4. Kaḷārakhattiyavagga
4. Kaḷāra the Aristocrat
Tip — double-click any Pāli word to look it up in the dictionary.
Atha kho kaḷārakhattiyo bhikkhu yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā sāriputtena saddhiṁ sammodi.
Then the mendicant Kaḷāra the Aristocrat went up to Venerable Sāriputta and exchanged greetings with him.
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho kaḷārakhattiyo bhikkhu āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:
When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to him,
“moḷiyaphagguno, āvuso sāriputta, bhikkhu sikkhaṁ paccakkhāya hīnāyāvatto”ti.
“Reverend Sāriputta, the mendicant Phagguna of the Top-Knot has resigned the training and returned to a lesser life.”
“Na hi nūna so āyasmā imasmiṁ dhammavinaye assāsamalatthā”ti.
“That venerable mustn’t have gained any solace in this teaching and training.”
“Tena hāyasmā sāriputto imasmiṁ dhammavinaye assāsaṁ patto”ti?
“Well then, has Venerable Sāriputta found found in this teaching and training?”
Atha kho kaḷārakhattiyo bhikkhu uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho kaḷārakhattiyo bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Kaḷāra the Aristocrat went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“āyasmatā, bhante, sāriputtena aññā byākatā:
“Sir, Venerable Sāriputta has declared enlightenment:
‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmī”ti.
‘I understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.”’”
“ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena sāriputtaṁ āmantehi:
“Please, monk, in my name tell Sāriputta that
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:
“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Sāriputta and said to him,
“Evaṁ, āvuso”ti kho āyasmā sāriputto tassa bhikkhuno paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:
“Yes, reverend,” replied Sāriputta. He went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him,
“saccaṁ kira tayā, sāriputta, aññā byākatā:
“Sāriputta, is it really true that you have declared enlightenment:
‘khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāmī”ti?
‘I understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place”’?”
“Na kho, bhante, etehi padehi etehi byañjanehi attho vutto”ti.
“Sir, I did not state the matter in these words and phrases.”
“Yena kenacipi, sāriputta, pariyāyena kulaputto aññaṁ byākaroti, atha kho byākataṁ byākatato daṭṭhabban”ti.
“Sāriputta, no matter how a gentleman declares enlightenment, what he has declared should be regarded as such.”
‘na kho, bhante, etehi padehi etehi byañjanehi attho vutto’”ti.
I did not state the matter in these words and phrases?”
‘kathaṁ jānatā pana tayā, āvuso sāriputta, kathaṁ passatā aññā byākatā—
‘But Reverend Sāriputta, how have you known and seen so that you’ve declared enlightenment:
khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāmī’ti.
“I understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”’
‘kathaṁ jānatā pana tayā, āvuso sāriputta, kathaṁ passatā aññā byākatā—
khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāmī’ti;
‘yaṁnidānā, āvuso, jāti, tassa nidānassa khayā khīṇasmiṁ khīṇāmhīti viditaṁ.
‘Reverends, when the source of rebirth ended, I knew “it is ended”.
khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāmī’ti.
I understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.”’
‘jāti panāvuso sāriputta, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā’ti?
‘But what is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of rebirth?’
‘jāti panāvuso sāriputta, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā’ti?
‘jāti kho, āvuso, bhavanidānā bhavasamudayā bhavajātikā bhavappabhavā’ti.
‘Continued existence is the source, origin, birthplace, and inception of rebirth.’
‘bhavo panāvuso sāriputta, kiṁnidāno kiṁsamudayo kiṁjātiko kiṁpabhavo’ti?
‘What is the source of continued existence?’
‘bhavo panāvuso sāriputta, kiṁnidāno kiṁsamudayo kiṁjātiko kiṁpabhavo’ti?
‘bhavo kho, āvuso, upādānanidāno upādānasamudayo upādānajātiko upādānappabhavo’ti.
‘Grasping is the source of continued existence.’
taṇhā panāvuso sāriputta, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā’ti?
‘What is the source of craving?’
‘taṇhā panāvuso sāriputta, kiṁnidānā kiṁsamudayā kiṁjātikā kiṁpabhavā’ti?
‘taṇhā kho, āvuso, vedanānidānā vedanāsamudayā vedanājātikā vedanāpabhavā’ti.
‘Feeling is the source of craving.’
‘kathaṁ jānato pana te, āvuso sāriputta, kathaṁ passato yā vedanāsu nandī sā na upaṭṭhāsī’ti.
‘But how have you known and seen so that the relishing of feelings is no longer present?’
‘kathaṁ jānato pana te, āvuso sāriputta, kathaṁ passato yā vedanāsu nandī sā na upaṭṭhāsī’ti evaṁ puṭṭhohaṁ, bhante, evaṁ byākareyyaṁ:
I’d answer:
viditaṁ, yā vedanāsu nandī sā na upaṭṭhāsī’ti.
When I understood this, the relishing of feelings was no longer present.’
Ayampi kho, sāriputta, pariyāyo, etasseva atthassa saṅkhittena veyyākaraṇāya:
The same point may also be briefly explained in this way:
‘kathaṁ vimokkhā pana tayā, āvuso sāriputta, aññā byākatā—
‘But Reverend, how have you been liberated that you declare enlightenment:
khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāmī’ti?
“I understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’”?’
‘kathaṁ vimokkhā pana tayā, āvuso sāriputta, aññā byākatā—
khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāmī’ti.
‘ajjhattaṁ vimokkhā khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sabbupādānakkhayā tathā sato viharāmi yathā sataṁ viharantaṁ āsavā nānussavanti, attānañca nāvajānāmī’ti.
‘Because of an inner release with the ending of all grasping, I live mindfully so that defilements don’t defile me and I don’t look down on myself.’
Ayampi kho sāriputta, pariyāyo etasseva atthassa saṅkhittena veyyākaraṇāya—
The same point may also be briefly explained in this way:
ye āsavā samaṇena vuttā tesvāhaṁ na kaṅkhāmi, te me pahīnāti na vicikicchāmī”ti.
‘I have no uncertainty regarding the defilements spoken of by the ascetic. I have no doubt that I’ve given them up.’”
Idaṁ vatvā sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.
When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto acirapakkantassa bhagavato bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then soon after the Buddha left, Venerable Sāriputta said to the mendicants,
“pubbe appaṭisaṁviditaṁ maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā paṭhamaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi, tassa me ahosi dandhāyitattaṁ.
“Reverends, the Buddha asked me the first question without letting me know beforehand, so I hesitated.
Yato ca kho me, āvuso, bhagavā paṭhamaṁ pañhaṁ anumodi, tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi—
But when the Buddha agreed with my answer, I thought:
divasañcepi maṁ bhagavā etamatthaṁ puccheyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, divasampāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi.
‘If the Buddha were to question me all day on this matter in different words and ways, I could answer all day with different words and ways.
Rattiñcepi maṁ bhagavā etamatthaṁ puccheyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, rattimpāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi.
If he were to question me all night,
Rattindivaṁ cepi maṁ bhagavā etamatthaṁ puccheyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, rattindivampāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi.
all day and night,
dve rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ …pe…
tīṇi rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ …pe…
cattāri rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ …pe…
pañca rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ …pe…
cha rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ …pe…
satta rattindivāni cepi maṁ bhagavā etamatthaṁ puccheyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, satta rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehī”ti.
or seven days and nights, I could answer in different words and ways for seven days and nights.’”
Atha kho kaḷārakhattiyo bhikkhu uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho kaḷārakhattiyo bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Kaḷāra the Aristocrat went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,
“āyasmatā, bhante, sāriputtena sīhanādo nadito—
“Sir, Venerable Sāriputta has roared his lion’s roar!”
pubbe appaṭisaṁviditaṁ maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā paṭhamaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi, tassa me ahosi dandhāyitattaṁ.
(And he told the Buddha all that Sāriputta had said.)
Yato ca kho me, āvuso, bhagavā paṭhamaṁ pañhaṁ anumodi, tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi—
divasañcepi maṁ bhagavā etamatthaṁ puccheyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, divasampāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi;
rattiñcepi …pe…
rattindivañcepi maṁ bhagavā …pe…
dve rattindivāni cepi maṁ bhagavā …pe…
tīṇi …
cattāri …
pañca …
cha …
satta rattindivāni cepi maṁ bhagavā etamatthaṁ puccheyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, satta rattindivānipāhaṁ bhagavato etamatthaṁ byākareyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehī”ti.
“Sā hi, bhikkhu, sāriputtassa dhammadhātu suppaṭividdhā, yassā dhammadhātuyā suppaṭividdhattā divasaṁ cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, divasampi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi.
“Mendicant, Sāriputta has clearly penetrated the principle of the teachings, so that he could answer any questions I might ask him in different words and ways up to the seventh day and night.”
Rattiṁ cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, rattimpi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …pe…
rattindivaṁ cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ, rattindivampi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …
dve rattindivāni cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ, dve rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …
tīṇi rattindivāni cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ, tīṇi rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …
cattāri rattindivāni cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ, cattāri rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …
pañca rattindivāni cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ, pañca rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …
cha rattindivāni cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ, cha rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya …
satta rattindivāni cepāhaṁ sāriputtaṁ etamatthaṁ puccheyyaṁ aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehi, satta rattindivānipi me sāriputto etamatthaṁ byākareyya aññamaññehi padehi aññamaññehi pariyāyehī”ti.
Dutiyaṁ.