5.13. Bhadrāvudha’s Question

“Okañjahaṁ taṇhacchidaṁ anejaṁ,

(iccāyasmā bhadrāvudho)

Nandiñjahaṁ oghatiṇṇaṁ vimuttaṁ;

Kappañjahaṁ abhiyāce sumedhaṁ,

Sutvāna nāgassa apanamissanti ito.

Nānājanā janapadehi saṅgatā,

Tava vīra vākyaṁ abhikaṅkhamānā;

Tesaṁ tuvaṁ sādhu viyākarohi,

Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo”.

“Ādānataṇhaṁ vinayetha sabbaṁ,

(bhadrāvudhāti bhagavā

Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;

Yaṁ yañhi lokasmimupādiyanti,

Teneva māro anveti jantuṁ.

Tasmā pajānaṁ na upādiyetha,

Bhikkhu sato kiñcanaṁ sabbaloke;

Ādānasatte iti pekkhamāno,

Pajaṁ imaṁ maccudheyye visattan”ti.

Bhadrāvudhamāṇavapucchā dvādasamā.

SC 1SC Verse 1108Bhadra
With home let go, craving cut and undisturbed,
delight let go, crossed the flood and free,
time let go and truly wise—I beg of you—
various people here from provinces assembled;

SC 2SC Verse 1109O Hero, they’re longing for your words,
do well declare these to them now,
for certainly this Dharma has been Known by you,
then having heard the Nāga they’ll depart from here.

SC 3SC Verse 1110Buddha
Beyond all acquisitive craving you should train,
above, below, across and in between,
whatever is grasped at in the world,
with that does Māra that person pursue.

SC 4SC Verse 1111Knowing this, therefore the mindful bhikkhu
in all worlds grasps not anything,
understanding well those acquisitive beings,
those people adhering to the realm of death.