5:1 The Questions of Ajita

(Said the Venerable Ajita)

1032“By what is the world shrouded?
Why does it not shine?
What do you say is its adhesive?
What is its great peril?” (1)

(“Ajita,” said the Blessed One)

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1033“The world is shrouded by ignorance,
It does not shine because of avarice and heedlessness.
I say that hankering is its adhesive.
Suffering is its great peril.” (2) [198]

(Said the Venerable Ajita)

1034“Everywhere the streams are flowing,
What is the barrier against the streams?
Speak of the restraint of the streams:
by what are the streams closed off?” (3)

(“Ajita,” said the Blessed One)

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1035“Whatever streams there are in the world,
mindfulness is the barrier against them.
I speak of this as restraint of the streams.
They are closed off by wisdom.” (4)

(Said the Venerable Ajita)

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1036“Wisdom and mindfulness,
and name-and-form, dear sir —
when asked by me please declare:
where does this come to an end?” (5)

1037“As to this question that you ask,
I will tell you, Ajita,
where name and also form
come to an end without remainder:
it is by the cessation of consciousness
that this here comes to an end.” (6)

1038“Those who have comprehended the Dhamma,
and the diverse trainees here:
when asked by me about their conduct,
let the judicious one declare it, dear sir.” (7)

1039“One should not be greedy for sensual pleasures;
one should be untarnished in mind.
Skillful in regard to all phenomena,
a bhikkhu should wander mindfully.” (8) [199]

Ajitamāṇavapucchā

(iccāyasmā ajito):

1032"Kenassu nivuto loko,
Kenassu nappakāsati;
Kissābhilepanaṁ brūsi,
Kiṁsu tassa mahabbhayaṁ".

(ajitāti bhagavā):

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1033 "Avijjāya nivuto loko,
Vevicchā pamādā nappakāsati;
Jappābhilepanaṁ brūmi,
Dukkhamassa mahabbhayaṁ".

(iccāyasmā ajito):

1034 "Savanti sabbadhi sotā,
Sotānaṁ kiṁ nivāraṇaṁ;
Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūhi,
Kena sotā pidhiyyare".

(ajitāti bhagavā):

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1035 "Yāni sotāni lokasmiṁ,
Sati tesaṁ nivāraṇaṁ;
Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūmi,
Paññāyete pidhiyyare".

(iccāyasmā ajito):

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1036 "Paññā ceva sati yañca,
Nāmarūpañca mārisa;
Etaṁ me puṭṭho pabrūhi,
Katthetaṁ uparujjhati".

1037 "Yametaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi,
ajita taṁ vadāmi te;
Yattha nāmañca rūpañca,
asesaṁ uparujjhati;
Viññāṇassa nirodhena,
etthetaṁ uparujjhati".

1038 "Ye ca saṅkhātadhammāse,
ye ca sekhā puthū idha;
Tesaṁ me nipako iriyaṁ,
puṭṭho pabrūhi mārisa".

1039 "Kāmesu nābhigijjheyya,
Manasānāvilo siyā;
Kusalo sabbadhammānaṁ,
Sato bhikkhu paribbaje"ti.

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Ajitamāṇavapucchā paṭhamā.