Mahakhandhako - The Great Chapter

Mucalindakathà
3. The Story about the Mucalinda (Tree) This section is parallel to Mucalindasuttaü Udàna 2.1.⁰¹

Atha kho Bhagavà sattàhassa accayena,
Then with the passing of seven days, the Gracious One, The opening to this discourse is dissimilar to the Udàna, but similar to the opening passages in the first three discourses of the Udàna.⁰²

Ajapàlanigrodhamålà yena Mucalindo tenupasaïkami,
approached the Mucalinda (tree) from the root of the Goatherd's Banyan (tree),

upasaïkamitvà Mucalindamåle
^o and after approaching the root of the Mucalinda (tree) Scientific name: Barringtonia acutangula; according to the commentary the Mucalinda tree was east of the Bodhi tree.⁰³

sattàhaü ekapallaïkena nisãdi vimuttisukhapañisaüvedã.
he sat in one cross-legged posture for seven days experiencing the happiness of liberation. According to Jà Nid it is now the beginning of the 6th week.⁰⁴

Tena kho pana samayena mahà akàlamegho udapàdi,
Then at that time a great cloud arose out of season,

sattàhavaddalikà sãtavàtaduddinã.
(bringing) seven days of rainy weather, cold winds, and overcast days.

Atha kho Mucalindo Nàgaràjà sakabhavanà nikkhamitvà,
Then the Dragon-King Mucalinda, Comm: tasseva Mucalindarukkhassa samãpe pokkharaõiyà nibbatto mahànubhàvo Nàgaràjà; a powerful Dragon-King who had been born in a lake near to that Mucalinda tree.⁰⁵ after leaving his domicile,

Bhagavato kàyaü sattakkhattuü bhogehi parikkhipitvà,
and surrounding the Gracious One's body seven times with his coils,

upari muddhani mahantaü phaõaü karitvà aññhàsi:
stood having placed his great hood above his head, (thinking):

ßMà Bhagavantaü sãtaü, mà Bhagavantaü uõhaü,
ßMay the Gracious One not be cold, may the Gracious One not be hot,

mà Bhagavantaü óaüsamakasavàtàtapasiriüsapasamphassoû ti.
may the Gracious One not be affected by gadflies, mosquitoes, wind, the heat (of the sun), and serpents.û

Atha kho Mucalindo Nàgaràjà, sattàhassa accayena,
Then the Dragon-King Mucalinda, with the passing of those seven days, Udàna reads: Then with the passing of those seven days, the Gracious One arose from that concentration. Then the Dragon-King Mucalinda having understood... etc.⁰⁶

viddhaü vigatavalàhakaü devaü viditvà,
having understood that the sky Comm: Devan-ti àkàsaü.⁰⁷ was now clear, without a cloud,

Bhagavato kàyà bhoge viniveñhetvà,
after unravelling his coils from the Gracious One's body,

sakavaõõaü pañisaüharitvà, màõavakavaõõaü abhinimminitvà,
withdrawing his own form, Comm: Sakavaõõan-ti attano råpaü.⁰⁸ and creating the appearance of a young bràhmaõa,

Bhagavato purato aññhàsi, paÿjaliko Bhagavantaü namassamàno.
stood in front of the Gracious One, revering the Gracious One with raised hands.

Atha kho Bhagavà, etam-atthaü viditvà,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tàyaü velàyaü imaü udànaü udànesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: None of the Udànas mentioned in the first 3 sections here are referred to in Jà Nid.⁰⁹

ßSukho viveko tuññhassa, sutaDhammassa passato,
ßThere is happiness and detachment for the one who is satisfied, who has heard the Dhamma, and who sees,

Abyàpajjaü sukhaü loke, pàõabhåtesu saüyamo.
There is happiness for him who is free from ill-will in the world, who is restrained towards breathing beings. According to the Comm. the first half of this line refers to friendliness (mettà), and the second half to kindness (karunà).¹⁰

Sukhà viràgatà loke, kàmànaü samatikkamo,
The state of dispassion in the world is happiness, the complete transcending of sense desires, Comm: etena Anàgàmimaggo kathito; with this he speaks about the Non-returner path.¹¹

Asmimànassa yo vinayo - etaü ve paramaü sukhanû-ti.
(But) for he who has removed the conceit `I am' Comm: iminà pana Arahattaü kathitaü; with this he speaks about being Worthy.¹² - this is indeed the highest happiness.û