1At Sāvatthī. Then, in the morning, the Venerable Ānanda dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. The Venerable Ānanda saw the brahmin Jaṇussoṇi departing from Sāvatthī in an all-white chariot drawn by mares. [n.9] The brahmin Jaṇussoṇi was a chaplain of King Pasenadi. He departs from Sāvatthī in a white chariot also at MN27 (MNI 175, 15–17) and MN99 (MNII 208, 24–25). According to Spk, once every six months he rode around the city in his chariot "as if strewing the city with the excellence of his glory and prosperity." The horses yoked to it were white, its ornaments were white, the chariot was white, its upholstery was white, the reins, goad, and canopy were white, his turban, clothes, and sandals were white, and he was being fanned by a white chowry. People, having seen this, said: "Divine indeed, sir, is the vehicle! It appears to be a divine vehicle indeed, sir!" [n.10] Brahmaṁ vata bho yānaṁ, brahmayānarūpaṁ vata hoti. Here, brahma has the sense of best (seṭṭha).

2Then, when the Venerable Ānanda had walked for alms in Sāvatthī and returned from his alms round, after his meal he approached the Blessed One, sn.v.5 paid homage to him, sat down to one side, and said to him:

3"Here, venerable sir, in the morning I dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. I saw the brahmin Jaṇussoṇi departing from Sāvatthī in an all-white chariot drawn by mares … . People, having seen this, said: ‘Divine indeed, sir, is the vehicle! It appears to be a divine vehicle indeed, sir!’ Is it possible, venerable sir, to point out a divine vehicle in this Dhamma and Discipline?"

4"It is possible, Ānanda," the Blessed One said. "This is a designation for this Noble Eightfold Path: ‘the divine vehicle’ and ‘the vehicle of Dhamma’ and ‘the unsurpassed victory in battle.’

5"Right view, Ānanda, when developed and cultivated, has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion. Right intention … Right concentration, when developed and cultivated, sn.v.6 has as its final goal the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion.

6"In this way, Ānanda, it may be understood how this is a designation for this Noble Eightfold Path: ‘the divine vehicle’ and ‘the vehicle of Dhamma’ and ‘the unsurpassed victory in battle.’"

7This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:

8"Its qualities of faith and wisdom
Are always yoked evenly together. [n.11] The relative pronoun yassa with which the verses begin is completed only by the demonstrative etad in the last verse. Since English does not lend itself to such complex syntax, I am compelled to break up the passage into shorter sentences. I rely on Spk in interpreting the verses. See the other chariot simile at SN1.46.
Shame is its pole, mind its yoke-tie,
Mindfulness the watchful charioteer.

9"The chariot's ornament is virtue,
Its axle jhāna, [n.12] Jhānakkho. Spk: "The axle made of jhāna by way of the five jhāna factors accompanying insight." The five jhāna factors are thought, examination, rapture, happiness, and one-pointedness of mind. Though when fully mature they bring the mind to the first jhāna, these factors are also present, though less prominently, in the concentration that accompanies insight meditation. energy its wheels;
Equanimity keeps the burden balanced,
Desirelessness serves as upholstery.

10"Good will, harmlessness, and seclusion:
These are the chariot's weaponry,
Forbearance its armour and shield, [n.13] I read vammasannāho with Se, as against Be camma- and Ee dhamma-.
As it rolls towards security from bondage.

11"This divine vehicle unsurpassed
Originates from within oneself. [n.14] Spk: This vehicle of the path (maggayāna) is said to "originate within oneself" (attani sambhūtaṁ) because it is gained in dependence on one's own manly effort.
The wise depart from the world in it,
Inevitably winning the victory."

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Addasā kho āyasmā ānando jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ. Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati. Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha: "brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ. Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho"ti.

2Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3"Idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ. Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, jāṇussoṇiṁ brāhmaṇaṁ sabbasetena vaḷavābhirathena sāvatthiyā niyyāyantaṁ. Setā sudaṁ assā yuttā honti setālaṅkārā, seto ratho, setaparivāro, setā rasmiyo, setā patodalaṭṭhi, setaṁ chattaṁ, setaṁ uṇhīsaṁ, setāni vatthāni, setā upāhanā, setāya sudaṁ vālabījaniyā bījīyati. Tamenaṁ jano disvā evamāha: ‘brahmaṁ vata, bho, yānaṁ. Brahmayānarūpaṁ vata, bho’ti. Sakkā nu kho, bhante, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye brahmayānaṁ paññāpetun"ti?

4"Sakkā, ānandā"ti bhagavā avoca: "imasseva kho etaṁ, Ānanda, ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ: ‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipīti.

5Sammādiṭṭhi, Ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosavinayapariyosānā hoti, mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammāsaṅkappo, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosavinayapariyosāno hoti, mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāvācā, Ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammākammanto, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāājīvo, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāvāyāmo, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti. Sammāsati, Ānanda, bhāvitā bahulīkatā rāgavinayapariyosānā hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosānā hoti. Sammāsamādhi, Ānanda, bhāvito bahulīkato rāgavinayapariyosāno hoti, dosa … pe … mohavinayapariyosāno hoti.

6Iminā kho etaṁ, Ānanda, pariyāyena veditabbaṁ yathā imassevetaṁ ariyassa aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ: ‘brahmayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘dhammayānaṁ’ itipi, ‘anuttaro saṅgāmavijayo’ itipī"ti. Idamavoca bhagavā.

7Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

8"Yassa saddhā ca paññā ca,
Dhammā yuttā sadā dhuraṁ;
Hirī īsā mano yottaṁ,
Sati ārakkhasārathi.

9Ratho sīlaparikkhāro,
jhānakkho cakkavīriyo;
Upekkhā dhurasamādhi,
anicchā parivāraṇaṁ.

10Abyāpādo avihiṁsā,
viveko yassa āvudhaṁ;
Titikkhā cammasannāho,
yogakkhemāya vattati.

11Etadattani sambhūtaṁ,
brahmayānaṁ anuttaraṁ;
Niyyanti dhīrā lokamhā,
aññadatthu jayaṁ jayan"ti.

Catutthaṁ.