SN35:103 Uddaka
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, Uddaka Ramaputta used to make this declaration:
"‘This, surely a knowledge-master—
This, surely a universal conqueror—
This, surely he has excised
The tumour's root not excised before!’
[n.86] Uddaka Ramaputta was the Buddha’s second teacher when he was engaged in his quest for enlightenment; see MN I 165–66. In the declaration the reference of the pronoun idaṁ, "this," occurring thrice, is unclear. Spk says it is a mere indeclinable (nipātamatta), but adds that it might represent "this statement" (idaṇ vacanaṇ). Perhaps it should be connected with gaṇḍamūlaṁ, though this is uncertain. Vedagū is a common brahmanical epithet adopted by the Buddha as a description of the arahant. Sabbajī, "all-conqueror," is glossed as "one who has definitely conquered and overcome the entire round." Ee palikhataṁ should be corrected to apalikhataṁ, as in Be and Se.
"Bhikkhus, though Uddaka Ramaputta was not himself a knowledge-master, he declared: ‘I am a knowledge-master.’ Though he was not himself a universal conqueror, he declared: ‘I am a universal conqueror.’ Though he had not excised the tumour's root, he declared: ‘I have excised the tumour's root.’ But here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu speaking rightly might say:
"‘This, surely a knowledge-master—
This, surely a universal conqueror—
This, surely he has excised
The tumour's root not excised before!’
2"And how, bhikkhus, is one a knowledge-master? When a bhikkhu understands as they really are the origin, the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in regard to the six bases for contact, such a bhikkhu is a knowledge-master.
3"And how, bhikkhus, is a bhikkhu a universal conqueror? When, having understood as they really are the origin, the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape in regard to the six bases for contact, a bhikkhu is liberated by nonclinging, such a bhikkhu is a universal conqueror.
4"And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu excise the tumour's root not excised before? ‘The tumour,’ bhikkhus: this is a designation for this body consisting of the four great elements, originating from mother and father, built up out of rice and gruel, subject to impermanence, to rubbing and pressing, to breaking apart and dispersal. [n.87] A stock description of the body, in SN found also at SN35.245 and SN41.5. Spk explains rubbing (ucchādana) as the application of scents and ointments to remove its bad smell, and pressing (parimaddana) as massaging with water to dispel affliction in the limbs. The entire description shows, in stages, the origination, growth, decline, and destruction of the body. ‘The tumour's root’: this is a designation for craving. When craving has been abandoned by a bhikkhu, cut off at the root, sn.iv.84 made like a palm stump, obliterated so that it is no more subject to future arising, in such a case the bhikkhu has excised the tumour's root not excised before.
5"Bhikkhus, though Uddaka Ramaputta was not himself a knowledge-master, he declared: ‘I am a knowledge-master.’ … But here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu speaking rightly might say:
"‘This, surely a knowledge-master—
This, surely a universal conqueror—
This, surely he has excised
The tumour's root not excised before!’" sn.iv.85
1"Udako sudaṁ, bhikkhave, rāmaputto evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati: ‘idaṁ jātu vedagū, idaṁ jātu sabbajī, idaṁ jātu apalikhataṁ gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhaṇin’ti. Taṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, udako rāmaputto avedagūyeva samāno ‘vedagūsmī’ti bhāsati, asabbajīyeva samāno ‘sabbajīsmī’ti bhāsati, apalikhataṁyeva gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhataṁ me ‘gaṇḍamūlan’ti bhāsati. Idha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘idaṁ jātu vedagū, idaṁ jātu sabbajī, idaṁ jātu apalikhataṁ gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhaṇin’ti.
2Kathañca, bhikkhave, vedagū hoti? Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu channaṁ phassāyatanānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vedagū hoti.
3Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbajī hoti? Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu channaṁ phassāyatanānaṁ samudayañca atthaṅgamañca assādañca ādīnavañca nissaraṇañca yathābhūtaṁ viditvā anupādāvimutto hoti; evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbajī hoti.
4Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno apalikhataṁ gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhataṁ hoti? Gaṇḍoti kho, bhikkhave, imassetaṁ cātumahābhūtikassa kāyassa adhivacanaṁ mātāpettikasambhavassa odanakummāsūpacayassa aniccucchādanaparimaddanabhedanaviddhaṁsanadhammassa. Gaṇḍamūlanti kho, bhikkhave, taṇhāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ. Yato kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno taṇhā pahīnā hoti ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppāda dhammā; evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno apalikhataṁ gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhataṁ hoti.
5Udako sudaṁ, bhikkhave, rāmaputto evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati: ‘idaṁ jātu vedagū, idaṁ jātu sabbajī, idaṁ jātu apalikhataṁ gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhaṇin’ti. Taṁ kho panetaṁ, bhikkhave, udako rāmaputto avedagūyeva samāno ‘vedagūsmī’ti bhāsati, asabbajīyeva samāno ‘sabbajīsmī’ti bhāsati; apalikhataṁyeva gaṇḍamūlaṁ ‘palikhataṁ me gaṇḍamūlan’ti bhāsati. Idha kho taṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘idaṁ jātu vedagū, idaṁ jātu sabbajī, idaṁ jātu apalikhataṁ gaṇḍamūlaṁ palikhaṇin’"ti.
Dasamaṁ.
Saḷavaggo pañcamo.
6Dve saṅgayhā parihānaṁ,
Pamādavihārī ca saṁvaro;
Samādhi paṭisallānaṁ,
Dve natumhākena uddakoti.
Saḷāyatanavagge dutiyapaṇṇāsako samatto.
7Avijjā migajālañca,
Gilānaṁ channaṁ catutthakaṁ;
Saḷavaggena paññāsaṁ,
Dutiyo paṇṇāsako ayanti.
Paṭhamasatakaṁ.