Appendix: More Udà nas
2: The Exclamatory Udà nas
In illustration of the exclamatory group we may cite the following passages, beginning with the same group of devatàs who, on another occassion approached the Buddha, after his foot had been cut by a stone, and uttered the following exclamations (Devatà saüyutta SN 1.38):
Atha kho sattasatà Satullapakà yikà devatà yo abhikkantà ya rattiyà abhikkantavaõõà kevalakappaü Maddakucchiü obhà setvà yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkamiüsu, upasaïkamitvà Bhagavantaü abhivà detvà ekam-antaü aññhaüsu.
Ekam-antaü ñhità kho ekà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßNà go vata bho samaõo Gotamo; nà gavatà ca samuppannà sà rãrikà vedanà dukkhà tibbà kharà kañukà asà tà amanà pà sato sampajà no adhivà seti avihaÿÿamà noû ti.
Atha kho aparà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßSãho vata bho samaõo Gotamo; sãhavatà ca samuppannà sà rãrikà vedanà dukkhà tibbà kharà kañukà asà tà amanà pà sato sampajà no adhivà seti avihaÿÿamà noû ti.
Atha kho aparà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßâjà nãyo vata bho samaõo Gotamo; à jà nãyavatà ca samuppannà sà rãrikà vedanà dukkhà tibbà kharà kañukà asà tà amanà pà sato sampajà no adhivà seti avihaÿÿamà noû ti.
Atha kho aparà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßNisabho vata bho samaõo Gotamo; nisabhavatà ca samuppannà sà rãrikà vedanà dukkhà tibbà kharà kañukà asà tà amanà pà sato sampajà no adhivà seti avihaÿÿamà noû ti.
Atha kho aparà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßDhorayho vata bho samaõo Gotamo; dhorayhavatà ca samuppannà sà rãrikà vedanà dukkhà tibbà kharà kañukà asà tà amanà pà sato sampajà no adhivà seti avihaÿÿamà noû ti.
Atha kho aparà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßDanto vata bho samaõo Gotamo; dantavatà ca samuppannà sà rãrikà vedanà dukkhà tibbà kharà kañukà asà tà amanà pà sato sampajà no adhivà seti avihaÿÿamà noû ti.
Atha kho aparà devatà Bhagavato santike imaü udà naü udà nesi:
ßPassa samà dhiü subhà vitaü cittaÿ-ca suvimuttaü, na cà bhinataü na cà panataü na ca sasaïkhà raniggayhavà ritagataü. Yo evaråpaü purisanà gaü purisasãhaü purisa-à jà nãyaü purisanisabhaü purisadhorayhaü purisadantaü atikkamitabbaü maÿÿeyya kim-aÿÿatra adassanà û ti.
These udà nas are followed by verses, but they are not described as udà nas.
In the Saïgãtisutta of Dãghanikà ya, Ven. Sà riputta attributes the following exclamation to the âbhassarà devas, in a list of 3 happy rebirths (DN.33, Saïgãtisutta):
Santà vuso, sattà sukhena abhisannà parisannà paripårà paripphuñà , te kadà ci karahaci udà naü udà nenti: ßAho sukhaü, aho sukhanû-ti, seyyathà pi devà âbhassarà .
Ven. Bhaddajã also knew about this exclamation of the âbhassarà devas, which he called the greatest of things that are heard (AN.V.XVII.10): 01
Atthà vuso âbhassarà nà ma devà sukhena abhisannà parisannà , te kadà ci karahaci udà naü udà nenti: ßAho sukhaü, aho sukhanû-ti! Yo taü saddaü suõà ti, idaü savanà naü aggaü.
There are a number of famous Kings who are reported in the discourses as having made similar utterances on various occasions.
First there is the story of the legendary King Okkà ka, who uttered the following udà na after hearing how his elder brothers were living in the Himà layas after he had banished them from the Kingdom. This utterance gives a folk etymology for the name Sakka (DN.3, Ambaññhasutta):
Atha kho ... Rà jà Okkà ko udà naü udà nesi: ßSakyà vata bho kumà rà , paramasakyà vata bho kumà rà û ti. Tad-agge kho pana ... Sakyà paÿÿà yanti so ca nesaü pubbapuriso.
Next we have King Ajà tasattu on a full moon night, at the beginning of Sà maÿÿaphalasutta (DN.2):
Atha kho Rà jà Mà gadho Ajà tasattu Vedehiputto tad-ahuposathe udà naü udà nesi: ßRamaõãyà vata bho dosinà ratti, abhiråpà vata bho dosinà ratti, dassanãyà vata bho dosinà ratti, pà sà dikà vata bho dosinà ratti, lakkhaÿÿà vata bho dosinà ratti. Kaü nu khvajja samaõaü và brà hmaõaü và payirupà seyyà ma, yaü no payirupà sato cittaü pasãdeyyà ?û ti
A little later in the same discourse, the same King, upon meeting the Buddha, surrounded by the monks, who were sitting quietly around him, uttered the following aspiration for his son Udayabhadda (DN.2):
Ekamantaü ñhito kho Rà jà Mà gadho Ajà tasattu Vedehiputto tuõhãbhåtaü tuõhãbhåtaü bhikkhusaïghaü anuviloketvà rahadam-iva vippasannaü udà naü udà nesi: ßIminà me upasamena Udayabhaddo kumà ro samannà gato hotu, yenetarahi upasamena bhikkhusaïgho samannà gatoû ti.
King Mahà suddassana, after understanding he became so powerful through giving, self-control, and abstinence, uttered the following exclamation (DN.17, Mahà suddassanasutta):
Atha kho ... Rà jà Mahà sudassano yena Mahà viyåhaü kåñà gà raü tenupasaïkami, upasaïkamitvà Mahà viyåhassa kåñà gà rassa dvà re ñhito udà naü udà nesi: ßTiññha kà mavitakka, tiññha byà pà davitakka, tiññha vihiüsà vitakka. Ettà vatà kà mavitakka, ettà vatà byà pà davitakka, ettà vatà vihiüsà vitakkà û ti.
The Kosalan King Pasenadi has another udà na attributed to him, which he made after being advised by the Buddha on his eating habits (Kosalasaüyutta SN 3.13):
Atha kho Rà jà Pasenadi Kosalo aparena samayena susallikhitagatto pà õinà gattà ni anumajjanto tà yaü velà yaü imaü udà naü udà nesi: ßUbhayena vata maü so Bhagavà atthena anukampi, diññhadhammikena ceva atthena samparà yikena cà û ti.
Perhaps the simplest udà na in this group is the praise exclamation. Another exclamation is attributed to King Pasenadi of Kosala after hearing a report of a Dhamma exposition from his queen Mallikà (MN.87, Piyajà tikasuttaü):
Atha kho Rà jà Pasenadi Kosalo uññhà yà sanà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà yena Bhagavà tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassà û ti.
In Sakkapaÿhasutta (DN.21), the king of the gods Sakka, after attaining sotà patti utters the same formulaic praise of the Buddha:
Atha kho Sakko devà nam-indo pà õinà pathaviü parà masitvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassà û ti.
The young brà hmaõã Dhanaÿjà nã was want to utter the same exclamation after stumbling, as we can see from two discourses, the first is from Majjhimanikà ya (MN.100 Saïgà ravasuttaü):
Atha kho Dhanaÿjà nã brà hmaõã upakkhalitvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassà û ti.
and on another ocassion, recorded in Saüyuttanikà ya (Brà hmaõasaüyutta SN 6.1):
Tena kho pana samayena aÿÿatarassa Bhà radvà jagottassa brà hmaõassa Dhanaÿjà nã nà ma brà hmaõã abhippasannà hoti Buddhe ca Dhamme ca Saïghe ca. Atha kho Dhanaÿjà nã brà hmaõã Bhà radvà jagottassa brà hmaõassa bhattaü upasaüharanti upakkhalitvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassà û ti.
Brà hmaõas were also want to give vent to the same praise in different situations, with additional reflections to follow. We may cite first ârà madaõóa who uttered the following after hearing a Dhamma teaching from Mahà kaccà yana, which finished by extolling the qualities of the Buddha (AN. II.iv.6): 02
Evaü vutte ârà madaõóo brà hmaõo uññhà yà sanà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà dakkhiõaü Jà õumaõóalaü pathaviyaü nihantvà , yena Bhagavà tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa.
Yo hi so Bhagavà imaÿ-ceva kà marà gà bhinivesavinibandhapaligedhapariyuññhà najjhosà naü samatikkanto, imaÿ-ca diññhirà gà bhinivesavinibandhapaligedhapariyuññhà najjhosà naü samatikkantoû ti.
Next the brà hmaõa Kà raõapà ëã, after hearing about the qualities of the Buddha from another brà hmaõa Piïgiyà ni, which is followed by the going-for-refuge formula for a lay follower, which occurs many times in the discourses (AN. V.xx.4):
Evaü vutte Kà raõapà lã brà hmaõo uññhà yà sanà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà , dakkhiõaü Jà õumaõóalaü pathaviyaü nihantvà , yena Bhagavà tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassà ti.
Abhikkantaü bho Piïgiyà ni! Abhikkantaü bho Piïgiyà ni! Seyyathà pi bho Piïgiyà ni, nikkujjitaü và ukkujjeyya pañicchannaü và vivareyya, måëhassa và maggaü à cikkheyya andhakà re và telapajjotaü dhà reyya, cakkhumanto råpà ni dakkhantã ti; evam-evaü bhotà Piïgiyà ninà anekapariyà yena Dhammo pakà sito. Esà haü bho Piïgiyà ni taü bhavantaü Gotamaü saraõaü gacchà mi, Dhammaÿ-ca bhikkhusaïghaÿ-ca. Upà sakaü maü bhavaü Piïgiyà nã dhà retu, ajjatagge pà õupetaü saraõaü gatanû-ti.
The brà hmaõa Brahmà yu, is also reported as making the same praise, together with an aspiration to meet the Buddha, after hearing that he bore the 32 Marks of a Great Man (mahà purisalakkhaõaü) from his student Uttara (Brahmà yusuttaü, MN.91):
Evaü vutte, Brahmà yu brà hmaõo uññhà yà sanà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà , yena Bhagavà tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà neti: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassà ti.
Appeva nà ma mayaü kadà ci karahaci tena bhotà Gotamena samà gaccheyyà ma, appeva nà ma siyà kocid-eva kathà sallà poû ti!
Another brà hmaõà Jà õussoõi, after hearing about the qualities of the Buddha, first praised him in the formula previously cited and then made a similar aspiration (Cåëahatthipadopamasuttaü, MN.27):
Evaü vutte, Jà õussoõi brà hmaõo sabbasetà vaëavà bhirathà orohitvà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà , yena Bhagavà tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßNamo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa, namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammà sambuddhassa.
Appeva nà ma mayam-pi kadà ci karahaci tena bhotà Gotamena saddhiü samà gaccheyyà ma, appeva nà ma siyà kocid-eva kathà sallà poû ti!
On another occasion the same brà hmaõa uttered an exclamatory udà na after hearing a short report of a Dhamma exposition by the young brà hmaõa Subha, this time without the praise formula (MN.99, Subhasuttaü):
Evaü vutte, Jà õussoõi brà hmaõo sabbasetà vaëavà bhirathà orohitvà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà , yena Bhagavà tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà udà naü udà nesi: ßLà bhà Raÿÿo Pasenadissa Kosalassa, suladdhalà bhà Raÿÿo Pasenadissa Kosalassa yassa vijite Tathà gato viharati Arahaü Sammà sambuddhoû ti.
The brà hmaõa priest to Brahmadatta, King of Kà si, is also reported as having uttered an exclamation after seeing the queen of Kosala approaching (Kosambakakkhandhaka, Kosambakavivà dakathà ):
Atha kho, bhikkhave, Dãghãtissa Kosalaraÿÿo Mahesã yena Brahmadattassa Kà siraÿÿo purohito brà hmaõo tenupasaïkami. Addasà kho, bhikkhave, Brahmadattassa Kà siraÿÿo purohito brà hmaõo Dãghãtissa Kosalaraÿÿo Mahesiü dårato va à gacchantiü, disvà na uññhà yà sanà ekaüsaü uttarà saïgaü karitvà , yena Dãghãtissa Kosalaraÿÿo Mahesã tenaÿjaliü paõà metvà tikkhattuü udà naü udà nesi: ßKosalarà jà vata bho kucchigato, Kosalarà jà vata bho kucchigatoû ti.
As another in this group of udà nas we can cite the words of the wanderer Vekhanassa to the Buddha, which were used to open a discussion on the subject of the highest beauty (MN.80, Vekhanassasutta):
Ekamantaü ñhito kho Vekhanaso paribbà jako Bhagavato santike udà naü udà nesi: ßAyaü paramo vaõõo, ayaü paramo vaõõoû ti.
The Licchavi Mahà nà ma, after a group of Licchavis out hunting had abandoned their hunt to sit near the Buddha, uttered the following exclamation (AN.V.vi.8):
Tena kho pana samayena Mahà nà mo Licchavi Mahà vane jaïghà vihà raü anucaïkamamà no addasa te Licchavikumà rake tuõhãbhåte tuõhãbhåte paÿjalike Bhagavantaü payirupà sante; disvà yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkami, upasaïkamitvà Bhagavantaü abhivà detvà ekam-antaü nisãdi. Ekamantaü nisinno kho Mahà nà mo Licchavi udà naü udà nesi: ßBhavissanti Vajjã, bhavissanti Vajjãû ti!
The young man of good family Yasa, after seeing the state of his dishevelled dancing girls as they slept, expressed his distress in the following words (Vinaya Mahà vagga, Pabbajà kathà ):
Disvà nassa à dãnavo pà tur-ahosi, nibbidà ya cittaü saõñhà si. Atha kho Yaso kulaputto udà naü udà nesi: ßUpaddutaü vata bho, upassaññhaü vata bhoû ti.
On a couple of occasions the Auspicious One is also reported as having made similar exclamatory udà nas. The first is before giving an exposition on the subject of becoming (Khandhasaüyutta SN.55):
Sà vatthinidà naü. Tatra kho Bhagavà udà naü udà nesi: ßNo cassaü, no ca me siyà , nà bhavissa, na me bhavissatã ti, evaü adhimuccamà no bhikkhu chindeyya orambhà giyà ni saüyojanà nãû ti.
The Buddha also uttered what is probably the most famous of these exclamatory utterances, after Ven. Koõóaÿÿa had attained sotà patti after hearing the 1stdiscourse (Vinaya Mahà vagga, Paÿcavaggiyakathà Saccasaüyutta 56.11) (for a full translation of this discourse, see Dhammacakkappavattanasuttaü elsewhere on this website):
Atha kho Bhagavà imaü udà naü udà nesi: ßAÿÿà si vata bho Koõóaÿÿo, aÿÿà si vata bho Koõóaÿÿoû ti! Iti hidaü à yasmato Koõóaÿÿassa `Aÿÿà si Koõóaÿÿo' tveva nà maü ahosã ti.
Given the fact that this udà na obviously does close a very important episode in the life of the Buddha, and that the Udà na collection seems to have been partly organized around the life story of the Buddha, as we have suggested in the Introduction, it is perhaps odd that it didn't find it's way into the Udà na collection itself, perhaps because the redactors themselves understood the difference between the exclamatory and exalted type of udà na.