4.16. Sāriputta asks the Buddha

“Na me diṭṭho ito pubbe,

(iccāyasmā sāriputto)

Na suto uda kassaci;

Evaṁ vagguvado satthā,

Tusitā gaṇimāgato.

Sadevakassa lokassa,

yathā dissati cakkhumā;

Sabbaṁ tamaṁ vinodetvā,

ekova ratimajjhagā.

Taṁ buddhaṁ asitaṁ tādiṁ,

akuhaṁ gaṇimāgataṁ;

Bahūnamidha baddhānaṁ,

atthi pañhena āgamaṁ.

Bhikkhuno vijigucchato,

bhajato rittamāsanaṁ;

Rukkhamūlaṁ susānaṁ vā,

pabbatānaṁ guhāsu vā.

Uccāvacesu sayanesu,

kīvanto tattha bheravā;

Yehi bhikkhu na vedheyya,

nigghose sayanāsane.

Katī parissayā loke,

gacchato agataṁ disaṁ;

Ye bhikkhu abhisambhave,

pantamhi sayanāsane.

Kyāssa byappathayo assu,

kyāssassu idha gocarā;

Kāni sīlabbatānāssu,

pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

Kaṁ so sikkhaṁ samādāya,

ekodi nipako sato;

Kammāro rajatasseva,

niddhame malamattano”.

“Vijigucchamānassa yadidaṁ phāsu,

(sāriputtāti bhagavā)

Rittāsanaṁ sayanaṁ sevato ce;

Sambodhikāmassa yathānudhammaṁ,

Taṁ te pavakkhāmi yathā pajānaṁ.

Pañcannaṁ dhīro bhayānaṁ na bhāye,

Bhikkhu sato sapariyantacārī;

Ḍaṁsādhipātānaṁ sarīsapānaṁ,

Manussaphassānaṁ catuppadānaṁ.

Paradhammikānampi na santaseyya,

Disvāpi tesaṁ bahubheravāni;

Athāparāni abhisambhaveyya,

Parissayāni kusalānuesī.

Ātaṅkaphassena khudāya phuṭṭho,

Sītaṁ athuṇhaṁ adhivāsayeyya;

So tehi phuṭṭho bahudhā anoko,

Viriyaṁ parakkammadaḷhaṁ kareyya.

Theyyaṁ na kāre na musā bhaṇeyya,

Mettāya phasse tasathāvarāni;

Yadāvilattaṁ manaso vijaññā,

Kaṇhassa pakkhoti vinodayeyya.

Kodhātimānassa vasaṁ na gacche,

Mūlampi tesaṁ palikhañña tiṭṭhe;

Athappiyaṁ vā pana appiyaṁ vā,

Addhā bhavanto abhisambhaveyya.

Paññaṁ purakkhatvā kalyāṇapīti,

Vikkhambhaye tāni parissayāni;

Aratiṁ sahetha sayanamhi pante,

Caturo sahetha paridevadhamme.

Kiṁsū asissāmi kuva vā asissaṁ,

Dukkhaṁ vata settha kvajja sessaṁ;

Ete vitakke paridevaneyye,

Vinayetha sekho aniketacārī.

Annañca laddhā vasanañca kāle,

Mattaṁ so jaññā idha tosanatthaṁ;

So tesu gutto yatacāri gāme,

Rusitopi vācaṁ pharusaṁ na vajjā.

Okkhittacakkhu na ca pādalolo,

Jhānānuyutto bahujāgarassa;

Upekkhamārabbha samāhitatto,

Takkāsayaṁ kukkucciyūpachinde.

Cudito vacībhi satimābhinande,

Sabrahmacārīsu khilaṁ pabhinde;

Vācaṁ pamuñce kusalaṁ nātivelaṁ,

Janavādadhammāya na cetayeyya.

Athāparaṁ pañca rajāni loke,

Yesaṁ satīmā vinayāya sikkhe;

Rūpesu saddesu atho rasesu,

Gandhesu phassesu sahetha rāgaṁ.

Etesu dhammesu vineyya chandaṁ,

Bhikkhu satimā suvimuttacitto;

Kālena so sammā dhammaṁ parivīmaṁsamāno,

Ekodibhūto vihane tamaṁ so”ti.

Sāriputtasuttaṁ soḷasamaṁ.

Aṭṭhakavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kāmaṁ guhañca duṭṭhā ca,

suddhañca paramā jarā;

Metteyyo ca pasūro ca,

māgaṇḍi purābhedanaṁ.

Kalahaṁ dve ca byūhāni,

punadeva tuvaṭṭakaṁ;

Attadaṇḍavaraṁ suttaṁ,

therapuṭṭhena soḷasa;

Iti etāni suttāni,

sabbānaṭṭhakavaggikāti.

SC 1SC Verse 962Sāriputta
Not seen before by me,
nor heard by anyone:
such sweetly-spoken Teacher
from Tusita came to lead a group.

SC 2SC Verse 963One by himself attained to bliss,
all darkness he dispelled,
so that the One-With-Eyes be seen
by world together with the gods.

SC 3SC Verse 964One’s who’s “Thus”, the unattached,
that Buddha undeceptive,
with many disciples, devotees,
for them I ask a question.

SC 4SC Verse 965For a monk avoiding society,
seeking out a lonely place—
bone yards, at the base of trees,
or caves within the mountain wastes—

SC 5SC Verse 966Living-places high or low,
How many are the terrors there,
that a monk in his silent place
trembles not at all?

SC 6SC Verse 967How many are the troubles here
for a monk to overcome,
while living in a place remote,
or going to the Ungone-Point.

SC 7SC Verse 968What ways of speaking would be his?
What place should he frequent?
What sorts of rules, kinds of vows,
For the monk with mind intent?

SC 8SC Verse 969What is the training he adopts,
one-pointed, mindful, wise;
to blow away all blemishes,
as does a smith with silver?

SC 9SC Verse 970Buddha
As One who Knows I’ll explain to you,
what’s pleasant for you practicing avoidance,
who live and who rest in a lonely abode,
wishing Awakening in keeping with Dharma.

SC 10SC Verse 971Within limits the mindful monk practices,
then of five fears is this wise one not afraid:
March-flies and mosquitoes, of slithering snakes,
of men’s assaults, and fierce four-footed beasts.

SC 11SC Verse 972Nor be disturbed by those with differing Dharma,
even having seen their many perils,
further then, this seeker of the good
will overcome all fearfulness too.

SC 12SC Verse 973Afflicted by sicknesses, hunger as well,
the cold and strong heat he should endure,
by these many touches should he be unmoved,
having energy stirred and striving with strength.

SC 13SC Verse 974Neither should he steal, nor should he tell lies,
but let love suffuse the fearful and the unafraid,
and when his mind is agitated let him know
“This should be removed”—it’s on the Dark One’s side.

SC 14SC Verse 975Into the power of anger and of arrogance
he shouldn’t fall, but firm, eradicate their roots,
all being attached he overcomes complete,
all that is dear to him, all that repels.

SC 15SC Verse 976With wisdom esteemed, with joy purified,
removing supports for all fearfulnesses,
let him conquer dislike for his lone lodging-place,
and conquer the four that cause him to lament:

SC 16SC Verse 977“Alas, what shall I eat” and “where indeed eat it”,
“last night l slept badly” and “where sleep today”—
one-in-training, a wanderer, of no flag the follower
should such thoughts let go, leading to lamentation.

SC 17SC Verse 978Satisfied, receiving timely food and clothes,
knowing moderation in them, and
protected by them, in a village he’s restrained
though roughly he’s addressed, speaks no harsh word.

SC 18SC Verse 979With eyes cast down, feet not longing-guided,
to jhāna devoted, very watchful he should be,
let him grow in equanimity with mind composed,
check his scruples, how he inclines to doubt.

SC 19SC Verse 980With words of reproof let the mindful one rejoice,
and shatter his scorn for his fellow-celibates;
and utter skilful words at the proper time,
and think not upon views and beliefs of common folk.

SC 20SC Verse 981And then in the world, there are the dusty five
in which the mindful one guided, trains himself well,
lust overcoming to bodies and to sounds,
to tastes, to perfumes and touches too.

SC 21SC Verse 982And when in these things he has guided desire,
mindful, that bhikkhu of a well-liberated mind,
then he in due time thoroughly examining Dharma,
with mind become one he shall the darkness rend.

SC 22Thus the Master spoke.