5.18. Epilogue: In Praise of the Way to the Beyond

Idamavoca bhagavā magadhesu viharanto pāsāṇake cetiye,

paricārakasoḷasānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ajjhiṭṭho puṭṭho puṭṭho pañhaṁ byākāsi.

Ekamekassa cepi pañhassa atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjeyya, gaccheyyeva jarāmaraṇassa pāraṁ.

Pāraṅgamanīyā ime dhammāti, tasmā imassa dhammapariyāyassa pārāyananteva adhivacanaṁ.

Ajito tissametteyyo,

puṇṇako atha mettagū;

Dhotako upasīvo ca,

nando ca atha hemako.

Todeyya-kappā dubhayo,

jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito;

Bhadrāvudho udayo ca,

posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo;

Mogharājā ca medhāvī,

piṅgiyo ca mahāisi.

Ete buddhaṁ upāgacchuṁ,

sampannacaraṇaṁ isiṁ;

Pucchantā nipuṇe pañhe,

buddhaseṭṭhaṁ upāgamuṁ.

Tesaṁ buddho pabyākāsi,

pañhe puṭṭho yathātathaṁ;

Pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena,

tosesi brāhmaṇe muni.

Te tositā cakkhumatā,

buddhenādiccabandhunā;

Brahmacariyamacariṁsu,

varapaññassa santike.

Ekamekassa pañhassa,

yathā buddhena desitaṁ;

Tathā yo paṭipajjeyya,

gacche pāraṁ apārato.

Apārā pāraṁ gaccheyya,

bhāvento maggamuttamaṁ;

Maggo so pāraṁ gamanāya,

tasmā pārāyanaṁ iti.

SC 1The Radiant One said this while he stayed among the Magadhese at the Pāsānika Shrine. There he was asked, then he questioned, the sixteen brahmin pupils, answering their questions. If one should understand the meaning of even one question, and then practise the Dharma according to the Dharma, then one would go to the farther shore beyond ageing and death. As this Dharma leads to the farther shore it is known as the Teaching leading to the Farther Shore (pārāyana).

SC 2SC Verse 1131Narrator
Ajita, Tissametteyya,
Puṇṇaka, then there’s Mettagū,
Dhotaka, Upasīva then
Nanda also Hemaka,

SC 3SC Verse 1132The pair Todeyya, Kappa, then
Jātukaṇṇi the learned one,
Bhadrāvudha, Udaya, and
the brahmin who’s called Posāla,
Mogharāja the very wise
and Piṅgiya the seer so great—

SC 4SC Verse 1133All these approached the perfect Seer,
the Buddha who practised perfectly,
to question him on subtle points,
to the Buddha-best they journeyed.

SC 5SC Verse 1134Having been questioned the Buddha replied
with Dharma according to how it really is.
In answering their questions the Sage
delighted those brahmins.

SC 6SC Verse 1135Being delighted by the Seer,
The Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,
They lived the Holy Life in his presence,
He of such magnificent wisdom.

SC 7SC Verse 1136One who practices in accordance
With each and every question
As taught by the Buddha
Goes from the near to the far shore.

SC 8SC Verse 1137One developing this unexcelled path
would go from the near to the far shore;
This path goes to the far shore, which is why
It’s called the “Way to the Far Shore”.