17: Ananda's Failure

Mahàparinibbànasuttaü Home Page Next Section

Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Tatiyabhàõavàraü]
[The Third Chapter for Recitation]

[17: ânandassa Vipatti] ⁰¹
[ânanda's Failure]

Atha kho Bhagavà, pubbaõhasamayaü nivàsetvà,
Then the Gracious One, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacãvaram-àdàya, Vesàliü piõóàya pàvisi.
after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Vesàlã for alms.

Vesàliyaü piõóàya caritvà, pacchàbhattaü piõóapàtapañikkanto,
After walking for alms in Vesàlã, and returning from the alms-round after the meal,

àyasmantaü ânandaü àmantesi:
he addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):

ßGaõhàhi ânanda nisãdanaü,
ßTake up the sitting mat, ânanda,

yena Càpàlaü Cetiyaü tenupasaïkamissàma divà vihàràyà.û ti
we will approach the Càpàla shrine to dwell for the day.û

ßEvaü Bhante,û ti kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavato pañissutvà,
ßVery well, reverend Sir,û said venerable ânanda, and after replying to the Gracious One,

nisãdanaü àdàya Bhagavantaü piññhito piññhito anubandhi.
and taking the sitting mat, he followed along close behind the Gracious One.

Atha kho Bhagavà yena Càpàlaü Cetiyaü tenupasaïkami,
Then the Gracious One approached the Càpàla shrine,

upasaïkamitvà, paÿÿatte àsane nisãdi,
and after approaching, he sat down on the prepared seat,

àyasmà pi kho ânando Bhagavantaü abhivàdetvà, ekam-antaü nisãdi.
and also venerable ânanda, after worshipping the Gracious One, sat down on one side.

Ekam-antaü nisinnaü kho àyasmantaü ânandaü Bhagavà etad-avoca:
While sitting on one side the Gracious One said this to venerable ânanda:

ßRamaõãyà ânanda Vesàlã, ramaõãyaü Udenaü Cetiyaü,
ßDelightful, ânanda, is Vesàlã, delightful is the Udena shrine,

ramaõãyaü Gotamakaü Cetiyaü, ramaõãyaü Sattambaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Gotamaka shrine, delightful is the Sattamba shrine,

ramaõãyaü Bahuputtaü Cetiyaü, ramaõãyaü Sàrandadaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Many Sons' shrine, delightful is the Sàrandada shrine,

ramaõãyaü Càpàlaü Cetiyaü.
delightful is the Càpàla shrine. ⁰²

Yassa kassaci ânanda cattàro Iddhipàdà bhàvità,
* Whoever has developed, ânanda,

bahulãkatà yànãkatà vatthukatà anuññhità paricità susamàraddhà,
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power, ⁰³

so àkaïkhamàno ânanda kappaü và tiññheyya kappàvasesaü và.
could, if he wanted, ânanda, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan. ⁰⁴

Tathàgatassa kho ânanda cattàro Iddhipàdà bhàvità,
* The Realised One has developed, ânanda,

bahulãkatà yànãkatà vatthukatà anuññhità paricità susamàraddhà.
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power.

So àkaïkhamàno ânanda Tathàgato
If he wanted, ânanda, the Realised One

kappaü và tiññheyya kappàvasesaü và.û ti
could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.û

Evam-pi kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavatà oëàrike nimitte kayiramàne,
But venerable ânanda, despite such a gross hint being made by the Gracious One,

oëàrike obhàse kayiramàne, nàsakkhi pañivijjhituü,
such a gross suggestion being made, was unable to penetrate it,

na Bhagavantaü yàci:
and did not beg the Gracious One, (saying):

ßTiññhatu Bhante Bhagavà kappaü tiññhatu Sugato kappaü,
ßMay the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, may the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan,

bahujanahitàya bahujanasukhàya lokànukampàya,
for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world,

atthàya hitàya sukhàya Devamanussànanû-ti,
for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men,û

yathà taü Màrena pariyuññhitacitto.
like one whose mind was possessed by Màra.

Dutiyam-pi kho Bhagavà àyasmantaü ânandaü àmantesi:
For a second time the Gracious One addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):

ßRamaõãyà ânanda Vesàlã, ramaõãyaü Udenaü Cetiyaü,
ßDelightful, ânanda, is Vesàlã, delightful is the Udena shrine,

ramaõãyaü Gotamakaü Cetiyaü, ramaõãyaü Sattambaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Gotamaka shrine, delightful is the Sattamba shrine,

ramanãyaü Bahuputtaü Cetiyaü, ramaõãyaü Sàrandadaü Cetiyaü,
delightful is the Many Sons' shrine, delightful is the Sàrandada shrine,

ramaõãyaü Càpàlaü Cetiyaü.
delightful is the Càpàla shrine.

Yassa kassaci ânanda cattàro Iddhipàdà bhàvità,
* Whoever has developed, ânanda,

bahulãkatà yànãkatà vatthukatà anuññhità paricità susamàraddhà,
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power,

so àkaïkhamàno kappaü và tiññheyya kappàvasesaü và.
could, if he wanted, remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.

Tathàgatassa kho ânanda cattàro Iddhipàdà bhàvità,
* The Realised One has developed, ânanda,

bahulãkatà yànãkatà vatthukatà anuññhità paricità susamàraddhà.
made much of, carried on, established, maintained, augmented, and properly instigated the Four Paths to Power.

So àkaïkhamàno ânanda Tathàgato
If he wanted, ânanda, the Realised One

kappaü và tiññheyya kappàvasesaü và.û ti
could remain for the lifespan or for what is left of the lifespan.û

Evam-pi kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavatà oëàrike nimitte kayiramàne,
But venerable ânanda, despite such a gross hint being made by the Gracious One,

oëàrike obhàse kayiramàne, nàsakkhi pañivijjhituü,
such a gross suggestion being made, was unable to penetrate it,

na Bhagavantaü yàci:
and did not beg the Gracious One, (saying):

ßTiññhatu Bhante Bhagavà kappaü, tiññhatu Sugato kappaü,
ßMay the Gracious One remain, reverend Sir, for the lifespan, may the Fortunate One remain for the lifespan,

bahujanahitàya bahujanasukhàya lokànukampàya,
for the benefit of many people, for the happiness of many people, out of compassion for the world,

atthàya hitàya sukhàya Devamanussànanû-ti,
for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of Divinities and men,û

yathà taü Màrena pariyuññhitacitto.
like one whose mind was possessed by Màra.

Tatiyam-pi kho Bhagavà àyasmantaü ânandaü àmantesi:
For a third time the Gracious One addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):