27: The Four Noble Things

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, when he was returning from the alms-round after the meal,

nàgàpalokitaü Vesàliü apaloketvà,
after looking at Vesàlã with an elephant's look, ⁰¹

ßIdaü pacchimakaü ânanda Tathàgatassa Vesàliyà dassanaü bhavissati.
ßThis is the last time, ânanda, there will be sight of Vesàlã for the Realised One.

âyàm' ânanda yena Bhaõóagàmo tenupasaïkamissàmà.û ti
Come ânanda let us approach Bhaõóagàma.û ⁰²

ßEvaü Bhante,û ti kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavato paccassosi.
ßVery well, reverend Sir,û venerable ânanda replied to the Gracious One.

Atha kho Bhagavà mahatà Bhikkhusaïghena saddhiü yena Bhaõóagàmo tad-avasari.
Then the Gracious One together with a great Community of monks entered Bhaõóagàma.

Tatra sudaü Bhagavà Bhaõóagàme viharati.
There the Gracious One lived near Bhaõóagàma.

Tatra kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
There the Gracious One said this to the monks:

ßCatunnaü, bhikkhave, dhammànaü ananubodhà appañivedhà
ßBecause of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration, monks, of four things

evam-idaü dãgham-addhànaü sandhàvitaü saüsaritaü mamaÿ-ceva tumhàkaÿ-ca.
both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time. ⁰³

Ariyassa, bhikkhave, Sãlassa ananubodhà appañivedhà
Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Virtue ⁰⁴

evam-idaü dãgham-addhànaü sandhàvitaü saüsaritaü mamaÿ-ceva tumhàkaÿ-ca.
both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) ⁰⁵ for a long time.

Ariyassa, bhikkhave, Samàdhissa ananubodhà appañivedhà
Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Concentrated (Development) ⁰⁶

evam-idaü dãgham-addhànaü sandhàvitaü saüsaritaü mamaÿ-ceva tumhàkaÿ-ca.
both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time.

Ariyàya, bhikkhave, Paÿÿàya ananubodhà appañivedhà
Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Wisdom

evam-idaü dãgham-addhànaü sandhàvitaü saüsaritaü mamaÿ-ceva tumhàkaÿ-ca.
both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time.

Ariyàya, bhikkhave, Vimuttiyà ananubodhà appañivedhà
Because of a lack of understanding and a lack of penetration of Noble Freedom

evam-idaü dãgham-addhànaü sandhàvitaü saüsaritaü mamaÿ-ceva tumhàkaÿ-ca.
both you and I have been wandering and running along (in Saüsàra) for a long time.

Ta-y-idaü, bhikkhave, Ariyaü Sãlaü anubuddhaü pañividdhaü,
(But now) this Noble Virtue has been understood and penetrated,

Ariyo Samàdhi anubuddho pañividdho,
this Noble Concentrated (Development) has been understood and penetrated,

Ariyà Paÿÿà anubuddhà pañividdhà,
this Noble Wisdom has been understood and penetrated,

Ariyà Vimutti anubuddhà pañividdhà.
this Noble Freedom has been understood and penetrated.

Ucchinnà bhavataõhà khãõà bhavanetti natthi dàni punabbhavo.û ti
Craving for continued existence has been cut off, what leads to rebirth has been exhausted, there is no continuation in existence.û

Idam-avoca Bhagavà idaü vatvà Sugato athàparaü etad-avoca Satthà:
The Gracious One said this, and after saying this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, said something more:

ßSãlaü Samàdhi Paÿÿà ca Vimutti ca anuttarà,
ßVirtue, Concentration, Wisdom, and unsurpassed Freedom,

Anubuddhà ime dhammà Gotamena yasassinà,
These things have been understood by the Famous Gotama, ⁰⁷

Iti Buddho abhiÿÿàya Dhammam-akkhàsi bhikkhunaü
Thus after knowing it deeply the Buddha declared the Teaching to the monks,

Dukkhassantaïkaro Satthà Cakkhumà parinibbuto.û ti
The Suffering-Ender, the Teacher, the Visionary One ⁰⁸ who is Emancipated.û

Tatra pi sudaü Bhagavà Bhaõóagàme viharanto,
There also the Gracious One, while living in Bhaõóagàma,

etad-eva bahulaü bhikkhånaü Dhammiü kathaü karoti:
spoke frequently to the monks about the Teaching, (saying):

ßIti sãlaü, iti samàdhi, iti paÿÿà,
ßSuch is virtue, such is concentration, such is wisdom,

sãlaparibhàvito samàdhi mahapphalo hoti mahànisaüso,
when virtue is well-developed it yields great fruit and brings great advantages in regard to concentration,

samàdhiparibhàvità paÿÿà mahapphalà hoti mahànisaüsà,
when concentration is well-developed it yields great fruit and brings great advantages in regard to wisdom,

Paÿÿàparibhàvitaü cittaü sammad-eva àsavehi vimuccati,
when wisdom is well-developed the mind is completely liberated from the pollutants,

seyyathãdaü: kàmàsavà bhavàsavà avijjàsavà.û ti
that is to say: the pollutant of sensuality, the pollutant of (craving for) continued existence, the pollutant of ignorance.û