The Discourse about Yasoja

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,

Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
in Jeta's Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery.

Yasojapamukhāni pañcamattāni bhikkhusatāni
five hundred monks with Yasoja at their head

Sāvatthiṁ anuppattāni honti, Bhagavantaṁ dassanāya.
had arrived in Sāvatthī, to see the Gracious One.

nevāsikehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ paṭisammodamānā,
while exchanging greetings with the resident monks,

senāsanāni paññāpayamānā, pattacīvarāni paṭisāmayamānā,
having the dwelling places assigned, putting the bowls and robes in order,

Atha kho Bhagavā āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ āmantesi:
Then the Gracious One addressed venerable Ānanda, (saying):

“Ke panete Ānanda uccāsaddā mahāsaddā?
“Who are these (making) a loud noise, a great noise?

Kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope!” ti
One would think it is fishermen with their haul of fish!”

“Etāni bhante Yasojapamukhāni pañcamattāni bhikkhusatāni,
“These, reverend Sir, are five hundred monks with Yasoja at their head,

Sāvatthiṁ anuppattāni Bhagavantaṁ dassanāya.
who have arrived at Sāvatthī to see the Gracious One.

Tete āgantukā bhikkhū nevāsikehi bhikkhūhi
^o These visiting monks while exchanging greetings

senāsanāni paññāpayamānā, pattacīvarāni paṭisāmayamānā,
having the dwelling places assigned, putting the bowls and robes in order,

“Tena hānanda mama vacanena te bhikkhū āmantehi:
“Now then, Ānanda, with my word address those monks, (saying):

‘Satthā āyasmante āmantetī’ ” ti.
‘The Teacher calls the venerable ones.’ ”

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti kho āyasmā Ānando, Bhagavato paṭissutvā,
“Yes, reverend Sir,” said venerable Ānanda, and after replying to the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā, te bhikkhū etad-avoca:
and after going, he said this to those monks:

“Satthā āyasmante āmantetī” ti.
“The Teacher calls the venerable ones.”

“Evam-āvuso” ti kho te bhikkhū, āyasmato Ānandassa paṭissutvā,
“Yes, friend,” said those monks, and after replying to venerable Ānanda,

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

Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho te bhikkhū Bhagavā etad-avoca:
While sat on one side the Gracious One said this to those monks:

“Kinnu tumhe bhikkhave uccāsaddā mahāsaddā,
“Why, monks, are you (making) a loud noise, a great noise,

kevaṭṭā maññe macchavilope?” ti.
so one would think it is fishermen with their haul of fish?”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā Yasojo Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
After that was said, venerable Yasoja said this to the Gracious One:

“Imāni bhante pañcamattāni bhikkhusatāni
“These, reverend Sir, are five hundred monks

Sāvatthiṁ anuppattāni Bhagavantaṁ dassanāya.
who have arrived at Sāvatthī to see the Gracious One.

Teme āgantukā bhikkhū nevāsikehi bhikkhūhi
^o These visiting monks while exchanging greetings

senāsanāni paññāpayamānā, pattacīvarāni paṭisāmayamānā,
having the dwelling places assigned, putting the bowls and robes in order,

“Gacchatha bhikkhave vo paṇāmemi.
“Please go, monks, I am dismissing you.

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti kho te bhikkhū, Bhagavato paṭissutvā,As noted above this sentence is often mistranslated as though paṭissutvā were an aorist, giving the sense [nominative] replied to the [accusative]. Just below the same type of sentence does occur with the finite verb paccassosuṁ.⁰¹
“Yes, reverend Sir,” said those monks, and after replying to the Gracious One,

uṭṭhāyāsanā, Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā,
rising from their seats, worshipping and circumambulating the Gracious One,

senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā, pattacīvaram-ādāya,
putting their dwelling places in order, picking up their robes and bowls,

yena Vajji tena cārikaṁ pakkamiṁsu.
they went on walking tour towards Vajji.

Vajjisu anupubbena cārikaṁ caramānā
While walking gradually through Vajji on walking tour

yena Vaggumudā nadī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu,
they went to the river Vaggumudā,

upasaṅkamitvā Vaggumudāya nadiyā tīre paṇṇakuṭiyo karitvā,
and after going and making leaf-huts on the bank of the river Vaggumudā,

Atha kho āyasmā Yasojo vassupagato bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then venerable Yasoja, having entered upon the Rains Retreat, addressed those monks (saying):

“Bhagavatā mayaṁ āvuso paṇāmitā atthakāmena hitesinā,
“We were dismissed, friends, by the Gracious One, who desires our welfare, who seeks our benefit,

anukampakena anukampaṁ upādāya.
who is compassionate, out of compassion (for us).

Handa mayaṁ āvuso tathā vihāraṁ kappema
Well now, venerable friends, we must live

yathā no viharataṁ Bhagavā attamano assā” ti.
in such a way that the Gracious One will be pleased with our living.”

“Evam-āvuso” ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato Yasojassa paccassosuṁ.
“Yes, friend,” those monks replied to venerable Yasoja.

vūpakaṭṭhā appamattā ātāpino pahitattā viharantā,Participle use, with viharantā giving durative sense.⁰²
while dwelling secluded, heedful, ardent, and resolute,

tenevantaravassena sabbeva tisso vijjā sacchākaṁsu.
within the Rains Retreat all realized the three deep understandings.

Atha kho Bhagavā, Sāvatthiyaṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā,
Then the Gracious One, having dwelt at Sāvatthī for as long as he wished,

yena Vesālī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi,
went on walking tour towards Vesālī,

anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena Vesālī tad-avasari.yena ... tad... is a parallel idiom to the more common yena ... tena .... Here the instrumental is constructed with the accusative, lit.: where Vesālī was at that he arrived.⁰³
and while walking gradually on walking tour he arrived at Vesālī.

Tatra sudaṁ Bhagavā Vesāliyaṁ viharati,Notice the use of the historical present again in this sentence, which is similar to the way it is used in the openings of the discourses.⁰⁴
There the Gracious One dwelt near Vesālī,

Atha kho Bhagavā, Vaggumudātīriyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ
^o Then the Gracious One, having applied his mind, and with his mind fully encompassed

cetasā cetoCeto, nominative singular, applied to the monks as a group.⁰⁵ paricca manasikaritvā āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ āmantesi:
the minds of the monks on the bank of the Vaggumudā, addressed venerable Ānanda, (saying):

“Ālokajātā viya me Ānanda esā disā.
“It is as though something light has arisen for me, Ānanda, in this direction.

Obhāsajātā viya me Ānanda esā disā.
It is as though something splendid has arisen for me, Ānanda, in this direction.

Yassaṁ disāyaṁ Vaggumudātīriyā bhikkhū viharanti gantuṁ
To go to that direction where the monks on the bank of the Vaggumudā dwell

appaṭikūlāsi me manasikātuṁ.
and to apply my mind is not disagreeable.

Vaggumudātīriyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ santikeSantike here is a periphrasis, where the same meaning is obtained even if it was omitted: Please send ... a messenger to the monks ... etc.⁰⁶ dūtaṁ:
a messenger into the presence of the monks on the bank of the Vaggumudā, (to say):

‘Satthā āyasmante āmanteti, Satthā āyasmantānaṁ dassanakāmo’ ” ti.
‘The Teacher, venerable friends, calls you, the Teacher desires to see the venerable ones.’ ”

“Evaṁ bhante,” ti kho āyasmā Ānando, Bhagavato paṭissutvā,
“Yes, reverend Sir,” said venerable Ānanda, and after replying to the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā, taṁ bhikkhuṁ etad-avoca:
and after going, he said this to that monk:

“Ehi tvaṁ āvuso, yena Vaggumudātīriyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkameyyāsi,
“Come, venerable friend, you should go to the monks on the bank of the Vaggumudā,

upasaṅkamitvā, Vaggumudātīriye bhikkhū evaṁ vadehi:
and after going, please say this to the monks on the bank of the Vaggumudā:

‘Satthā āyasmante āmanteti, satthā āyasmantānaṁ dassanakāmo’ ” ti.
‘The Teacher, venerable friends, calls you, the Teacher desires to see the venerable ones.’ ”

“Evam-āvuso,” ti kho so bhikkhu, āyasmato Ānandassa paṭissutvā,
“Yes, friend,” said that monk, and after replying to venerable Ānanda,

seyyathā pi nāma balavā puriso sammiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya,
just as a strong man might stretch out a bent arm,

evam-eva Mahāvane kuṭāgārasālāyaṁ antarahito,
in the same way did he disappear from the Gabled Hall in Great Wood,

Vaggumudāya nadiyā tīre tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ purato pāturahosi.
and reappear in front of those monks on the bank of the river Vaggumudā.

Atha kho so bhikkhu Vaggumudātīriye bhikkhū etad-avoca:
Then that monk said this to the monks on the bank of the Vaggumudā:

“Satthā āyasmante āmanteti, satthā āsmantānaṁ dassanakāmo” ti.
“The Teacher, venerable friends, calls you, the Teacher desires to see the venerable ones.”

“Evam-āvuso,” ti kho te bhikkhū, tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā,
“Yes, friend,” said those monks, and after replying to that monk,

senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaram-ādāya,
setting their dwelling places in order, and picking up their bowls and robes,

seyyathā pi nāma balavā puriso sammiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya,
just as a strong man might stretch out a bent arm,

evam-eva Vaggumudāya nadiyā tīre antarahitā,
in the same way did they disappear from the bank of the river Vaggumudā,

Mahāvane Kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ Bhagavato sammukhe pāturahesuṁ.
and reappear in front of the Gracious One in the Gabled Hall in Great Wood.

Tena kho pana samayena Bhagavā āneñjena samādhinā nisinno hoti.
Then at that time the Gracious One was sitting in imperturbable concentration.

“Katamena nu kho Bhagavā vihārena etarahi viharatī?” ti
“Now in what state is the Gracious One dwelling at the present time?”

“Āneñjena kho Bhagavā vihārenaānañjena...vihārena... , used here and in similar contexts below, is the instrumental of attendant circumstance, see Syntax § 65).⁰⁷ etarahi viharatī” ti,
“The Gracious One is dwelling in a state of imperturbability at the present time,”

sabbeva āneñjena samādhinā nisīdiṁsu.
and they all sat in imperturbable concentration.

Atha kho āyasmā Ānando, abhikkantāya rattiyā,
Then venerable Ānanda, when the night had passed,

nikkhante paṭhame yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ karitvā,
when the first watch of the night had gone, after rising from his seat, arranging his robe on one shoulder,

yena Bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā, Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
and raising his hands in respectful salutation, said this to the Gracious One:

“Abhikkantā bhante ratti, nikkhanto paṭhamo yāmo,
“The night has passed, reverend Sir, the first watch of the night has gone,

ciranisinnā āgantukā bhikkhū,
for a long time (these) visiting monks have been sitting,

paṭisammodatu bhante Bhagavā āgantukehi bhikkhūhī” ti.
let the Gracious One exchange greetings, reverend Sir, with the visiting monks.”

Evaṁ vutte, Bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.
When that was said, the Gracious One was silent.

Dutiyam-pi kho āyasmā Ānando, abhikkantāya rattiyā,
For a second time venerable Ānanda, when the night had passed,

nikkhante majjhime yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ karitvā,
when the middle watch of the night had gone, after rising from his seat, arranging his robe on one shoulder,

yena Bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā, Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
and raising his hands in respectful salutation, said this to the Gracious One:

“Abhikkantā bhante ratti, nikkhanto majjhimo yāmo,
“The night has passed, reverend Sir, the middle watch of the night has gone,

ciranisinnā āgantukā bhikkhū,
for a long time (these) visiting monks have been sitting,

paṭisammodatu bhante Bhagavā āgantukehi bhikkhūhī” ti.
let the Gracious One exchange greetings, reverend Sir, with the visiting monks.”

Dutiyam-pi kho Bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.
For a second time the Gracious One was silent.

Tatiyam-pi kho āyasmā Ānando, abhikkantāya rattiyā,
For a third time venerable Ānanda, when the night had passed,

nikkhante pacchime yāme, uddhate aruṇe, nandimukhiyā rattiyā,These four clauses are all locative absolutes.⁰⁸
when the last watch of the night had gone, when dawn had risen, when the night had a joyful appearance,

uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ cīvaraṁ karitvā,
after rising from his seat, arranging his robe on one shoulder,

yena Bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā, Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
and raising his hands in respectful salutation, said this to the Gracious One:

“Abhikkantā bhante ratti, nikkhanto pacchimo yāmo,
“The night has passed, reverend Sir, the last watch of the night has gone,

uddhato aruṇo, nandimukhī ratti, ciranisinnā āgantukā bhikkhū,
dawn has risen, the night has a joyful appearance, for a long time (these) visiting monks have been sitting,

paṭisammodatu bhante Bhagavā āgantukehi bhikkhūhī” ti.
let the Gracious One exchange greetings, reverend Sir, with the visiting monks.”

Atha kho Bhagavā, tamhā samādhimhā vuṭṭhahitvā,
Then the Gracious One, after rising from that concentration,

“Sace kho tvaṁ Ānanda jāneyyāsi ettakam-pi te nappaṭibhāseyya.
“If you knew, Ānanda, you would not say even this much about them.

Ahañ-ca Ānanda imāni ca pañca bhikkhusatāni,
I and these five hundred monks, Ānanda,

sabbeva āneñjasamādhinā nisīdimhā” ti.
have all been sat in imperturbable concentration.”

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:

“Yassa jito kāmakaṇṭako,
“He who is victorious over the thorn of sense desire,

Akkoso ca vadho ca bandhanañ-ca,
Scolding, slaying, and (other) bonds,

Pabbato viya so ṭhito anejo,
He who stands unmoved like a mountain,

Sukhadukkhesu na vedhati sa bhikkhū” ti.
That monk does not shake in regard to pleasure and pain.”