snp.2.12 Suttanipata

Vaṅgīsa’s Questions, Buddha’s Answer

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Lord dwelt at Āḷāvī, at the Aggāḷava Shrine. Not long before, the venerable Vaṅgīsa’s preceptor, by name the elder Nigrodhakappa, had become completely Cool at the Aggāḷava Shrine. Then in Vaṅgīsa’s mind, being at one and in solitude, arose this thought: “Has my preceptor become completely Cool or has he not?”

Later in the day Vaṅgīsa left his solitude and went to the Lord and having drawn near him, paid his respects and sat to one side. While sitting there Vaṅgīsa said this to the Lord: “While I was sitting in meditation this thought arose in my mind: ‘Has my preceptor become completely Cool or has he not?’”

Vaṅgīsa then arose from his seat, placed his upper robe over one shoulder and, lotussing his hands respectfully, addressed the Lord with these verses.

Vaṅgīsa
We ask now the Teacher of wisdom supreme—
who’s cut off all doubts in this very life,
that Aggāḷava bhikkhu who died recently,
famous, well-known, was he truly Cool-become?

His name Nigrodhakappa was,
to that brahmin given by the Radiant One,
he went around revering you, and, strenuous
seeking Liberation, O Seer of the Secure.

O Sakya, All-Seeing, we all wish to know
concerning this hearkener, Kappa by name,
all of our ears are ready to hear—
the Teacher you are, the One unsurpassed.

Sever our doubt and tell me of this:
that he knew complete Cool, O Wisdom Profound:
tell this in our midst, O All-Seeing One,
as thousand-eyed Sakka by devas ringed.

Whatever here deluded paths bring on the bondages,
on ignorance’s side, the bases for all doubts,
on reaching the Tathāgata they cease to be,
for certainly his Eye is supreme among men.

If never, no one, could defilements disperse,
as forceful wind a piled-up mass of clouds,
enshrouded would be, for sure, the whole world,
and even the illustrious would have no chance to shine.

But the Wise in this world are the makers of light
and you, a Wise One, are such I conceive,
we have come upon Him who Knows and who Sees—
to those here assembled, Kappa clearly reveal.

Swiftly send forth fair speech, O Fairest One,
as swan (its neck) stretches sounding softly forth;
with your melodious voice so well-modulated
to it we listen, all of us, attentively.

Remainderless, you’ve let go of birth and death—
I’ll urge the One who’s Cleansed to Dharma teach;
ordinary persons cannot act out their desires,
but with discrimination Tathāgatas act.

(Your) expositions (of Dharma) so thoroughly based
on straightforward wisdom then thoroughly grasped;
(and he) last lotussed his hands with greatest respect:
so do not delude us, You of wisdom supreme.

Having known the Dharma noble, the basics and refined,
You the Energetic One who Knows, do not delude.
I long for your words as for water one does
in summer season by heat overcome.
Rain down on our ears!

That purpose for which Kappāyana led
the life of purity—surely it wasn’t in vain;
did he become Cool or did residues remain—
tell of his Freedom, that we long to hear.

Buddha
Craving he cut for mind and body both—
craving’s stream that long had lain within him;
completely he has crossed beyond all birth and death—
So the Blessed One spoke, the Fore before the Five.

Vaṅgīsa
Hearing your word, O Seventh of Seers,
I’m both pleased and truly satisfied.
Truly my question’s not in vain—
that brahmin did elude me not!

As he spoke, he acted so,
one of the Buddha’s hearkeners
who rent the deceiver Māra’s net,
spread wide and very strong.

Lord, Kappa the capable
saw graspings’, clingings’ source;
Kappāyana has gone beyond
death’s realm so hard to cross.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

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Vaṅgīsa and His Mentor Nigrodhakappa

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at the Aggāḷava Tree-shrine.
Now at that time it was not long after Venerable Vaṅgīsa’s mentor, the senior monk named Nigrodhakappa, had become extinguished.
Then as Vaṅgīsa was in private retreat this thought came to his mind:
“Has my mentor become extinguished or not?”
Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Vaṅgīsa came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.
‘Has my mentor become extinguished or not?’”
Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha, and addressed him in verse:
“I ask the teacher unrivaled in wisdom,
who has cut off all doubts in this very life:
a monk has died at Aggāḷava, who was
well-known, famous, and quenched.
Nigrodhakappa was his name;
it was given to that brahmin by you, Blessed One.
He wandered in your honor, yearning for freedom,
energetic, a resolute Seer of Truth.
O Sakyan, all-seer,
we all wish to know about that disciple.
Our ears are eager to hear,
for you are the most excellent teacher.
Cut off our doubt, declare this to us;
your wisdom is vast, tell us of his quenching!
All-seer, speak among us,
like the thousand-eyed Sakka in the midst of the gods!
Whatever ties there are, or paths to delusion,
or things on the side of unknowing, or that are bases of doubt
vanish on reaching a Realized One,
for his eye is the best of all people’s.
If no man were ever to disperse corruptions,
like the wind dispersing the clouds,
darkness would shroud the whole world;
not even brilliant men would shine.
The wise are bringers of light;
my hero, that is what I think of you.
We’ve come for your discernment and knowledge:
here in this assembly, declare to us about Kappāyana.
Swiftly send forth your sweet, sweet voice,
like a goose stretching its neck, gently honking,
lucid-flowing, with lovely tone:
alert, we all listen to you.
You have entirely abandoned birth and death;
restrained and pure, I urge you to speak the Dhamma!
For ordinary people have no wish-granter,
but Realized Ones have a comprehensibility-granter.
Your answer is definitive, and we will adopt it,
for you have perfect understanding.
We raise our joined palms one last time,
one of unrivaled wisdom, don’t deliberately confuse us.
Knowing the noble teaching from top to bottom,
unrivaled hero, don’t deliberately confuse us.
As a man in the baking summer sun would long for water,
I long for your voice, so let the sound rain down.
Surely Kappāyana did not lead the spiritual life in vain?
Did he realize quenching,
or did he still have a remnant of defilement?
Let us hear what kind of liberation he had!”
“He cut off craving for mind and body in this very life,”
said the Buddha,
“the river of darkness that had long lain within him.
He has entirely crossed over birth and death.”
So declared the Blessed One, the leader of the five.
“Now that I have heard your words,
seventh of sages, I am confident.
My question, it seems, was not in vain,
the brahmin did not deceive me.
As he said, so he did—
he was a disciple of the Buddha.
He cut the net of death the deceiver,
so extended and strong.
Blessed One, Kappāyana saw
the starting point of grasping.
He has indeed gone far beyond
Death’s domain so hard to pass.”