, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?” When this was said, Queen Mallikā said this to me: “Great King, there is indeed no one dearer to me than myself. But for you, Great King, is there anyone dearer to you than yourself?” When this was said, venerable sir, I said this to Queen Mallikā: “For me too, Mallikā, there is indeed no one dearer than myself.”

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:

“Sabbā disā anuparigamma cetasā,
Nevajjhagā piyataramattanā kvaci;
Evaṁ piyo puthu attā paresaṁ,
Tasmā na hiṁse paramattakāmo”ti.

“Having surveyed all directions with the mind,
one finds nothing anywhere dearer than oneself;
likewise for others, each holds themselves dear,
therefore, one desiring for their own welfare should not harm others.”