ßPucchàmi taü Bhagavà bråhi me taü, icc-àyasmà Mettagå,
ßI ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me, said venerable Mettagå,

maÿÿàmi taü vedaguü bhàvitattaü -
I think you have true understanding, and a developed self -

kuto nu dukkhà samudàgatà ime
how have these countless kinds of suffering

ye keci lokasmiü anekaråpà?û [74 (1049) 41]
arisen for whoever is in the world?û

 

ßDukkhassa ve maü pabhavaü apucchasi, Mettagå ti Bhagavà,
ßYou asked me about the origin of suffering, Mettagå said the Gracious One,

taü te pavakkhàmi yathà pajànaü:
as I know it I will declare it to you:

Upadhãnidànà pabhavanti dukkhà
Because of clinging to a basis⁰¹ countless kinds

ye keci lokasmiü anekaråpà. [75 (1050) 42]
of suffering originate for whoever is in the world.

 

Yo ve avidvà upadhiü karoti
The foolish one, without wisdom, clings to a basis,

punappunaü dukkham-upeti mando.
and comes to suffering again and again, the fool.

Tasmà pajànaü upadhiü na kayⁱrà,
Therefore knowing this, do not cling to a basis,

dukkhassa jàtippabhavànupassã.û [76 (1051) 43]
seeing the birth and origin of suffering.û

 

ßYan-taü apucchimha akittayã no, icc-àyasmà Mettagå,
ßYou have proclaimed to us what we asked you about, said venerable Mettagå,

aÿÿaü taü pucchàma tad-iïgha bråhi:
another thing we ask, come on, please answer it:

Kathan-nu dhãrà vitaranti oghaü
How do the wise ones cross over the flood

jàtiü jaraü sokapariddavaÿ-ca?
of birth, old age, grief, and lamentation?

Taü me muni sàdhu viyàkarohi,
Please explain this to me, O sage,

tathà hi te vidito esa Dhammo.û [77 (1052) 44]
for this Teaching has been understood by you.û

ßYaü kiÿci sampajànàsi, Mettagå ti Bhagavà,
ßWhatever you know, Mettagå said the Gracious One,

uddhaü adho tiriyaÿ-càpi majjhe,
above, below, and across the middle,

etesu nandiÿ-ca nivesanaÿ-ca
dispel the enjoyment of, and settling on, these things,

panujja viÿÿàõaü bhave na tiññhe. [80 (1055) 47]
and consciousness,⁰² and one will not remain in existence.

 

Evaüvihàrã sato appamatto,
Living in this way, mindful, and heedful,

bhikkhu caraü hitvà mamàyitàni,
the monk who lives on after giving up loved things,

jàtiü jaraü sokapariddavaÿ-ca
can, being wise, give up birth, old age,

idh' eva vidvà pajaheyya dukkhaü.û [81 (1056) 48]
grief, lamentation, and suffering right here.û

 

ßEtàbhinandàmi vaco Mahesino, icc-àyasmà Mettagå,
ßI greatly rejoice in this, the Great Seer's word, said venerable Mettagå,

Sukittitaü Gotam' anåpadhãkaü.
O Gotama, well proclaimed is freedom from cleaving.

Addhà hi Bhagavà pahàsi dukkhaü,
Surely the Gracious One gave up suffering,

tathà hi te vidito esa Dhammo. [82 (1057) 49]
for this Teaching has been understood by you.

 

Te càpi nåna pajaheyyu dukkhaü,
Surely they too can give up suffering,

ye tvaü Munã aññhitaü ovadeyya,
whomever you would continually advise, O Sage,

taü taü namassàmi samecca Nàgaü,
therefore having met the Strong One, I revere him,

appeva maü Bhagavà aññhitaü ovadeyya!û [83 (1058) 410]
perhaps the Gracious One could continuously advise me!û

 

ßYaü bràhmaõaü vedaguü àbhijaÿÿà, Mettagå ti Bhagavà,
ßYou should know the brahmin who has true understanding, Mettagå, said the Gracious One,

akiÿcanaü kàmabhave asattaü,
who has nothing, and is not clinging to sense existence,

addhà hi so ogham-imaü atàri,
for he has surely crossed over the flood,

tiõõo ca pàraü akhilo akaïkho. [84 (1059) 411]
without hindrance or doubt, he has crossed beyond.

 

Vidvà ca so vedagå naro idha,
That man here who is wise, and has true understanding,

bhavàbhave saïgam-imaü visajja,
who has released the shackle of repeated existence,

so vãtataõho anãgho niràso -
he is craving-free, not troubled, not yearning -

atàri so jàtijaran-ti bråmãû ti [85 (1060) 4-12]
he has crossed over birth and old age, I say.û