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[IV. In Ràjagaha]

Sàriputta-Moggallànapabbajjàkathà
41. The Story of the Going-Forth of Sàriputta and Moggallàna

Tena kho pana samayena Saÿjayo paribbàjako Ràjagahe pañivasati
Then at that time the wanderer Saÿjaya Apparently to be identified with Saÿjaya Belaññhiputta, one of the six famous teachers in Lord Buddha's time, who taught a radical scepticism.⁰¹ was living near Ràjagaha

mahatiyà paribbàjakaparisàya saddhiü,
together with a great assembly of wanderers,

aóóhateyyehi paribbàjakasatehi.
with two hundred and fifty wanderers.

Tena kho pana samayena Sàriputta-Moggallànà
Then at that time Sàriputta and Moggallàna

Saÿjaye paribbàjake brahmacariyaü caranti,
were living the spiritual life under the wanderer Saÿjaya,

tehi katikà katà hoti:
and there was an agreement amongst themselves:

ßYo pañhamaü Amataü adhigacchati, so itarassa àrocetå.û ti
ßWhoever attains the Deathless first, he should inform the other.û The comm. explains that seeking the Deathless the two friends had joined Saÿjaya's Wanderers, but soon realised that the essence (sàra = Nibbàna) was not to be found there, so they made the above pact.⁰²

Atha kho àyasmà Assaji, pubbaõhasamayaü nivàsetvà,
Then the venerable Assaji, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacãvaram-àdàya Ràjagahaü piõóàya pàvisi,
after taking up his bowl and robe, entered Ràjagaha for alms,

pàsàdikena abhikkantena pañikkantena, àlokitena vilokitena,
pleasing in going forwards, in going back, in looking ahead, in looking around,

sammiÿjitena pasàritena, okkhittacakkhu iriyàpathasampanno.
in bending, in stretching, having downcast eyes, and endowed with good posture.

Addasà kho Sàriputto paribbàjako
The wanderer Sàriputta saw

àyasmantaü Assajiü Ràjagahe piõóàya carantaü,
the venerable Assaji walking for alms in Ràjagaha,

pàsàdikena abhikkantena pañikkantena, àlokitena vilokitena,
pleasing in going forwards, in going back, in looking ahead, in looking around,

sammiÿjitena pasàritena, okkhittacakkhuü iriyàpathasampannaü,
in bending, in stretching, having downcast eyes, and endowed with good posture,

disvànassa etad-ahosi:
and having seen (him), this occurred to him:

ßYe vata loke Arahanto và Arahattamaggaü và samàpannà
ßOf those in the world who are Worthy or have entered the path to Worthiness

ayaü tesaü bhikkhu aÿÿataro.
this monk is a certain one of them.

Yan-nånàhaü imaü bhikkhuü upasaïkamitvà puccheyyaü:
Now what if I, having approached this monk, were to ask:

`Kaüsi tvaü àvuso uddissa pabbajito,
`On account of whom, friend, did you go forth,

ko và te Satthà, kassa và tvaü Dhammaü rocesã?' û ti
who is your teacher, what Dhamma do you prefer?' û

Atha kho Sàriputtassa paribbàjakassa etad-ahosi:
Then this occurred to the wanderer Sàriputta:

ßAkàlo kho imaü bhikkhuü pucchituü,
ßThis is the wrong time to ask the monk,

antaragharaü paviññho piõóàya carati.
he has entered amongst the houses for alms.

Yan-nånàhaü imaü bhikkhuü piññhito piññhito anubandheyyaü
Now what if I were to follow along closely behind Word repetition normally signifies emphasis in Pàëi: piññhito = behind, piññhito piññhito = closely behind.⁰³ this monk

atthikehi upaÿÿàtaü maggan?û ti
with a desire (to find) the path he has found?û

Atha kho àyasmà Assaji, Ràjagahe piõóàya caritvà
Then the venerable Assaji, after walking for alms in Ràjagaha

piõóapàtaü àdàya pañikkami.
and taking his alms food, went back.

Atha kho Sàriputto paribbàjako yenàyasmà Assaji tenupasaïkami,
Then the wanderer Sàriputta approached the venerable Assaji,

upasaïkamitvà àyasmatà Assajinà saddhiü sammodi,
and after approaching he exchanged greetings with the venerable Assaji,

sammodanãyaü kathaü sàràõãyaü vãtisàretvà, ekam-antaü aññhàsi.
and after exchanging polite and courteous greetings, he stood on one side.

Ekam-antaü ñhito kho Sàriputto paribbàjako
While standing on one side the wanderer Sàriputta

àyasmantaü Assajiü etad-avoca:
said this to the venerable Assaji:

ßVippasannàni kho te àvuso indriyàni, parisuddho chavivaõõo pariyodàto,
ßYour faculties, friend, are very clear, purified is your skin and bright,

kaüsi tvaü àvuso uddissa pabbajito,
on account of whom, friend, did you go forth,

ko và te Satthà, kassa và tvaü Dhammaü rocesã?û ti
who is your teacher, what Dhamma do you prefer?û

ßAtthàvuso Mahàsamaõo Sakyaputto Sakyakulà pabbajito,
ßThere is, friend, a Great Ascetic, a Sakyan Son, who has gone forth from the Sakya family,

tàhaü Bhagavantaü uddissa pabbajito,
on account of that Gracious One I went forth,

so ca me Bhagavà Satthà, tassa càhaü Bhagavato Dhammaü rocemã.û ti
that Gracious One is my Teacher, that Gracious One's Dhamma I prefer.û

ßKiüvàdã panàyasmato Satthà kim-akkhàyã?û ti
ßBut what is the doctrine of the venerable's Teacher, what does he say?û

ßAhaü kho àvuso navo acirapabbajito,
ßI am new, friend, one not long gone forth,

adhunàgato imaü Dhammavinayaü,
recently come to this Dhamma and Discipline, This Assaji is always identified as one of the group-of-five disciples, who listened to the Discourse that Set the Dhamma Wheel Rolling and became a Worthy One while listening to the Discourse on the Characteristic of Non-Self --- he was one of the five most senior disciples in the Saïgha. It is hard to reconcile these facts with his self-characterisation here. Also there is no mention of Assaji accompanying the Buddha to Ràjagaha. Assaji must have been a common name at the time, and I think it likely we are dealing with a different Assaji here to the one whom we met in Isipatana.⁰⁴

na tàhaü sakkomi vitthàrena Dhammaü desetuü,
I am not able to teach the Dhamma at length,

api ca te saïkhittena atthaü vakkhàmã.û ti
but I can explain the meaning to you in brief.û

Atha kho Sàriputto paribbàjako àyasmantaü Assajiü etad-avoca: ßHotu àvuso,
Then the wanderer Sàriputta said this to the venerable Assaji: ßFriend,

Atha kho àyasmà Assaji Sàriputtassa paribbàjakassa
^o Then the venerable Assaji recited this Dhamma instruction

imaü Dhammapariyàyaü abhàsi:
to the wanderer Sàriputta:

Atha kho Sàriputtassa paribbàjakassa, imaü Dhammapariyàyaü sutvà,
Then to the wanderer Sàriputta, after hearing this Dhamma instruction,

virajaü vãtamalaü Dhammacakkhuü udapàdi:
the dust-free, stainless Vision-of-the-Dhamma arose:

Atha kho Sàriputto paribbàjako yena Moggallàno paribbàjako tenupasaïkami.
Then the wanderer Sàriputta approached the wanderer Moggallàna.

Addasà kho Moggallàno paribbàjako
The wanderer Moggallàna saw

Sàriputtaü paribbàjakaü dårato va àgacchantaü,
the wanderer Sàriputta coming while still far away,

disvàna Sàriputtaü paribbàjakaü etad-avoca:
and after seeing (him), he said this to the wanderer Sàriputta:

ßVippasannàni kho te àvuso indriyàni, parisuddho chavivaõõo pariyodàto,
ßYour faculties, friend, are very clear, purified is your skin and bright,

kacci nu tvaü àvuso Amatam-adhigato?û ti
have you, friend, attained the Deathless?û

ßâmàvuso Amatam-adhigato.û ti
ßYes, friend, I have attained the Deathless.û

ßYathà kathaü pana tvaü àvuso Amatam-adhigato?û ti
ßBut how did you, friend, attain the Deathless?û

ßIdhàhaü àvuso addasaü Assajiü bhikkhuü Ràjagahe piõóàya carantaü,
ßHere, friend, I saw the monk Assaji walking for alms in Ràjagaha,

pàsàdikena abhikkantena pañikkantena, àlokitena vilokitena,
pleasing in going forwards, in going back, in looking ahead, in looking around,

sammiÿjitena pasàritena, okkhittacakkhuü iriyàpathasampannaü,
in bending, in stretching, having downcast eyes, and endowed with good posture,

disvàna me etad-ahosi:
and having seen (him), this occurred to me:

`Ye vata loke Arahanto và Arahattamaggaü và samàpannà
`Of those in the world who are Worthy or have entered the path to Worthiness

ayaü tesaü bhikkhu aÿÿataro.'
this monk is one of them.'

Yan-nånàhaü imaü bhikkhuü upasaïkamitvà puccheyyaü:
Now what if I, having approached this monk, were to ask:

ßKaüsi tvaü àvuso uddissa pabbajito,
ßOn account of whom, friend, did you go forth,

ko và te Satthà, kassa và tvaü Dhammaü rocesã?û ti
who is your teacher, what Dhamma do you prefer?û

Tassa mayhaü àvuso etad-ahosi:
Then this, friend, occurred to me:

ßAkàlo kho imaü bhikkhuü pucchituü,
ßThis is the wrong time to ask the monk,

antaragharaü paviññho piõóàya carati.
he has entered amongst the houses for alms.

Yan-nånàhaü imaü bhikkhuü piññhito piññhito anubandheyyaü
Now what if I were to follow along close behind this monk

atthikehi upaÿÿàtaü maggan?û-ti
with a desire to find out the path?û

Atha kho àvuso Assaji bhikkhu Ràjagahe piõóàya caritvà,
Then, friend, the monk Assaji, after walking for alms in Ràjagaha,

piõóapàtaü àdàya pañikkami.
and taking his alms food, went back.

Atha khvàhaü àvuso yena Assaji bhikkhu tenupasaïkami,
Then I, friend, approached the monk Assaji,

upasaïkamitvà Assajinà bhikkhunà saddhiü sammodiü,
and after approaching I exchanged greetings with the monk Assaji,

sammodanãyaü kathaü sàràõãyaü vãtisàretvà ekam-antaü aññhàsiü.
and after exchanging polite and courteous greetings, I stood on one side.

Ekam-antaü ñhito kho ahaü àvuso Assajiü bhikkhuü etad-avocaü:
While standing on one side, friend, I said this to the monk Assaji:

ßVippasannàni kho te àvuso indriyàni, parisuddho chavivaõõo pariyodàto,
ßYour faculties, friend, are very clear, purified is your skin and bright,

kaüsi tvaü àvuso uddissa pabbajito,
on account of whom, friend, did you go forth,

ko và te Satthà, kassa và tvaü Dhammaü rocesã?û ti
who is your teacher, what Dhamma do you prefer?û

ßAtthàvuso Mahàsamaõo Sakyaputto Sakyakulà pabbajito,
ßThere is, friend, a Great Ascetic, the Sakyan Son, who has gone forth from the Sakya family,

tàhaü Bhagavantaü uddissa pabbajito,
on account of that Gracious One I went forth,

so ca me Bhagavà Satthà, tassa càhaü Bhagavato Dhammaü rocemã.û ti
that Gracious One is my Teacher, that Gracious One's Dhamma I prefer.û

ßKiüvàdã panàyasmato Satthà kim-akkhàyã?û ti
ßBut what is the doctrine of the venerable's Teacher, what does he say?û

ßAhaü kho àvuso navo acirapabbajito,
ßI am new, friend, not long gone forth,

adhunàgato imaü Dhammavinayaü,
recently come to this Dhamma and Discipline,

na tàhaü sakkomi vitthàrena Dhammaü desetuü,
I am not able to teach the Dhamma at length,

api ca te saïkhittena atthaü vakkhàmã.û ti
but I can explain the meaning to you in brief.û

Atha khvàhaü àvuso Assajiü bhikkhuü etad-avoca: ßHotu àvuso,
Then, friend, I said this to the venerable Assaji: ßFriend,

Atha kho àvuso Assaji bhikkhu imaü Dhammapariyàyaü abhàsi:
Then, friend, the monk Assaji recited this Dhamma instruction:

Atha kho Moggallànassa paribbàjakassa imaü Dhammapariyàyaü sutvà,
Then to the wanderer Moggallàna, after hearing this Dhamma instruction,

virajaü vãtamalaü Dhammacakkhuü udapàdi:
the dust-free, stainless Vision-of-the-Dhamma arose:

Atha kho Moggallàno paribbàjako Sàriputtaü paribbàjakaü etad-avoca:
Then the wanderer Moggallàna said this to the wanderer Sàriputta:

ßGacchàma mayaü àvuso Bhagavato santike, so no Bhagavà Satthà.û ti
ßLet us go, friend, to the Gracious One, the Gracious One is the Teacher for us.û

ßImàni kho àvuso aóóhateyyàni paribbàjakasatàni,
ßThese two hundred and fifty wanderers, friend,

amhe nissàya amhe sampassantà idha viharanti,
are living here depending on us, looking to us,

te pi tàva apalokema yathà te maÿÿissanti tathà karissantã.û ti
we should get their permission, then whatever they will think that they will do.û

Atha kho Sàriputta-Moggallànà yena te paribbàjakà tenupasaïkamiüsu,
Then Sàriputta and Moggallàna approached those wanderers,

upasaïkamitvà te paribbàjake etad-avocuü:
and after approaching, they said this to those wanderers:

ßGacchàma mayaü àvuso Bhagavato santike, so no Bhagavà Satthà.û ti
ßWe are going, friends, to the Gracious One, the Gracious One is the Teacher for us.û

ßMayaü àyasmante nissàya àyasmante sampassantà idha viharàma,
ßWe are living here depending on you, venerable ones, looking to you, venerable ones,

sace àyasmantà Mahàsamaõe brahmacariyaü carissanti
if you venerable ones will live the spiritual life under the Great Ascetic

sabbe va mayaü Mahàsamaõe brahmacariyaü carissàmà.û ti
all of us will surely live the spiritual life under the Great Ascetic.û

Atha kho Sàriputta-Moggallànà yena Saÿjayo paribbàjako tenupasaïkamiüsu,
Then Sàriputta and Moggallàna approached the wanderer Saÿjaya,

upasaïkamitvà Saÿjayaü paribbàjakaü etad-avocuü:
and after approaching, they said this to the wanderer Saÿjaya:

ßGacchàma mayaü àvuso Bhagavato santike, so no Bhagavà Satthà.û ti
ßWe are going, friend, to the Gracious One, the Gracious One is our Teacher.û

ßAlaü àvuso mà gamittha sabbe va tayo imaü gaõaü pariharissàmà.û ti
ßEnough, friend, don't go, the three of us will look after this group.û I.e. he is offering them joint leadership of the group.⁰⁸

Dutiyam-pi kho Sàriputta-Moggallànà Saÿjayaü paribbàjakaü etad-avocuü:
For a second time Sàriputta and Moggallàna said this to the wanderer Saÿjaya:

ßGacchàma mayaü àvuso Bhagavato santike, so no Bhagavà Satthà.û ti
ßWe are going, friend, to the Gracious One, the Gracious One is our Teacher.û

ßAlaü àvuso mà gamittha sabbe va tayo imaü gaõaü pariharissàmà.û ti
ßEnough, friend, don't go, the three of us will look after this group.û

Tatiyam-pi kho Sàriputta-Moggallànà Saÿjayaü paribbàjakaü etad-avocuü:
For a third time Sàriputta and Moggallàna said this to the wanderer Saÿjaya:

ßGacchàma mayaü àvuso Bhagavato santike, so no Bhagavà Satthà.û ti
ßWe are going, friend, to the Gracious One, the Gracious One is our Teacher.û

ßAlaü àvuso mà gamittha sabbe va tayo imaü gaõaü pariharissàmà.û ti
ßEnough, friend, don't go, the three of us will look after this group.û

Atha kho Sàriputta-Moggallànà tàni aóóhateyyàni paribbàjakasatàni àdàya
Then Sàriputta and Moggallàna taking those two hundred and fifty wanderers

yena Veëuvanaü tenupasaïkamiüsu.
approached the Bamboo Wood.

Saÿjayassa pana paribbàjakassa tattheva uõhaü lohitaü mukhato uggaÿchi.
But the wanderer Saÿjaya right there threw up hot blood from his mouth.

Addasà kho Bhagavà Sàriputta-Moggallàne dårato va àgacchante,
The Gracious One saw Sàriputta and Moggallàna coming while still far away,

disvàna bhikkhå àmantesi:
and having seen (them), he addressed the monks, (saying):

ßEte bhikkhave dve sahàyà àgacchanti, Kolito Upatisso ca,
ßThese two companions who are coming, Kolita and Upatissa,

etaü me Sàvakayugaü bhavissati Aggaü bhaddayugan.û ti
will be my pair of Chief Disciples, an auspicious pair.û

Atha kho Sàriputta-Moggallànà yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkamiüsu,
Then Sàriputta and Moggallàna approached the Gracious One,

upasaïkamitvà Bhagavato pàdesu sirasà nipatitvà,
and after approaching and falling with their heads at the feet of the Gracious One,

Bhagavantaü etad-avocuü:
they said this to the Gracious One:

ßLabheyyàma mayaü Bhante Bhagavato santike pabbajjaü,
ßMay we receive the going-forth, venerable Sir, in the presence of the Gracious One,

labheyyàma upasampadan.û-ti
may we receive the full ordination.û

ßEtha bhikkhavoû ti Bhagavà avoca ßsvàkkhàto Dhammo,
ßCome, monks,û said the Gracious One, ßthe Dhamma has been well-proclaimed,

caratha brahmacariyaü sammà dukkhassa antakiriyàyà.û ti
live the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering.û Comm: Mahàmoggallànatthero sattahi divasehi Arahatte patiññhito, Sàriputtatthero aóóhamàsena; the Elder Mahàmoggallàna was established in Worthiness within seven days, the Elder Sàriputta within half a month.¹⁰

Sà va tesaü àyasmantànaü upasampadà ahosi.
That was these venerable ones' full ordination. The commentary explains that at the time of the Buddha Anomadassã there were two ascetics named Sarada and Sirãvaóóha who, seeing that Buddha's Chief Disciples, aspired to be Chief Disciples themselves, and later were reborn and became Sàriputta and Mahàmoggallàna respectively.¹¹