The Discourse about Bhaddiya

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Anupiyāyaṁ viharati Ambavane.
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Anupiyā, in the Mango Wood.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā Bhaddiyo Kāḷigodhāya putto,
Then at that time venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udāneti: “Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan!”-ti sukhaṁ here is the so-called nominative of exclamation, see Syntax § 28.⁰¹
was frequently uttering this exclamation: “Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!”

āyasmato Bhaddiyassa Kāḷigodhāya puttassa,
when venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son,

araññagatassa pi rukkhamūlagatassa pi suññāgāragatassa pi,
had gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udānentassa: This whole report is a genitive absolute, giving the sense of when... or while...⁰² “Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan!”-ti
was frequently uttering this exclamation: “Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!”

“Nissaṁsayaṁ kho āvuso āyasmā Bhaddiyo Kāḷigodhāya putto,
“Undoubtedly, friends, venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son,

anabhirato brahmacariyaṁ carati, Another example of the cognate accusative, this time with the cognate in compound. Note that in this case it is possible to use the same construction in translation, though it is difficult elsewhere, as English normally avoids such close repetition.⁰³
has no great delight living the spiritual life,

yaṁsa pubbe agāriyabhūtassa rajjasukhaṁ so tam-anussaramāno,
and remembering the royal happiness he had formerly in the home life,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udāneti: ‘Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan’ ”-ti.
he is frequently uttering this exclamation: ‘Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!’ ”

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu,
Then many monks went to the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.
and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū Bhagavantaṁ etad-avocuṁ:
While sat on one side those monks said this to the Gracious One:

“Āyasmā bhante Bhaddiyo Kāḷigodhāya putto,
“Venerable Bhaddiya, reverend Sir, Kāḷigodhā's son,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udāneti: ‘Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan!’-ti.
is frequently uttering this exclamation: ‘Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!’

Nissaṁsayaṁ kho bhante āyasmā Bhaddiyo Kāḷigodhāya putto,
Undoubtedly, reverend Sir, venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son,

anabhirato brahmacariyaṁ carati,
has no great delight living the spiritual life,

yaṁsa pubbe agāriyabhūtassa rajjasukhaṁ so tam-anussaramāno,
and remembering the royal happiness he had formerly in the home life,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udāneti: ‘Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan’ ”-ti.
he is frequently uttering this exclamation: ‘Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!’ ”

Atha kho Bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed a certain monk, (saying):

“Ehi tvaṁ bhikkhu mama vacanena Bhaddiyaṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantehi:
“Please go, monk, and with my word address the monk Bhaddiya, (saying):

‘Satthā taṁ āvuso Bhaddiya āmantetī’ ” ti.
‘The Teacher, friend Bhaddiya, calls you.’ ”

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti kho so bhikkhu, Bhagavato paṭissutvā,
“Yes, reverend Sir,” said that monk, and after replying to the Gracious One,

yenāyasmā Bhaddiyo Kāḷigodhāya putto tenupasaṅkami,
he went to venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son,

upasaṅkamitvā, āyasmantaṁ Bhaddiyaṁ Kāḷigodhāya puttaṁ etad-avoca:
and after going, he said this to venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son:

“Satthā taṁ āvuso Bhaddiya āmantetī” ti.
“The Teacher, friend Bhaddiya, calls you.”

“Evam-āvuso,” ti kho āyasmā Bhaddiyo Kāḷigodhāya putto,
“Yes, friend,” said venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son,

tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā, yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkami,
and after replying to that monk, he went to the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ Bhaddiyaṁ Kāḷigodhāya puttaṁ
^o While sat on one side the Gracious One said this

Bhagavā etad-avoca: “Saccaṁ kira tvaṁ Bhaddiya,
to venerable Bhaddiya, Kāḷigodhā's son: “Is it true, as it seems, Bhaddiya, that you,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: ‘Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan!’-ti?”
frequently utter this exclamation: ‘Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!’?”

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti. “Kiṁ pana tvaṁ Bhaddiya atthavasaṁ sampassamāno,
“Yes, reverend Sir,” “But, Bhaddiya, seeing what reason did you,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: ‘Aho sukhaṁ! Aho sukhan’-ti?”
frequently utter this exclamation: ‘Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!’ ?”

“Pubbe me bhante agāriyabhūtassa rajjaṁ kārentassa,
“Formerly, Reverend Sir, while I was in the home life ruling the country,

anto pi antepure rakkhā susaṁvihitā ahosi,
the inside of the inner quarters was well appointed with guards,

bahi pi antepure rakkhā susaṁvihitā ahosi,
and the outside of the inner quarters was well appointed with guards,

anto pi nagare rakkhā susaṁvihitā ahosi,
and inside the city it was well appointed with guards,

bahi pi nagare rakkhā susaṁvihitā ahosi,
and outside the city it was well appointed with guards,

anto pi janapade rakkhā susaṁvihitā ahosi,
and inside the country it was well appointed with guards,

bahi pi janapade rakkhā susaṁvihitā ahosi.
and outside the country it was well appointed with guards.

So kho ahaṁ bhante evaṁ rakkhitagopito santo,
Although, reverend Sir, I was being guarded and protected in this way,

bhīto ubbiggo ussaṅkī utrāsī vihāsiṁ.
I lived fearful, anxious, distrustful, and afraid.

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

eko abhīto anubbiggo anussaṅkī anutrāsī,
^o I live solitary, fearless, unanxious, trusting, unafraid,

appossukko pannalomo paradavutto migabhūtena cetasā viharāmi.
unconcerned, not horrified, quite secure, with a mind that has become (confident) like a (free)-born animal.

Idaṁ kho ahaṁ bhante atthavasaṁ sampassamāno,
It is seeing this reason, reverend Sir, that I,

araññagato pi rukkhamūlagato pi suññāgāragato pi,
having gone to the wilderness, to the root of a tree, to an empty place,

abhikkhaṇaṁ udānaṁ udānemi: ‘Aho sukhaṁ aho sukhan’ ”-ti.
am frequently uttering this exclamation: ‘Ah, happiness! Ah, happiness!’ ”

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“Yassantarato na santi kopā,
“For he who has no agitations inside (the mind),

Iti bhavābhavatañ-ca Long- ā - in the middle of bhavābhavatā is a case of rhythmical lengthening, and the word should be parsed bhava + bhavatā.⁰⁴ vītivatto,
Who has thus completely transcended continuity of existence,

Taṁ vigatabhayaṁ sukhiṁ asokaṁ,
^o The devas are unable to see

Devā nānubhavanti dassanāyā” ti.
He who is without fear, happy, and griefless.”