sn.4.23 Saṁyutta Nikāya (Linked Discourses)

Godhika

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rajagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.

Now on that occasion the Venerable Godhika was dwelling on the Black Rock on the Isigili Slope. Then, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind, but he fell away from that temporary liberation of mind. A second time, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind, but he fell away from that temporary liberation of mind. A third time…A fourth time … A fifth time…A sixth time, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind, but he fell away from that temporary liberation of mind. A seventh time, while the Venerable Godhika was dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, he reached temporary liberation of mind.

Then it occurred to the Venerable Godhika: “Six times already I have fallen away from temporary liberation of mind. Let me use the knife.”

Then Mara the Evil One, having known with his own mind the reflection in the Venerable Godhika’s mind, approached the Blessed One and addressed him with these verses:

“O great hero, great in wisdom,
Blazing forth with power and glory!
I worship your feet, One with Vision,
Who has overcome all enmity and fear.

“O great hero who has vanquished death,
Your disciple is longing for death.
He intends to take his own life:
Restrain him from this, O luminous one!

“How, O Blessed One, can your disciple—
One delighting in the Teaching,
A trainee seeking his mind’s ideal—
Take his own life, O widely famed?”

Now on that occasion the Venerable Godhika had just used the knife. Then the Blessed One, having understood, “This is Mara the Evil One,” addressed him in verse:

“Such indeed is how the steadfast act:
They are not attached to life.
Having drawn out craving with its root,
Godhika has attained final Nibbāna.”

Then the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Come, bhikkhus, let us go to the Black Rock on the Isigili Slope, where the clansman Godhika has used the knife.”

“Yes, venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied. Then the Blessed One, together with a number of bhikkhus, went to the Black Rock on the Isigili Slope. The Blessed One saw in the distance the Venerable Godhika lying on the bed with his shoulder turned.

Now on that occasion a cloud of smoke, a swirl of darkness, was moving to the east, then to the west, to the north, to the south, upwards, downwards, and to the intermediate quarters. The Blessed One then addressed the bhikkhus thus: “Do you see, bhikkhus, that cloud of smoke, that swirl of darkness, moving to the east, then to the west, to the north, to the south, upwards, downwards, and to the intermediate quarters?”

“Yes, venerable sir.”

“That, bhikkhus, is Mara the Evil One searching for the consciousness of the clansman Godhika, wondering: ‘Where now has the consciousness of the clansman Godhika been established?’ However, bhikkhus, with consciousness unestablished, the clansman Godhika has attained final Nibbāna.”

Then Mara the Evil One, taking a lute of yellow vilva-wood, approached the Blessed One and addressed him in verse:

“Above, below, and across,
In the four quarters and in between,
I have been searching but do not find
Where Godhika has gone.”

The Blessed One:

“That steadfast man was resolute,
A meditator always rejoicing in meditation,
Applying himself day and night
Without attachment even to life.

“Having conquered the army of Death,
Not returning to renewed existence,
Having drawn out craving with its root,
Godhika has attained final Nibbāna.”

So much was he stricken with sorrow
That his lute dropped from his armpit.
Thereupon that disappointed spirit
Disappeared right on the spot.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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With Godhika

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Now at that time Venerable Godhika was staying on the slopes of Isigili at the Black Rock.
Then Venerable Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.
But then he fell away from that temporary freedom of heart.
For a second …

third …

fourth …

fifth …

sixth time Godhika experienced temporary freedom of heart.
But for a sixth time he fell away from it.
For a seventh time Godhika, meditating diligent, keen, and resolute, experienced temporary freedom of heart.
Then he thought,
“I’ve fallen away from this temporary freedom of heart no less than six times.
Why don’t I slit my wrists?”
And then Māra the Wicked, knowing what Godhika was thinking, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
“O great hero, O greatly wise!
Shining with power and glory.
You’ve gone beyond all threats and perils,
I bow to your feet, O seer!
Great hero, master of death,
your disciple longs for death,
he’s planning for it.
Stop him, O light-bringer!
For how, Blessed One, can a disciple of yours,
one who loves your teaching,
a trainee who hasn’t achieved their heart’s desire,
take his own life, O renowned one?”
Now at that time Venerable Godhika had already slit his wrists.
Then the Buddha, knowing that this was Māra the Wicked, addressed him in verse:
“This is how the wise act,
for they don’t long for life.
Having plucked out craving, root and all,
Godhika is extinguished.”
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,
“Come, mendicants, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili where Godhika, who came from a good family, slit his wrists.”
“Yes, sir,” they replied.
Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.
The Buddha saw Godhika off in the distance lying on his cot, having cast off the aggregates.
Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.
Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,
“Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Godhika’s consciousness, wondering:
‘Where is Godhika’s consciousness established?’
But since his consciousness is not established, Godhika is extinguished.”
Then Māra, carrying his arched harp made from the pale timber of wood apple, went up to the Buddha and addressed him in verse:
“Above, below, all round,
in the four quarters and in-between,
I’ve been searching without success:
where has that Godhika got to?”
“He was a wise and steadfast sage,
a meditator who loved absorption.
By day and by night he applied himself,
without concern for his life.
He defeated the army of death,
and won’t return for any future life.
Having plucked out craving, root and all
Godhika is extinguished.”
So stricken with sorrow
that his harp dropped from his armpit,
that spirit, downcast,
vanished right there.