snp.5.12 Suttanipata

“Having heard of a hero who has no desire for sense pleasures,” said venerable Jatukaṇṇī,
“I came to ask that desireless one who is beyond the flood,
please speak of the state of peace, conascent-eye,
as it really is, Gracious One, please tell me this.

“The Gracious One moves about having vanquished sense desires,
as the splendid sun vanquishes the earth with its splendour.
To me of little wisdom, O One of Great Wisdom,explain the Teaching so that I may know
the complete giving up of birth and old age here.”

“Remove the greed for sense pleasures, Jatukaṇṇī,” said the Gracious One,
“having seen there is safety in renunciation;
let there be nothing found in you that has been taken up or put down.

“You should erase that which is past, and have nothing for the future,
if you take up nothing in the present you will live peacefully.

“For one altogether without greed for mind and body, O brahmin,
no pollutants are found whereby he can come under Death’s control.”

The Young Man Jatukaṇṇī’s Questions are Finished

Jatukaṇṇi
I’ve heard of the heroic one
from desires free for pleasures sensuous,
with Question I come for the flood-crosser,
from desire free
O Lord with Eye innate, tell me the Peaceful State—
how truly it is, tell me of this.

The Lord comports himself as the senses’ conqueror
as the hot sun the earth by its heat,
of small wit am I, Thou of wisdom great,
explain to me Dharma that I may understand.

Buddha
The abandonment here of birth and old age,
greed for sensual pleasures curb,
and safety see in letting-go,
let there not be found in you
grasping or rejection.

Dry up whatever’s gone “before”,
while “after” have no thing at all;
if in the “middle” you don’t grasp,
you’ll fare in Perfect Peace.

O brahmin, from greediness free
for every sort of name-and-form,
the inflows are not found by which
one’d go beneath death’s sway.