7: Nandamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Nanda’s Questions

 

“ ‘Santi loke munayo’, icc-āyasmā Nando,
“‘There are sages in the world’, said venerable Nanda,

janā vadanti ta-y-idaṁ kathaṁ su?
that is what people say - how is this so?

Ñāṇūpapannaṁ no muniṁ vadanti
Do they say he is a sage because he has knowledge

Udāhu ve jīvitenūpapannaṁ?” [102 (1077) 7-1]
Or because of the life he leads?”

 

“Na diṭṭhiyā na sutiyā na ñāṇena
“Not by view, tradition, or knowledge,

munīdha Nanda kusalā vadanti,
do the skilful say one is a sage here, Nanda,

visenikatvā anīghā nirāsā -
whoever lives without company, not troubled,

caranti ye te munayo ti brūmi.” [103 (1078) 7-2]
not yearning, they are sages, I say.”

 

“Ye kec' ime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, icc-āyasmā Nando,
“Whoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins, said venerable Nanda,

diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through what is seen or heard,

sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,

anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through countless (other) ways,The first group refers to auspicious sights and sounds; the second (= sīlabbata), may be good or bad, but are always insufficient in themselves; the third group includes other things short of the destruction of craving.

kaccissu te Bhagavā tattha yatā carantā
Fortunate One, perhaps those living restrained in this way

atāruṁ jātiñ-ca jarañ-ca mārisa?
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?

Pucchāmi taṁ Bhagavā brūhi me taṁ.” [104 (1079) 7-3]
I ask you, Fortunate One, please tell this to me.”

 

“Ye kec' ime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, Nandā ti Bhagavā,
“Whoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins, Nanda, said the Fortunate One,

diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through what is seen or heard,

sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,

anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through countless (other) ways,

kiñcāpi te tattha yatā caranti
although they are living restrained in this way,

nātariṁsu jātijaran-ti brūmi.” [105 (1080) 7-4]
they have not crossed over bith and old age, I say.”

 

“Ye kec' ime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, icc-āyasmā Nando,
“Whoever (among) these ascetics and brahmins, said venerable Nanda,

diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through what is seen or heard,

sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,

anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ,
say that purity is through countless (other) ways,

te ce munī brūsi anoghatiṇṇe,
if you say these sages have not crossed the flood,

atha ko carahi devamanussaloke
then just who in the world of the gods and men

atāri jātiñ-ca jarañ-ca mārisa?
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?

Pucchāmi taṁ Bhagavā brūhi me taṁ.” [106 (1081) 7-5/6]
I ask you, Fortunate One, please tell this to me.”

 

“Nāhaṁ sabbe samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, Nandā ti Bhagavā,
“I do not say that all ascetics and brahmins, Nanda, said the Fortunate One,

jātijarāya nivutā ti brūmi:
are enveloped in birth and old age:

ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā,
whoever here has given up (reliance on) what is seen,

sīlabbataṁ vā pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,

anekarūpam-pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
and has also given up all the countless (other) ways,

taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse -
who, by fully knowing craving, are pollutant-free -

te ve narā ogha tiṇṇā ti brūmi.” [107 (1082) 7-7]
I say those men have crossed over the flood.”

 

“Etābhinandāmi vaco mahesino,
I greatly rejoice in the great seer’s word,

sukittitaṁ Gotam' anūpadhīkaṁ!
Gotama, well-proclaimed is freedom from cleaving!

Ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā
Whoever here has given up (reliance on) what is seen,

sīlabbataṁ vā pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,

anekarūpam-pi pahāya sabbaṁ,
and has also given up all the countless (other) ways,

taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse -
who, by fully knowing craving, are pollutant-free -

aham-pi te ogha tiṇṇā ti brūmī” ti. [108 (1083) 7-8]
I also say they have crossed over the flood.”

Nandamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Nanda’s Questions are Finished