Pāṭaligāmiyavaggo

8-8: Visākhāsuttaṁ (78)
The Discourse about Visākhā

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

Pubbārāme Migāramātupāsāde.
at the Eastern Monastery in Migāra’s mother’s mansion.

Tena kho pana samayena Visākhāya Migāramātuyā
Then at that time Migāra’s mother Visākhā’s

nattā kālakatā hoti piyā manāpā.
grand-daughter, who was beloved and dear, had died.

Atha kho Visākhā Migāramātā, allavatthā allakesā,
Then Migāra’s mother Visākhā, with wet clothes and hair,

divādivassa yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkami,
in the middle of the day went to the Fortunate One,

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

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho
While sat on one side

Visākhaṁ Migāramātaraṁ Bhagavā etad-avoca:
the Fortunate One said this to Migāra’s mother Visākhā:

“Handa kuto nu tvaṁ Visākhe āgacchasi, allavatthā allakesā,
“Now where have you come from, Visākhā, with wet clothes and hair,

idhūpasaṅkantā divādivassā?” ti.
(and why are you) coming here in the middle of the day?”

“Nattā me bhante piyā manāpā kālakatā.
“My grand-daughter, who was beloved and dear, reverend Sir, has died.

Tenāhaṁ, allavatthā allakesā, idhūpasaṅkantā divādivassā” ti.
That is why, with wet clothes and hair, I am coming here in the middle of the day.”

“Iccheyyāsi tvaṁ Visākhe
“Would you like, Visākhā,

yāvatikā Sāvatthiyā manussā tāvatike putte ca nattāro Nattar is declined in the masculine here, but as the occasion for the discourse was the death of a grand-daughter, it is better to assume all children are meant in the translation. cā?” ti.
as many children and grand-children as there are people in Sāvatthī?”

“Iccheyyāmahaṁ Bhagavā
“I would like, Fortunate One,

yāvatikā Sāvatthiyā manussā tāvatike putte ca nattāro cā” ti.
as many children and grand-children as there are people in Sāvatthī.”

“Kīvabahukā pana Visākhe Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karontī?” ti.
“But how many people, Visākhā, die every day in Sāvatthī?”

“Dasa pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
“Ten people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

nava pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
nine people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

aṭṭha pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
eight people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

satta pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
seven people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

cha pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
six people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

pañca pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
five people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

cattāro pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
four people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

tīṇi pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
three people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

dve pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manussā devasikaṁ kālaṁ karonti,
two people, reverend Sir, die every day in Sāvatthī,

eko pi bhante Sāvatthiyā manusso devasikaṁ kālaṁ karoti,
one person, reverend Sir, dies every day in Sāvatthī,

avivittā bhante Sāvatthiyā manussehi kālaṁ karontehī” ti.
Sāvatthī is never secluded from people who are dying.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi Visākhe,
“Now what do you think, Visākhā,

api nu tvaṁ kadāci karahaci anallavatthaṁ anallakesā vā?” ti.
would you ever be without wet clothes and hair?”

“No hetaṁ, bhante, alaṁ me bhante,
“Surely not, reverend Sir, I have had enough, reverend Sir,

tāva bahukehi puttehi ca nattārehi cā!” ti
with so many children and grand-children!”

“Yesaṁ kho Visākhe sataṁ piyāni, sataṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni,
“For those who have a hundred loves, Visākhā, they have a hundred sufferings,

yesaṁ navuti piyāni, navuti tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have ninety loves, they have ninety sufferings,

yesaṁ asīti piyāni, asīti tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have eighty loves, they have eighty sufferings,

yesaṁ sattati piyāni, sattati tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have seventy loves, they have seventy sufferings,

yesaṁ saṭṭhi piyāni, saṭṭhi tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have sixty loves, they have sixty sufferings,

yesaṁ paññāsaṁ piyāni, paññāsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni.
for those who have fifty loves, they have fifty sufferings,

yesaṁ cattārīsaṁ piyāni, cattārīsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have forty loves, they have forty sufferings,

yesaṁ tiṁsaṁ piyāni tiṁsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have thirty loves, they have thirty sufferings,

yesaṁ vīsaṁ piyāni, vīsaṁ tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have twenty loves, they have twenty sufferings,

yesaṁ dasa piyāni, dasa tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have ten loves, they have ten sufferings,

yesaṁ nava piyāni, nava tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have nine loves, they have nine sufferings,

yesaṁ aṭṭha piyāni, aṭṭha tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have eight loves, they have eight sufferings,

yesaṁ satta piyāni, satta tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have seven loves, they have seven sufferings,

yesaṁ cha piyāni, cha tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have six loves, they have six sufferings,

yesaṁ pañca piyāni, pañca tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have five loves, they have five sufferings,

yesaṁ cattāri piyāni, cattāri tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have four loves, they have four sufferings,

yesaṁ tīṇi piyāni, tīṇi tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have three loves, they have three sufferings,

yesaṁ dve piyāni, dve tesaṁ dukkhāni,
for those who have two loves, they have two sufferings,

yesaṁ ekaṁ piyaṁ, ekaṁ tesaṁ dukkhaṁ,
for those who have one love, they have one suffering,

yesaṁ natthi piyaṁ, natthi tesaṁ dukkhaṁ.
for those who love nothing, they have no sorrow.

Asokā te virajā anupāyāsā ti vadāmī” ti.
They are griefless, dust-free, and without despair, I say.”

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

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

last updated: May 2007