41: The Final Emancipation

Atha kho Bhagavà pañhamajjhànaü samàpajji,
Then the Gracious One attained the first absorption,

pañhamajjhànà vuññhahitvà, dutiyajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the first absorption he attained the second absorption,

dutiyajjhànà vuññhahitvà, tatiyajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the third absorption,

tatiyajjhànà vuññhahitvà, catutthajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the fourth absorption, ⁰¹

catutthajjhànà vuññhahitvà, àkàsànaÿcàyatanaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the fourth absorption he attained the sphere of endless space,

àkàsànaÿcàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà, viÿÿàõaÿcàyatanaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the sphere of endless space he attained the sphere of endless consciousness,

viÿÿàõaÿcàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà, àkiÿcaÿÿàyatanaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the sphere of endless consciousness he attained the sphere of nothingness,

àkiÿcaÿÿàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà,
and after emerging from the sphere of nothingness,

nevasaÿÿànàsaÿÿàtayanaü samàpajji,
he attained the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception,

nevasaÿÿànàsaÿÿàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà,
and after emerging from the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception,

saÿÿàvedayitanirodhaü samàpajji.
he attained the cessation of perception and feeling.

Atha kho àyasmà ânando àyasmantaü Anuruddhaü etad-avoca:
Then venerable ânanda said this to venerable Anuruddha:

ßParinibbuto Bhante Anuruddha Bhagavà?û ti
ß(Has) the Gracious One, reverend Anuruddha, attained Final Emancipation?û ⁰²

ßNàvuso ânanda Bhagavà parinibbuto saÿÿàvedayitanirodhaü samàpanno.û ti
ßThe Gracious One, reverend ânanda, has not attained Final Emancipation, he has attained the cessation of perception and feeling.û ⁰³

Atha kho Bhagavà saÿÿàvedayitanirodhasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà,
Then the Gracious One, after emerging from the cessation of perception and feeling,

nevasaÿÿànàsaÿÿàyatanaü samàpajji,
attained the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception,

nevasaÿÿànàsaÿÿàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà, àkiÿcaÿÿàyatanaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception he attained the sphere of nothingness,

àkiÿcaÿÿàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà, viÿÿàõaÿcàyatanaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the sphere of nothingness he attained the sphere of endless consciousness,

viÿÿàõaÿcàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà, àkàsànaÿcàyatanaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the sphere of endless consciousness he attained the sphere of endless space,

àkàsànaÿcàyatanasamàpattiyà vuññhahitvà, catutthajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the sphere of endless space he attained the fourth absorption,

catutthajjhànà vuññhahitvà, tatiyajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the fourth absorption he attained the third absorption,

tatiyajjhànà vuññhahitvà, dutiyajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the second absorption,

dutiyajjhànà vuññhahitvà, pañhamajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the first absorption,

pañhamajjhànà vuññhahitvà, dutiyajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the first absorption he attained the second absorption,

dutiyajjhànà vuññhahitvà, tatiyajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the second absorption he attained the third absorption,

tatiyajjhànà vuññhahitvà, catutthajjhànaü samàpajji,
and after emerging from the third absorption he attained the fourth absorption,

catutthajjhànà vuññhahitvà, samanantarà Bhagavà parinibbàyi.
and after emerging from the fourth absorption, immediately the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation.

Parinibbute Bhagavati saha Parinibbànà mahàbhåmicàlo ahosi,
When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation there was a great earthquake,

bhiüsanako lomahaüso Devadundubhiyo ca phaliüsu.
and an awful, horrifying crash of the Divinities' (thunder) drum.

Parinibbute Bhagavati saha Parinibbànà
When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation

Brahmà Sahampati imaü gàthaü abhàsi:
Brahmà Sahampati spoke this verse: ⁰⁴

ßSabbe va nikkhipissanti bhåtà loke samussayaü,
ßAll beings in the world will surely lay aside the body,

Yathà ⁰⁵ Etàdiso Satthà loke appañipuggalo,
In the same way the Teacher, Such-like, unmatched in the world,

Tathàgato balappatto Sambuddho parinibbuto.û ti
the Realised One, attained to (the ten) strengths, the Sambuddha, has attained Final Emancipation.û

Parinibbute Bhagavati saha Parinibbànà
When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation

Sakko Devànamindo imaü gàthaü abhàsi:
Sakka, the Lord of the Divinities, spoke this verse:

ßAniccà vata saïkhàrà uppàdavayadhammino
ßImpermanent, indeed, are (all) processes, arisen they have the nature to decay,

Uppajjitvà nirujjhanti tesaü våpasamo sukho.û ti
After arising they come to cessation, for them the peace (of Nibbàna) is blissful.û ⁰⁶

Parinibbute Bhagavati saha Parinibbànà
When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation

àyasmà Anuruddho imà gàthàyo abhàsi:
venerable Anuruddha spoke these verses:

ßNàhu assàsapassàso ñhitacittassa Tàdino,
ßThere is no more breathing for that Such-like one of steady mind,

Anejo santim-àrabbha yaü kàlam-akarã Muni.
Freed from lust, the Sage who has died, has entered the peace (of Nibbàna).

Asallãnena cittena vedanaü ajjhavàsayi,
With an unshaken heart, he endured the painful feelings,

Pajjotasseva Nibbànaü vimokkho cetaso ahå.û ti
Like a flame (when it goes out) so his mind was liberated in Nibbàna.û ⁰⁷

Parinibbute Bhagavati saha Parinibbànà
When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation along with the Emancipation

àyasmà ânando imaü gàthaü abhàsi:
venerable ânanda spoke this verse:

ßTad-àsi yaü bhiüsanakaü tad-àsi lomahaüsanaü,
ßWith that there was fear, with that there was horror,

Sabbàkàravaråpete Sambuddhe Parinibbute.û ti
When the Sambuddha, endowed with all noble qualities, attained Emancipation.û

Parinibbute Bhagavati ye tattha bhikkhå avãtaràgà
When the Gracious One attained Final Emancipation those monks there who were not free from passion,

appekacce bàhà paggayha kandanti, chinnapàtaü papatanti àvaññanti vivaññanti:
throwing up their arms, falling down (as though) cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, were crying:

`Atikhippaü Bhagavà parinibbuto,
`Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Sugato parinibbuto,
too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Cakkhumà loke antarahito!' ti
too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!'

Ye pana te bhikkhå vãtaràgà te satà sampajànà adhivàsenti:
But those monks who were free from passion, mindfully, with full awareness, endured, (thinking):

ßAniccà saïkhàrà taü kutettha labbhà?û ti
ßImpermanent are (all) processes, how can it be otherwise?û

Atha kho àyasmà Anuruddho bhikkhå àmantesi:
Then venerable Anuruddha said this to the monks:

ßAlaü àvuso mà socittha mà paridevittha,
ßEnough, friends, do not grieve, do not lament,

na nu etaü àvuso Bhagavatà pañikacceva akkhàtaü:
were you not warned by the Gracious One when he declared:

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

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

jàtaü bhåtaü saïkhataü palokadhammaü?
born, become, in process, subject to dissolution?

`Taü vata mà palujjã' ti netaü ñhànaü vijjati.
It is not possible (to say) this: `It should not dissolve'.

Devatà àvuso ujjhàyantã.û ti
The Divinities, friends, are complaining.û

ßKathaübhåtà pana Bhante àyasmà Anuruddho Devatà manasikarotã?û ti
ßBut what beings and Divinities is the venerable Anuruddha thinking of?û

ßSantàvuso ânanda Devatà àkàse Pañhavãsaÿÿiniyo kese pakiriya kandanti
ßThere are, friend ânanda, Divinities in the sky, perceiving the Earth, who, having dishevelled hair, are weeping,

bàhà paggayha kandanti chinnapàtaü papatanti àvaññanti vivaññanti
throwing up their arms, falling down (as though) cut down, rolling backwards and forwards as though with their feet cut off, crying:

`Atikhippaü Bhagavà parinibbuto,
`Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Sugato parinibbuto,
too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Cakkhumà loke antarahito!' ti
too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!'

Santàvuso ânanda Devatà Pañhaviyà Pañhavãsaÿÿiniyo kese pakiriya kandanti
There are, friend ânanda, Divinities on the Earth, perceiving the Earth, who, having dishevelled hair, are weeping,

`Atikhippaü Bhagavà parinibbuto,
`Too quickly the Gracious One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Sugato parinibbuto,
too quickly the Fortunate One has attained Final Emancipation,

atikhippaü Cakkhumà loke antarahito!' ti
too quickly the Visionary in the world has disappeared!'

Yà pana tà Devatà vãtaràgà tà satà sampajànà adhivàsenti:
But those Divinities, who have cut off passion, they mindfully, with full awareness, endure, (thinking):

`Aniccà saïkhàrà taü kutettha labbhà?'.û ti
`Impermanent are (all) processes, how can it be otherwise?'û