snp.5.18 Suttanipata

Verses in Praise of the Way to the Beyond

This was said by the Gracious One while living among the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇaka shrine. The sixteen attendent brahmins requested, asked, and asked, and he answered the questions. If, knowing the meaning of each question, knowing the Teaching, he would practice in conformity with the Teaching, he would surely go beyond old age and death. It is said “These teachings go to the beyond,” therefore this presentation of the Teaching is indeed called “The Way to the Beyond”.

Ajita, Tissa Metteyya, Puṇṇaka, also Mettagū,
Dhotaka, and Upasīva, Nanda, and also Hemaka,
the two: Todeyya, and Kappa, and Jatukaṇṇī, the one who is wise,

Bhadrāvudha, and Udaya, also the brahmin Posāla,
Mogharāja, the intelligent one, and the great seer Piṅgiya.

These went to the Buddha, to the seer with perfect conduct,
asking subtle questions, they went to the Buddha who is best.

The Buddha answered as it truly is the questions that they asked,
and by answering the questions the sage satisfied those brahmins.

They, being satisfied by the Visionary, the Buddha, the kinsman of the sun,
lived the spiritual life under the One With Excellent Wisdom.

The Buddha taught like this in response to the questions one by one,
he who practices like this can go from here to the beyond.

From here to the beyond he can go by developing the supreme path.
This is the path for going to the beyond, therefore it is called The Way to the Beyond.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

Epilogue: In Praise of the Way to the Beyond

The Radiant One said this while he stayed among the Magadhese at the Pāsānika Shrine. There he was asked, then he questioned, the sixteen brahmin pupils, answering their questions. If one should understand the meaning of even one question, and then practise the Dharma according to the Dharma, then one would go to the farther shore beyond ageing and death. As this Dharma leads to the farther shore it is known as the Teaching leading to the Farther Shore (pārāyana).

Narrator
Ajita, Tissametteyya,
Puṇṇaka, then there’s Mettagū,
Dhotaka, Upasīva then
Nanda also Hemaka,

The pair Todeyya, Kappa, then
Jātukaṇṇi the learned one,
Bhadrāvudha, Udaya, and
the brahmin who’s called Posāla,
Mogharāja the very wise
and Piṅgiya the seer so great—

All these approached the perfect Seer,
the Buddha who practised perfectly,
to question him on subtle points,
to the Buddha-best they journeyed.

Having been questioned the Buddha replied
with Dharma according to how it really is.
In answering their questions the Sage
delighted those brahmins.

Being delighted by the Seer,
The Buddha, Kinsman of the Sun,
They lived the Holy Life in his presence,
He of such magnificent wisdom.

One who practices in accordance
With each and every question
As taught by the Buddha
Goes from the near to the far shore.

One developing this unexcelled path
would go from the near to the far shore;
This path goes to the far shore, which is why
It’s called the “Way to the Far Shore”.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

Homage to the Way to the Far Shore

This was said by the Buddha while staying in the land of the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇake shrine.
When requested by the sixteen brahmin devotees, he answered their questions one by one.
If you understand the meaning and the teaching of each of these questions, and practice accordingly, you may go right to the far shore of old age and death.
These teachings are said to lead to the far shore, which is why the name of this exposition of the teaching is “The Way to the Far Shore”.
Ajita, Tissametteyya,
Puṇṇaka and Mettagū,
Dhotaka and Upasiva,
Nanda and then Hemaka,
both Todeyya and Kappa,
and Jatukaṇṇī the astute,
Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,
and the brahmin Posāla,
Mogharājā the intelligent,
and Piṅgiya the great hermit:
they approached the Buddha,
the hermit of consummate conduct.
Asking their subtle questions,
they came to the most excellent Buddha.
The Buddha answered their questions
in accordance with truth.
The sage satisfied the brahmins
with his answers to their questions.
Those who were satisfied by the all-seer,
the Buddha, kinsman of the Sun,
led the spiritual life in his presence,
the one of such splendid wisdom.
If you practice in accordance
with each of these questions
as taught by the Buddha,
you’ll go from the near shore to the far.
Developing the supreme path,
you’ll go from the near shore to the far.
This path is for going to the far shore;
that’s why it’s called “The Way to the Far Shore”.