5.4. Puṇṇaka’s Questions

“Anejaṁ mūladassāviṁ,

(iccāyasmā puṇṇako)

Atthi pañhena āgamaṁ;

Kiṁ nissitā isayo manujā,

Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ;

Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke,

Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

“Ye kecime isayo manujā,

(puṇṇakāti bhagavā)

Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ;

Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke,

Āsīsamānā puṇṇaka itthattaṁ;

Jaraṁ sitā yaññamakappayiṁsu”.

“Ye kecime isayo manujā,

(iccāyasmā puṇṇako)

Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ;

Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke,

Kaccissu te bhagavā yaññapathe appamattā;

Atāruṁ jātiñca jarañca mārisa,

Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

“Āsīsanti thomayanti abhijappanti juhanti,

(puṇṇakāti bhagavā)

Kāmābhijappanti paṭicca lābhaṁ;

Te yājayogā bhavarāgarattā,

Nātariṁsu jātijaranti brūmi”.

“Te ce nātariṁsu yājayogā,

(iccāyasmā puṇṇako)

Yaññehi jātiñca jarañca mārisa;

Atha ko carahi devamanussaloke,

Atāri jātiñca jarañca mārisa;

Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

“Saṅkhāya lokasmi paroparāni,

(puṇṇakāti bhagavā)

Yassiñjitaṁ natthi kuhiñci loke;

Santo vidhūmo anīgho nirāso,

Atāri so jātijaranti brūmī”ti.

Puṇṇakamāṇavapucchā tatiyā.

SC 1SC Verse 1050Puṇṇaka
I have come with a question for you,
The immovable, seer of the root;
Subject to what do the sages, people,
Nobles, and brahmins offer many kinds of sacrifices
To gods here in the world?
Lord Buddha, please tell me this.

SC 2SC Verse 1051Buddha
Whatever sages, people,
Nobles, and brahmins offer many kinds of sacrifices
To gods here in the world,
Do so wishing to be reborn, Puṇṇaka;
Subject to old age they offer their sacrfices.

SC 3SC Verse 1052Puṇṇaka
Whatever sages, people,
Nobles, and brahmins offer many kinds of sacrifices
To gods here in the world,
Did they, diligently following the way of sacrifice,
Cross over birth and old age, sir?
Lord Buddha, please tell me this.

SC 4SC Verse 1053Buddha
Hoping, praying, longing, and sacrificing,
Longing for sensual pleasures
That are dependent on getting things;
I declare that they, devoted to sacrifice
And besotted by rebirth,
Did not cross over birth and old age.

SC 5SC Verse 1054Puṇṇaka
If, sir, those devoted to sacrifice
Did not thereby cross over birth and old age,
Then who in the world of gods and men
Has crossed over birth and old age?
Lord Buddha, please tell me this.

SC 6SC Verse 1055Puṇṇaka
Having scrutinized the world near and far,
One who has no disturbances at all in the world,
Peaceful, clear, without affliction or desire,
Such a one has crossed over
Birth and old age, I declare.