5.16. Mogharāja’s Question

“Dvāhaṁ sakkaṁ apucchissaṁ,

(iccāyasmā mogharājā)

Na me byākāsi cakkhumā;

Yāvatatiyañca devīsi,

Byākarotīti me sutaṁ.

Ayaṁ loko paro loko,

brahmaloko sadevako;

Diṭṭhiṁ te nābhijānāti,

gotamassa yasassino.

Evaṁ abhikkantadassāviṁ,

atthi pañhena āgamaṁ;

Kathaṁ lokaṁ avekkhantaṁ,

maccurājā na passati”.

“Suññato lokaṁ avekkhassu,

Mogharāja sadā sato;

Attānudiṭṭhiṁ ūhacca,

Evaṁ maccutaro siyā;

Evaṁ lokaṁ avekkhantaṁ,

Maccurājā na passatī”ti.

Mogharājamāṇavapucchā pannarasamā.

SC 1SC Verse 1123Mogharāja
The Sakyan I’ve requested twice
but the Seer has not replied;
I have heard tell that questioned thrice,
a Sage divine explains.

SC 2SC Verse 1124I do not understand the view
of the renowned Gotama
upon this world, the other world,
on Brahma’s realm, the deva’s world.

SC 3SC Verse 1125So to the One of vision supreme,
with this query have I come:
how should one regard the world
that the Death-king sees one not?

SC 4SC Verse 1126Buddha
Be ever mindful, Mogharāja,
and as empty, view the world,
with view of self pulled up,
and thus crossed over death—
who sees the world like this
the King of Death sees not.