8: Hemakamāṇavapucchā
The Young Man Hemaka’s Questions

 

“Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu, icc-āyasmā Hemako,
“Those who explained (things) to me in the past, said venerable Hemaka,

huraṁ Gotamasāsanā,
before Gotama’s teaching,

‘iccāsi iti bhavissati’, sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ,
saying ‘it was so, and so it will be’, all that was just hearsay,

sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ. [109 (1084) 8-1]
all that just increased my thoughts, and I did not delight therein.

 

Tvañ-ca me Dhammam-akkhāhi taṇhānigghātanaṁ Muni,
You must explain the Teaching to me, O Sage, and the destruction of craving,

yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ, tare loke visattikaṁ.” [110 (1085) 8-2]
which, having understood, and living mindfully, one can cross over clinging to the world.”

 

“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu piyarūpesu Hemaka,
“In regard to likeable forms here seen, heard, sensed, and cognized, Hemaka,

chandarāgavinodanaṁ Nibbānapadam-accutaṁ. [111 (1086) 8-3]
the dispelling of desire and passion (for them) - this is the undying Nibbāna.

 

Etad-aññāya ye satā, diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā,
Knowing this, those who are mindful, who are EmancipatedAbhinibbutā. in this very life,

upasantā ca te sadā, tiṇṇā loke visattikan”-ti [112 (1087) 8-4]
those who are always peaceful, have crossed over clinging to the world.”

Hemakamāṇavapucchā niṭṭhitā
The Young Man Hemaka’s Questions are Finished