Pāṭaligāmiyavaggo
8-9: Paṭhamadabbasuttaṁ (79)
The First Discourse about Dabba
Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I heard:
ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Rājagahe viharati,
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Rājagaha,
Veḷuvane Kalandakanivāpe.
in Bamboo Wood, at the Squirrels’ Feeding Place.
Atha kho āyasmā Dabbo Mallaputto yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkami,
Then venerable Dabba Mallaputta went to the Fortunate One,
upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side.
Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā Dabbo Mallaputto
While sat on one side venerable Dabba Mallaputta said this
Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
to the Fortunate One:
“Parinibbānakālo me dāni Sugatā” ti.
“Now is the time for my Complete Emancipation, Happy One.”
“Yassa dāni tvaṁ Dabba kālaṁ maññasī” ti.
“Now is the time for whatever you are thinking, Dabba.”
Atha kho āyasmā Dabbo Mallaputto uṭṭhāyāsanā,
Then venerable Dabba Mallaputta, after rising from his seat,
Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā,
worshipping and circumambulating the Fortunate One,
vehāsaṁ The Commentary explains that
after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament,
tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā, vuṭṭhahitvā, Parinibbāyi.
entering the fire-element, and emerging, attained Complete Emancipation.
Atha kho āyasmato Dabbassa Mallaputtassa
Then while venerable Dabba Mallaputta
- vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā, ākāse antaḷikkhe pallaṅkena nisīditvā,
- after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament,
tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā, vuṭṭhahitvā -
entering the fire-element, and emerging -
parinibbutassa sarīrassa jhāyamānassa ḍayhamānassa, The syntax is very difficult here, but it seems we have to take the genitives starting with
was attaining Complete Emancipation, his body burning and being consumed,
neva chārikā paññāyittha na masi.
there was no charcoal and no ash evident.
Seyyathā pi nāma sappissa vā telassa vā
Just as while ghee or oil
jhāyamānassa ḍayhamānassa neva chārikā paññāyati na masi,
is burning and being consumed there is no charcoal and no ash evident,
evam-eva kho āyasmato Dabbassa Mallaputtassa
so also while venerable Dabba Mallaputta
- vehāsaṁ abbhuggantvā, ākāse antaḷikkhe pallaṅkena nisīditvā,
- after going up into the sky, and sitting in cross-legged posture in the air, in the firmament,
tejodhātuṁ samāpajjitvā vuṭṭhahitvā -
entering the fire-element, and emerging -
parinibbutassa sarīrassa jhāyamānassa ḍayhamānassa,
was attaining Complete Emancipation, his body burning and being consumed,
neva chārikā paññāyittha na masī. BJT adds the quotation marker
there was no charcoal and no ash evident.
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:
“Abhedi kāyo, nirodhi saññā,
“The body broke up, perception ceased,
Vedanā sītībhaviṁsu sabbā,
All feelings became cool,
Vūpasamiṁsu saṅkhārā, ~ viññāṇaṁ attham-āgamā” ti.
(Mental) processes were pacified, ~ consciousness came to rest.”