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5: Dhotakamàõavapucchà
The Young Man Dhotaka's Questions

                  ßPucchàmi taü Bhagavà bråhi me taü, icc-àyasmà Dhotako,
ßI ask you, Auspicious One, please tell this to me, said venerable Dhotaka,

        tava sutvàna nigghosaü Þ sikkhe nibbànam-attano.û
having heard your utterance I could train for my own nibbàna.û

        ßTena h' àtappaü karohi, Dhotakà ti Bhagavà,
ßThen you must become ardent, Dhotaka said the Auspicious One,

                                           idh' eva nipako sato,
                                   being prudent and mindful right here,

        ito sutvàna nigghosaü, Þ sikkhe nibbànam-attano.û
henceforth, after hearing this utterance you should train for your own nibbàna.û

                  ßPassàm' ahaü devamanussaloke, icc-àyasmà Dhotako,
          ßI see in the world with its gods and men, said venerable Dhotaka,

                  aki¤canaü bràhmaõam-iriyamànaü,
          a brahmin who moves about having nothing,

                  taü taü namassàmi Samantacakkhu,
          therefore I revere you, All-Seeing Visionary,

                  pamu¤ca maü Sakka kathaïkathàhi.û
          O Sakyan, please free me from my doubts.û

                  ßNàhaü sahissàmi pamocanàya,
          ßI will not be able to free

                  kathaïkathiü Dhotaka ka¤ci loke,
          anyone in the world who is having doubts, Dhotaka,

                  dhamma¤-ca seññhaü àjànamàno,
          but knowing (nibbàna), the best dhamma,

                  evaü tuvaü ogham-imaü taresi.û
          in this way you can cross over the flood.û

                  ßAnusàsa brahme karuõàyamàno, icc-àyasmà Dhotako,
          ßBrahmin! Being compassionate teach, said venerable Dhotaka,

                  vivekadhammaü yam-ahaü vija¤¤aü,
          the state of detachment that I should know,

                  yathà 'ham-àkàso va abyàpajjamàno,
          then I, being undisturbed, just like the sky,

                  idh' eva santo asito careyyaü.û
          may live peaceful and independent right here.û

        ßKittiyissàmi te santiü, Dhotakà ti Bhagavà,
ßI shall proclaim the peace to you, Dhotaka, said the Auspicious One,

                                           diññhe dhamme anãtihaü,
                                   which is not hearsay here in the world,

        yaü viditvà sato caraü, Þ tare loke visattikaü.û
which, having understood, and living mindfully, one can cross over clinging to the world.û

        ßYaü ki¤ci sampajànàsi, Dhotakà ti Bhagavà,
ßI greatly rejoice in that supreme peace, great seer,

        yaü viditvà sato caraü, Þ tare loke visattikaü.û
which, having understood, and living mindfully, one can cross over clinging to the world.û

        ßYaü ki¤ci sampajànàsi, Dhotakà ti Bhagavà,
ßWhatever you know, Dhotaka, said the Auspicious One,

                  uddhaü adho tiriya¤-càpi majjhe,
          above, below, and across the middle,

                  etaü viditvà `saïgo' ti loke,
          having understood this is called a shackle in the world,

                  bhavàbhavàya mà 'kàsi taõhanû-ti.
          you must not have craving for repeated existence.û

6: Upasãvamàõavapucchà
The Young Man Upasãva's Questions

                  ßEko ahaü Sakka mahantam-oghaü, icc-àyasmà Upasãvo,
      ßAlone, Sakyan, with nothing to depend on, said venerable Upasãva,

                  anissito no visahàmi tàrituü.
          I am not able to cross over the great flood.

                  ârammaõaü bråhi Samantacakkhu,
          Please tell me of a support, All-Seeing Visionary,

                  yaü nissito ogham-imaü tareyyaü.û
          depending on which I can cross over this flood.û

                  ßâki¤ca¤¤aü pekkhamàno satãmà,
          ßLooking to nothingness, and being mindful,

                  n' atthã ti nissàya tarassu oghaü.
          depending on nothing, cross over the flood.

                  Kàme pahàya virato kathàhi,
          Having given up sense pleasures, abstaining from talk,

                  taõhakkhayaü nattamahàbhipassa.û
          day and night you must look for the end of suffering.û

                  ßSabbesu kàmesu yo vãtaràgo,
          ßHe who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures,

                  àki¤ca¤¤aü nissito hitva-m-a¤¤aü,
          who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else,

                  sa¤¤àvimokkhe parame 'dhimutto -
          intent on the highest freedom which still has perception -

                  tiññhe nu so tattha anànuyàyi?û
          will he remain there without going away?û

                  ßSabbesu kàmesu yo vãtaràgo,          
ßHe who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures,

                  àki¤ca¤¤aü nissito hitva-m-a¤¤aü,
          who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else,

                  sa¤¤àvimokkhe parame 'dhimutto -
          intent on the highest freedom which still has perception -

                  tiññheyya so tattha anànuyàyi.û
          he will remain there without going away.û

                  ßTiññhe ce so tattha anànuyàyi,
          ßIf he remains there without going away

                  pågam-pi vassànaü Samantacakkhu,
          for a great number of years, All-Seeing Visionary,

                  tatth' eva so sãtisiyà vimutto,
          will he become cool and free right there,

                  cavetha vi¤¤àõaü tathàvidhassa?û
          or will the consciousness of such a one fall away?û

                  ßAccã yathà vàtavegena khittà,          
ßAs a flame overthrown by the force of the wind,

                  atthaü paleti na upeti saïkhaü,
          goes to rest and can no longer be discerned,

                  evaü munã nàmakàyà vimutto
          just so the sage free from the mental body

                  atthaü paleti na upeti saïkhaü.û
          goes to rest and can no longer be discerned.û

                  ßAtthaügato so uda và so n' atthi?          
ßThe one who has come to rest, is he then nothing?

                  Udàhu ve sassatiyà arogo?
          or is he actually eternally healthy?

                  Taü me munã sàdhu viyàkarohi,
          Please explain this to me, O sage,

                  tathà hi te vidito esa Dhammo.û
          for this Dhamma has been understood by you.û

                  ßAtthaügatassa na pamàõam-atthi,
          ßThere is no measure of the one who has come to rest,

                  yena naü vajju' taü tassa n' atthi,
          there is nothing by which they can speak of him,

                  sabbesu dhammesu samåhatesu,
          when everything has been completely removed,

                  samåhatà vàdapathà pi sabbeû ti.
          all the pathways for speech are also completely removed.û

7: Nandamàõavapucchà
The Young Man Nanda's Questions

        ß `Santi loke munayo', icc-àyasmà Nando,
ß`There are sages in the world', said venerable Nanda,

                  janà vadanti ta-y-idaü kathaü su?
          that is what people say - how is this so?

                  ¥àõåpapannaü no muniü vadanti
          Do they say he is a sage because he has knowledge

                  Udàhu ve jãvitenåpapannaü?û
          Or because of the life he leads?û

                  ßNa diññhiyà na sutiyà na ¤àõena
          ßNot by view, tradition, or knowledge,

                  munãdha Nanda kusalà vadanti,
          do the skilful say one is a sage here, Nanda,

                  visenikatvà anãghà niràsà -
          whoever lives without company, not troubled,

                  caranti ye te munayo ti bråmi.û
          not yearning, they are sages, I say.û

                  ßYe kec' ime samaõabràhmaõàse,
          ßWhoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins,

                  diññhassutenàpi vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through what is seen or heard,

                  sãlabbatenàpi vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through virtue and practices,

                  anekaråpena vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through countless (other) ways,

                  kaccissu te Bhagavà tattha yatà carantà
          Auspicious One, perhaps those living restrained in this way

                  atàruü jàti¤-ca jara¤-ca màrisa?
          have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?

                  Pucchàmi taü Bhagavà bråhi me taü.û
          I ask you, Auspicious One, please tell this to me.û

                  ßYe kec' ime samaõabràhmaõàse,
          ßWhoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins,

                  diññhassutenàpi vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through what is seen or heard,

                  sãlabbatenàpi vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through virtue and practices,

                  anekaråpena vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through countless (other) ways,

                  ki¤càpi te tattha yatà caranti
          although they are living restrained in this way,

                  nàtariüsu jàtijaran-ti bråmi.û
          they have not crossed over bith and old age, I say.û

                  ßYe kec' ime samaõabràhmaõàse,
          ßWhoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins,

                  diññhassutenàpi vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through what is seen or heard,

                  sãlabbatenàpi vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through virtue and practices,

                  anekaråpena vadanti suddhiü,
          say that purity is through countless (other) ways,

                  te ce munã bråsi anoghatiõõe,
          if you say these sages have not crossed the flood,

                  atha ko carahi devamanussaloke
          then just who in the world of the gods and men

                  atàri jàti¤-ca jara¤-ca màrisa?
          have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?

                  Pucchàmi taü Bhagavà bråhi me taü.û
          I ask you, Auspicious One, please tell this to me.û

                  ßNàhaü sabbe samaõabràhmaõàse,
           ßI do not say that all ascetics and brahmins,

                  jàtijaràya nivutà ti bråmi:
          are enveloped in birth and old age:

                  ye sãdha diññhaü va sutaü mutaü và,
           whoever here has given up (reliance on) what is seen,

                  sãlabbataü và pi pahàya sabbaü,
          heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,

                  anekaråpam-pi pahàya sabbaü,
          and has also given up all the countless (other) ways,

                  taõhaü pari¤¤àya anàsavàse -
          who, by fully knowing crving, are pollutant-free -

                  te ve narà oghatiõõà ti bråmi.û
          I say those men have crossed over the flood.û

                  ßEtàbhinandàmi vaco mahesino,
          I greatly rejoice in the great seer's word,

                  sukittitaü Gotam' anåpadhãkaü!
          Gotama, well-proclaimed is freedom from cleaving!

                  Ye sãdha diññhaü va sutaü mutaü và
           Whoever here has given up (reliance on) what is seen,

                  sãlabbataü và pi pahàya sabbaü,
          heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,

                  anekaråpam-pi pahàya sabbaü,
          and has also given up all the countless (other) ways,

                  taõhaü pari¤¤àya anàsavàse -
          who, by fully knowing craving, are pollutant-free -

                  aham-pi te oghatiõõà ti bråmãû ti.
          I also say they have crossed over the flood.û

8: Hemakamàõavapucchà
The Young Man Hemaka's Questions

        ßYe me pubbe viyàkaüsu, icc-àyasmà Hemako,
ßThose who explained (things) to me in the past, said venerable Hemaka,

                                           huraü Gotamasàsanà,
                                   before Gotama's teaching,

        `iccàsi iti bhavissati', Þ sabbaü taü itihãtihaü,
saying `it was so, and so it will be', all that was just hearsay,

        sabbaü taü takkavaóóhanaü Þ nàhaü tattha abhiramiü.
all that just increased my thoughts, and I did not delight therein.

        Tva¤-ca me Dhammam-akkhàhi Þ taõhànigghàtanaü muni,
You must explain the Dhamma to me, O sage, and the destruction of craving,

        yaü viditvà sato caraü, Þ tare loke visattikaü.û
which, having understood, and living mindfully, one can cross over clinging to the world.û

        ßIdha diññhasutamutavi¤¤àtesu Þ piyaråpesu Hemaka,
ßIn regard to likeable forms here seen, heard, sensed, and cognized, Hemaka,

        chandaràgavinodanaü Þ nibbànapadam-accutaü.
the dispelling of desire and passion (for them) - this is the undying nibbàna.

        Etad-a¤¤àya ye satà, Þ diññhadhammàbhinibbutà,
Knowing this, those who are mindful, who have become still in this very life,

        upasantà ca te sadà, Þ tiõõà loke visattikanû-ti
those who are always peaceful, have crossed over clinging to the world.û     

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