36: Ananda's Marvellous Qualities

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Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

[Paÿcamabhàõavàraü]
[The Fifth Chapter for Recitation]

[36: ânandassa Acchariyadhammà]
[ânanda's Marvellous Qualities]

Atha kho àyasmà ânando vihàraü pavisitvà,
Then venerable ânanda, after entering the living place, ⁰¹

kapisãsaü àlambitvà rodamàno aññhàsi:
and leaning against the door-lintel, stood there crying:

ßAhaÿ-ca vatamhi sekho sakaraõãyo Satthu ca me Parinibbànaü bhavissati,
ßThe Teacher will attain Final Emancipation while I am still a Trainee with much to do, ⁰²

yo mama anukampako!û ti
he who has compassion for me!û

Atha kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):

ßKahaü nu kho bhikkhave ânando?û ti
ßWhere, monks, is ânanda?û

ßEso Bhante àyasmà ânando vihàraü pavisitvà,
ßThis venerable ânanda, reverend Sir, after entering the living place,

kapisãsaü àlambitvà rodamàno ñhito:
and leaning against the door-lintel, stands there crying:

`Ahaÿ-ca vatamhi sekho sakaraõãyo Satthu ca me Parinibbànaü bhavissati,
`The Teacher will attain Final Emancipation while I am still a Trainee with much to do,

yo mama anukampako!'û ti
he who has compassion for me!'û

Atha kho Bhagavà aÿÿataraü bhikkhuü àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed a certain monk, (saying):

ßEhi tvaü bhikkhu mama vacanena ânandaü àmantehi:
ßGo, monk, and in my name address ânanda, (saying):

`Satthà taü àvuso ânanda àmantetã'.û ti
`The Teacher, friend ânanda, is calling you.'û

ßEvaü Bhante,û ti kho so bhikkhu Bhagavato pañissutvà,
ßVery well, reverend Sir, and after replying to the Gracious One,

yenàyasmà ânando tenupasaïkami,
he approached venerable ânanda,

upasaïkamitvà àyasmantaü ânandaü etad-avoca:
and after approaching he said this to venerable ânanda:

ßSatthà taü àvuso ânanda àmantetã.û ti
ßThe Teacher, friend ânanda, is calling you.û

ßEvam-àvusoû ti kho àyasmà ânando tassa bhikkhuno pañissutvà,
ßVery well, friend,û said venerable ânanda, and after replying to that monk,

yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkami,
he approached the Gracious One,

upasaïkamitvà Bhagavantaü abhivàdetvà, ekam-antaü nisãdi.
and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he 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:

ßAlaü ânanda mà soci mà paridevi,
ßEnough, ânanda, don't grieve, don't lament,

na nu etaü ânanda mayà pañikacceva akkhàtaü:
were you not warned by me when I declared:

`Sabbeheva piyehi manàpehi nànàbhàvo vinàbhàvo aÿÿathàbhàvo'?
`There is alteration in, separation from, and changeability in all that is dear and appealing.'

Taü kutettha labbhà ânanda yaü taü,
How can it be otherwise, ânanda, for that which is obtained,

jàtaü bhåtaü saïkhataü palokadhammaü?
born, become, conditioned, subject to dissolution?

`Taü vata Tathàgatassà pi sarãraü mà palujjã' ti netaü ñhànaü vijjati.
It is not possible (to say) this: `The Realised One's body should not dissolve'.

Dãgharattaü kho te ânanda Tathàgato paccupaññhito
For a long time, ânanda, you dwelt near to the Realised One

mettena kàyakammena hitena sukhena advayena appamàõena,
with beneficial, pleasant, trustworthy, ⁰³ and limitlessly friendly bodily actions,

mettena vacãkammena hitena sukhena advayena appamàõena,
with beneficial, pleasant, trustworthy, and limitlessly friendly speech actions,

mettena manokammena hitena sukhena advayena appamàõena,
with beneficial, pleasant, trustworthy, and limitlessly friendly mental actions,

katapuÿÿosi tvaü ânanda padhànam-anuyuÿja khippaü hohisi anàsavo!û ti
you have done meritorious deeds, ânanda, you should devote yourself to quickly striving to be one who is pollutant-free!û

* * *

Atha kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):

ßYe pi te bhikkhave ahesuü atãtam-addhànaü Arahanto Sammàsambuddhà
ßWhoever were Worthy Ones, Perfect Sambuddhas in the past, monks,

tesam-pi Bhagavantànaü etaparamà yeva upaññhàkà ahesuü
for those Gracious Ones also there were such superior attendants,

seyyathà pi mayhaü ânando;
just as ânanda is for me;

ye pi te bhikkhave bhavissanti anàgatam-addhànaü Arahanto Sammàsambuddhà
whoever will be Worthy Ones, Perfect Sambuddhas in the future, monks,

tesam-pi Bhagavantànaü etaparamà yeva upaññhàkà bhavissanti
for those Gracious Ones also there will be such superior attendants,

seyyathà pi mayhaü ânando.
just as ânanda is for me.

Paõóito bhikkhave ânando, medhàvã bhikkhave ânando jànàti:
ânanda is wise, monks, ânanda is intelligent, monks, he knows:

`Ayaü kàlo Tathàgataü dassanàya upasaïkamituü bhikkhånaü,
`This is the time for monks to approach and see the Realised One,

ayaü kàlo bhikkhunãnaü, ayaü kàlo upàsakànaü, ayaü kàlo upàsikànaü,
this is the time for monks, this is the time for nuns, this is the time for laymen, this is the time for laywomen,

ayaü kàlo raÿÿo, ràjamahàmattànaü, titthiyànaü, titthiyasàvakànan.'-ti
this is the time for kings, for kings' ministers, for outside teachers, for the disciples of outside teachers.'

* * *

Cattàrome bhikkhave acchariyà abbhutà dhammà ânande. ⁰⁴
There are four wonderful and marvellous things, monks, about ânanda.

Katame cattàro?
Which four?

1) Sace bhikkhave bhikkhuparisà ânandaü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of monks approach to see ânanda

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce ânando dhammaü bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if ânanda speaks words of welcome, ⁰⁵ their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave bhikkhuparisà hoti atha ânando tuõhã hoti.
but that group of monks are dissatisfied if at that time ânanda remains silent.

2) Sace bhikkhave bhikkhunãparisà ânandaü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of nuns approach to see ânanda

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce ânando dhammaü bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if ânanda speaks words of welcome, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave bhikkhunãparisà hoti atha ânando tuõhã hoti.
but that group of nuns are dissatisfied if at that time ânanda remains silent.

3) Sace bhikkhave upàsakaparisà ânandaü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of laymen approach to see ânanda

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce ânando dhammaü bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if ânanda speaks words of welcome, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave upàsakaparisà hoti atha ânando tuõhã hoti.
but that group of laymen are dissatisfied if at that time ânanda remains silent.

4) Sace bhikkhave upàsikàparisà ânandaü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of laywomen approach to see ânanda

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce ânando dhammaü bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if ânanda speaks words of welcome, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave upàsikàparisà hoti atha ânando tuõhã hoti.
but that group of laywomen are dissatisfied if at that time ânanda remains silent.

Ime kho bhikkhave cattàro acchariyà abbhutadhammà ânande.
These are the four wonderful and marvellous things about ânanda.

Cattàrome bhikkhave acchariyà abbhutà dhammà Raÿÿe Cakkavattimhi. ⁰⁶
There are four wonderful and marvellous things, monks, about the Universal Monarch.

Katame cattàro?
Which four?

1) Sace bhikkhave Khattiyaparisà Ràjànaü Cakkavattiü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of nobles approach to see the Universal Monarch

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce Ràjà Cakkavattã bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if the Universal Monarch speaks, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave Khattiyaparisà hoti atha Ràjà Cakkavattã tuõhã hoti.
but that group of nobles are dissatisfied if then the Universal Monarch remains silent.

2) Sace bhikkhave bràhmaõaparisà Ràjànaü Cakkavattiü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of brahmins approach to see the Universal Monarch

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce Ràjà Cakkavattã bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if the Universal Monarch speaks, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave bràhmaõaparisà hoti atha Ràjà Cakkavattã tuõhã hoti.
but that group of brahmins are dissatisfied if then the Universal Monarch remains silent.

3) Sace bhikkhave gahapatiparisà Ràjànaü Cakkavattiü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of householders approach to see the Universal Monarch

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce Ràjà Cakkavattã bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if the Universal Monarch speaks, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave gahapatiparisà hoti atha Ràjà Cakkavattã tuõhã hoti.
but that group of householders are dissatisfied if then the Universal Monarch remains silent.

4) Sace bhikkhave samaõaparisà Ràjànaü Cakkavattiü dassanàya upasaïkamati
If, monks, a group of ascetics approach to see the Universal Monarch

dassanena sà attamanà hoti,
their minds are uplifted through seeing (him),

tatra ce Ràjà Cakkavattã bhàsati, bhàsitena pi sà attamanà hoti,
and if the Universal Monarch speaks, their minds are uplifted with the speech,

atittà va bhikkhave samaõaparisà hoti atha Ràjà Cakkavattã tuõhã hoti.
but that group of ascetics are dissatisfied if then the Universal Monarch remains silent.

Evam-eva kho bhikkhave cattàro acchariyà abbhutà dhammà ânande.
In the same way there are four wonderful and marvellous things, monks, about ânanda.