1On one occasion the Venerable Nārada was dwelling at Pāṭaliputta at the Cock's Park. Now on that occasion King Muṇḍa's wife Queen Bhaddā, who had been dear and beloved to him, had died. Since her death, he did not bathe, anoint himself, eat his meals, or undertake his work. Day and night, he remained brooding over Queen Bhaddā's body. Then King Muṇḍa addressed his treasurer, Piyaka: "Well then, friend Piyaka, immerse Queen Bhaddā's body in an iron vat filled with oil and enclose it in another iron vat so that we can see Queen Bhaddā's body still longer."

"Yes, sire," the treasurer Piyaka replied. Then he immersed Queen Bhaddā's body in an iron vat filled with oil and enclosed it in another iron vat.

2Then it occurred to the treasurer Piyaka: "King Muṇḍa's wife Queen Bhaddā has died, and she was dear and beloved to him. Since her death, he does not bathe, anoint himself, eat his meals, or undertake his work. Day and night, he remains brooding over the queen's body. What ascetic or brahmin can King Muṇḍa visit, so that, having heard his Dhamma, he might abandon the dart of sorrow?"

3Then it occurred to Piyaka: "The Venerable Nārada is dwelling at Pāṭaliputta, in the Cock's Park. Now a good report about this Venerable Nārada has circulated thus: ‘He is wise, competent, intelligent, learned, an artful speaker, eloquent, mature, and an arahant.’ Suppose King Muṇḍa would visit the Venerable Nārada: perhaps if he hears the Venerable Nārada's Dhamma, he would abandon the dart of sorrow."

4Then the treasurer Piyaka approached King Muṇḍa and said to him: "Sire, the Venerable Nārada is dwelling at Pāṭaliputta, in the Cock's Park. Now a good report about this Venerable Nārada has circulated thus: ‘He is wise … and an arahant.’ Your majesty should visit the Venerable Nārada. Perhaps, when you hear the Venerable Nārada's Dhamma, you would abandon the dart of sorrow." The king said: "Well then, friend Piyaka, inform the Venerable Nārada. For how can one like me think of approaching an ascetic or brahmin living in his realm without first informing him?"

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"Yes, sire," Piyaka replied. Then he went to the Venerable Nārada, paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said:

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5"Bhante, King Muṇḍa's wife Queen Bhaddā, who was dear and beloved to him, has died. Since the queen's death, he does not bathe, anoint himself, eat his meals, or undertake his work. Day and night, he remains brooding over the queen's body. It would be good, Bhante, if the Venerable Nārada would teach the Dhamma to King Muṇḍa in such a way that he can abandon the dart of sorrow."

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"Then let King Muṇḍa come at his own convenience."

6Then the treasurer Piyaka rose from his seat, paid homage to the Venerable Nārada, circumambulated him keeping the right side toward him, and went to King Muṇḍa. He told the king: "Sire, the Venerable Nārada has given his consent. You may go at your own convenience."

"Well then, friend Piyaka, get the finest carriages harnessed!"

"Yes, sire," Piyaka replied, and after he had gotten the finest carriages harnessed he told King Muṇḍa: "Sire, the finest carriages have been harnessed. You may go at your own convenience."

7Then King Muṇḍa mounted a fine carriage, and along with the other carriages he set out in full royal splendor for the Cock's Park to see the Venerable Nārada. He went by carriage as far as the ground was suitable for a carriage, and then he dismounted from his carriage and entered the park on foot. He approached the Venerable Nārada, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. The Venerable Nārada then said to him:

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8"Great king, there are these five situations that are unobtainable by an ascetic or a brahmin, by a deva, Māra, or Brahmā, or by anyone in the world. What five?

(1) ‘May what is subject to old age not grow old!’: this is a situation that is unobtainable by an ascetic or a brahmin, by a deva, Māra, or Brahmā, or by anyone in the world. (2) ‘May what is subject to illness not fall ill!’: this is a situation that is unobtainable by an ascetic … or by anyone in the world. (3) ‘May what is subject to death not die!’: this is a situation that is unobtainable by an ascetic … or by anyone in the world. (4) ‘May what is subject to destruction not be destroyed!’: this is a situation that is unobtainable by an ascetic … or by anyone in the world. (5) ‘May what is subject to loss not be lost!’: this is a situation that is unobtainable by an ascetic or a brahmin, by a deva, Māra, or Brahmā, or by anyone in the world ….

9(1) "Great king, for the uninstructed worldling, what is subject to old age grows old. When this happens, he does not reflect thus: ‘I am not the only one for whom what is subject to old age grows old. For all beings that come and go, that pass away and undergo rebirth, what is subject to old age grows old. If I were to sorrow, languish, lament, weep beating my breast, and become confused when what is subject to old age grows old, I would lose my appetite and my features would become ugly. I would not be able to do my work, my enemies would be elated, and my friends would become saddened.’ Thus, when what is subject to old age grows old, he sorrows, languishes, laments, weeps beating his breast, and becomes confused. This is called an uninstructed worldling pierced by the poisonous dart of sorrow who only torments himself.

10(2) "Again, for the uninstructed worldling, what is subject to illness falls ill … (3) … what is subject to death dies … (4) … what is subject to destruction is destroyed … (5) … what is subject to loss is lost. When this happens, he does not reflect thus: ‘I am not the only one for whom what is subject to loss is lost. For all beings who come and go, who pass away and undergo rebirth, what is subject to loss is lost. If I were to sorrow, languish, lament, weep beating my breast, and become confused when what is subject to loss is lost, I would lose my appetite and my features would become ugly. I would not be able to do my work, my enemies would be elated, and my friends would become saddened.’ Thus, when what is subject to loss is lost, he sorrows, languishes, laments, weeps beating his breast, and becomes confused. This is called an uninstructed worldling pierced by the poisonous dart of sorrow who only torments himself.

11(1) "Great king, for the instructed noble disciple, what is subject to old age grows old. When this happens, he reflects thus: ‘I am not the only one for whom what is subject to old age grows old. For all beings that come and go, that pass away and undergo rebirth, what is subject to old age grows old. If I were to sorrow, languish, lament, weep beating my breast, and become confused when what is subject to old age grows old, I would lose my appetite and my features would become ugly. I would not be able to do my work, my enemies would be elated, and my friends would become saddened.’ Thus, when what is subject to old age grows old, he does not sorrow, languish, lament, weep beating his breast, and become confused. This is called an instructed noble disciple who has drawn out the poisonous dart of sorrow pierced by which the uninstructed worldling only torments himself. Sorrowless, without darts, the noble disciple realizes nibbāna. [n.1043] The text uses a reflexive causative form: attānaṁyeva parinibbāpeti. This might also have been rendered: "He extinguishes himself," or "He quenches himself." What is literally extinguished is the bitter feeling of sorrow, but the verb parinibbāpeti, related to the noun nibbāna, implies that he reaches ultimate liberation.

12(2) "Again, for the instructed noble disciple, what is subject to illness falls ill … (3) … what is subject to death dies … (4) … what is subject to destruction is destroyed … (5) … what is subject to loss is lost. When this happens, he reflects thus: ‘I am not the only one for whom what is subject to loss is lost. For all beings that come and go, that pass away and undergo rebirth, what is subject to loss is lost. If I were to sorrow, languish, lament, weep beating my breast, and become confused when what is subject to loss is lost, I would lose my appetite and my features would become ugly. I would not be able to do my work, my enemies would be elated, and my friends would become saddened.’ Thus, when what is subject to loss is lost, he does not sorrow, languish, lament, weep beating his breast, and become confused. This is called an instructed noble disciple who has drawn out the poisonous dart of sorrow pierced by which the uninstructed worldling only torments himself. Sorrowless, without darts, the noble disciple realizes nibbāna.

13"These, Great king, are the five situations that are unobtainable by an ascetic or a brahmin, by a deva, Māra, or Brahmā, or by anyone in the world.

14"It is not by sorrowing and lamenting
that even the least good here can be gained. [n.1044] I read with Ee attho idha labbhā api appako pi (Be is essentially the same). Ce attho alabbho api appako pi means "even the least good cannot be gained," which undermines the point.
Knowing that one is sorrowful and sad,
one's enemies are elated.

15"When the wise person does not shake in adversities,
knowing how to determine what is good,
his enemies are saddened, having seen
that his former facial expression does not change.

16"Wherever one might gain one's good,
in whatever way—by chanting, mantras,
maxims, gifts, or tradition [n.1045] Paveṇiyā. Mp: "By family custom (kulavaṁsena). The meaning is, ‘We have traditionally practiced this, and we have not practiced that.’" —there
one should exert oneself in just that way.

17"But if one should understand: ‘This good
cannot be obtained by me or anyone else,’
one should accept the situation without sorrowing,
thinking: ‘The kamma is strong; what can I do now?’"

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18When this was said, King Muṇḍa asked the Venerable Nārada: "Bhante, what is the name of this exposition of the Dhamma?"

"Great king, this exposition of the Dhamma is named the extraction of the dart of sorrow." [n.1046] Sokasallāhāraṇo nāma ayaṁ mahārāja dhammapariyāyo.

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"Surely, Bhante, it is the extraction of the dart of sorrow! Surely, it is the extraction of the dart of sorrow! For having heard this exposition of the Dhamma, I have abandoned the dart of sorrow."

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19Then King Muṇḍa said to the treasurer Piyaka: "Well then, friend Piyaka, have Queen Bhaddā's body cremated and build a memorial mound for her. From today on, I will bathe and anoint myself and eat my meals and undertake my work."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā nārado pāṭaliputte viharati kukkuṭārāme. Tena kho pana samayena muṇḍassa rañño bhaddā devī kālaṅkatā hoti piyā manāpā. So bhaddāya deviyā kālaṅkatāya piyāya manāpāya neva nhāyati na vilimpati na bhattaṁ bhuñjati na kammantaṁ payojeti – rattindivaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīre ajjhomucchito. Atha kho muṇḍo rājā piyakaṁ kosārakkhaṁ āmantesi: "Tena hi, samma piyaka, bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ āyasāya teladoṇiyā pakkhipitvā aññissā āyasāya doṇiyā paṭikujjatha, yathā mayaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ cirataraṁ passeyyāmā"ti.

"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho piyako kosārakkho muṇḍassa rañño paṭissutvā bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ āyasāya teladoṇiyā pakkhipitvā aññissā āyasāya doṇiyā paṭikujji.

2Atha kho piyakassa kosārakkhassa etadahosi: "imassa kho muṇḍassa rañño bhaddā devī kālaṅkatā piyā manāpā. So bhaddāya deviyā kālaṅkatāya piyāya manāpāya neva nhāyati na vilimpati na bhattaṁ bhuñjati na kammantaṁ payojeti – rattindivaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīre ajjhomucchito. Kaṁ nu kho muṇḍo rājā samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā payirupāseyya, yassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.

3Atha kho piyakassa kosārakkhassa etadahosi: "Ayaṁ kho āyasmā nārado pāṭaliputte viharati kukkuṭārāme. Taṁ kho panāyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī bahussuto cittakathī kalyāṇapaṭibhāno vuddho ceva arahā ca’. Yannūna muṇḍo rājā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ payirupāseyya, appeva nāma muṇḍo rājā āyasmato nāradassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.

4Atha kho piyako kosārakkho yena muṇḍo rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: "Ayaṁ kho, deva, āyasmā nārado pāṭaliputte viharati kukkuṭārāme. Taṁ kho panāyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī bahussuto cittakathī kalyāṇapaṭibhāno vuddho ceva arahā ca’. Yadi pana devo āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ payirupāseyya, appeva nāma devo āyasmato nāradassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti. "Tena hi, samma piyaka, āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ paṭivedehi. Kathañhi nāma mādiso samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā vijite vasantaṁ pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā"ti.

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"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho piyako kosārakkho muṇḍassa rañño paṭissutvā yenāyasmā nārado tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho piyako kosārakkho āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ etadavoca:

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5"Imassa, bhante, muṇḍassa rañño bhaddā devī kālaṅkatā piyā manāpā. So bhaddāya deviyā kālaṅkatāya piyāya manāpāya neva nhāyati na vilimpati na bhattaṁ bhuñjati na kammantaṁ payojeti – rattindivaṁ bhaddāya deviyā sarīre ajjhomucchito. Sādhu, bhante, āyasmā nārado muṇḍassa rañño tathā dhammaṁ desetu yathā muṇḍo rājā āyasmato nāradassa dhammaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pajaheyyā"ti.

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"Yassadāni, piyaka, muṇḍo rājā kālaṁ maññatī"ti.

6Atha kho piyako kosārakkho uṭṭhāyāsanā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena muṇḍo rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: "katāvakāso kho, deva, āyasmatā nāradena. Yassadāni devo kālaṁ maññatī"ti.

"Tena hi, samma piyaka, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpehī"ti.

"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho piyako kosārakkho muṇḍassa rañño paṭissutvā bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni yojāpetvā muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: "yuttāni kho te, deva, bhadrāni bhadrāni yānāni. Yassadāni devo kālaṁ maññatī"ti.

7Atha kho muṇḍo rājā bhadraṁ yānaṁ abhiruhitvā bhadrehi bhadrehi yānehi yena kukkuṭārāmo tena pāyāsi mahaccā rājānubhāvena āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ dassanāya. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi yānena gantvā, yānā paccorohitvā pattikova ārāmaṁ pāvisi. Atha kho muṇḍo rājā yena āyasmā nārado tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho muṇḍaṁ rājānaṁ āyasmā nārado etadavoca:

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8"Pañcimāni, mahārāja, alabbhanīyāni ṭhānāni samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ. Katamāni pañca?

‘Jarādhammaṁ mā jīrī’ti alabbhanīyaṁ ṭhānaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ. ‘Byādhidhammaṁ mā byādhīyī’ti … pe … ‘maraṇadhammaṁ mā mīyī’ti … ‘khayadhammaṁ mā khīyī’ti … ‘nassanadhammaṁ mā nassī’ti alabbhanīyaṁ ṭhānaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ.

9Assutavato, mahārāja, puthujjanassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe na iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ jarādhammaṁ jīrati. Ahañceva kho pana jarādhamme jiṇṇe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe socati kilamati paridevati, urattāḷiṁ kandati, sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘assutavā puthujjano viddho savisena sokasallena attānaṁyeva paritāpeti’.

10Puna caparaṁ, mahārāja, assutavato puthujjanassa byādhidhammaṁ byādhīyati … pe … maraṇadhammaṁ mīyati … khayadhammaṁ khīyati … nassanadhammaṁ nassati. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe na iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa nassanadhammaṁ nassati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ nassanadhammaṁ nassati. Ahañceva kho pana nassanadhamme naṭṭhe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe socati kilamati paridevati, urattāḷiṁ kandati, sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘assutavā puthujjano viddho savisena sokasallena attānaṁyeva paritāpeti’.

11Sutavato ca kho, mahārāja, ariyasāvakassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa jarādhammaṁ jīrati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ jarādhammaṁ jīrati. Ahañceva kho pana jarādhamme jiṇṇe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So jarādhamme jiṇṇe na socati na kilamati na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘sutavā ariyasāvako abbuhi savisaṁ sokasallaṁ, yena viddho assutavā puthujjano attānaṁyeva paritāpeti. Asoko visallo ariyasāvako attānaṁyeva parinibbāpeti’.

12Puna caparaṁ, mahārāja, sutavato ariyasāvakassa byādhidhammaṁ byādhīyati … pe … maraṇadhammaṁ mīyati … khayadhammaṁ khīyati … nassanadhammaṁ nassati. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘Na kho mayhevekassa nassanadhammaṁ nassati, atha kho yāvatā sattānaṁ āgati gati cuti upapatti sabbesaṁ sattānaṁ nassanadhammaṁ nassati. Ahañceva kho pana nassanadhamme naṭṭhe soceyyaṁ kilameyyaṁ parideveyyaṁ, urattāḷiṁ kandeyyaṁ, sammohaṁ āpajjeyyaṁ, bhattampi me nacchādeyya, kāyepi dubbaṇṇiyaṁ okkameyya, kammantāpi nappavatteyyuṁ, amittāpi attamanā assu, mittāpi dummanā assū’ti. So nassanadhamme naṭṭhe na socati na kilamati na paridevati, na urattāḷiṁ kandati, na sammohaṁ āpajjati. Ayaṁ vuccati, mahārāja: ‘sutavā ariyasāvako abbuhi savisaṁ sokasallaṁ, yena viddho assutavā puthujjano attānaṁyeva paritāpeti. Asoko visallo ariyasāvako attānaṁyeva parinibbāpeti’.

13Imāni kho, mahārāja, pañca alabbhanīyāni ṭhānāni samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasminti.

14Na socanāya paridevanāya,
Atthodha labbhā api appakopi;
Socantamenaṁ dukhitaṁ viditvā,
Paccatthikā attamanā bhavanti.

15Yato ca kho paṇḍito āpadāsu,
Na vedhatī atthavinicchayaññū;
Paccatthikāssa dukhitā bhavanti,
Disvā mukhaṁ avikāraṁ purāṇaṁ.

16Jappena mantena subhāsitena,
Anuppadānena paveṇiyā vā;
Yathā yathā yattha labhetha atthaṁ,
Tathā tathā tattha parakkameyya.

17Sace pajāneyya alabbhaneyyo,
Mayāva aññena vā esa attho;
Asocamāno adhivāsayeyya,
Kammaṁ daḷhaṁ kinti karomi dānī"ti.

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18Evaṁ vutte, muṇḍo rājā āyasmantaṁ nāradaṁ etadavoca: "ko nāmo ayaṁ, bhante, dhammapariyāyo"ti?

"Sokasallāhāraṇo nāma ayaṁ, mahārāja, dhammapariyāyo"ti.

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"Taggha, bhante, sokasallāhāraṇo. Imañhi me, bhante, dhammapariyāyaṁ sutvā sokasallaṁ pahīnan"ti.

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19Atha kho muṇḍo rājā piyakaṁ kosārakkhaṁ āmantesi: "Tena hi, samma piyaka, bhaddāya deviyā sarīraṁ jhāpetha; thūpañcassā karotha. Ajjatagge dāni mayaṁ nhāyissāma ceva vilimpissāma bhattañca bhuñjissāma kammante ca payojessāmā"ti.

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Dasamaṁ.
Muṇḍarājavaggo pañcamo.

20Ādiyo sappuriso iṭṭhā,
manāpadāyībhisandaṁ;
Sampadā ca dhanaṁ ṭhānaṁ,
kosalo nāradena cāti.

Paṭhamo paṇṇāsako samatto.