snp.5.8 Suttanipata

“‘There are sages in the world’,” said venerable Nanda,
“that is what people say—how is this so?
Do they say he is a sage because he has knowledge
Or because of the life he leads?”

“Not by view, tradition, or knowledge,
do the skilful say one is a sage here, Nanda.
Whoever lives without company, not troubled,
not yearning, they are sages, I say.”

“Whoever among these ascetics and brahmins,” said venerable Nanda,
“say that purity is through what is seen or heard,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,
say that purity is through countless other ways,
Gracious One, perhaps those living restrained in this way
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”

“Whoever among these ascetics and brahmins, Nanda,” said the Gracious One,
“say that purity is through what is seen or heard,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,
say that purity is through countless other ways,
although they are living restrained in this way,
they have not crossed over bith and old age, I say.”

“Whoever among these ascetics and brahmins,” said venerable Nanda,
“say that purity is through what is seen or heard,
say that purity is through virtue and practices,
say that purity is through countless other ways,
if you say these sages have not crossed the flood,
then just who in the world of the gods and men
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”

“I do not say that all ascetics and brahmins, Nanda,” said the Gracious One,
“are enveloped in birth and old age:
whoever here has given up reliance on what is seen,
heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,
and has also given up all the countless other ways,
who, by fully knowing craving, are pollutant-free—
I say those men have crossed over the flood.”

“I greatly rejoice in the great seer’s word,
Gotama, well-proclaimed is freedom from clinging!
Whoever here has given up reliance on what is seen,
heard, or sensed, and virtue and practices,
and has also given up all the countless other ways,
who, by fully knowing craving, are pollutant-free—
I also say they have crossed over the flood.”

The Young Man Nanda’s Questions are Finished

Nanda
People say that in the world
there are sages—how is this?
Do they say “sage” for knowledge won,
or for a certain way of life?

Buddha
The intelligent ones say not “a sage”,
for view, tradition, knowledge won;
those foeless, desireless and free from distress
who so fare along are sages, I say.

Nanda
Some of these monks and brahmins they say
that purity comes from the seen and the heard,
from rites and from vows and from other things too,
have they, O Lord, while practising thus
crossed over birth and crossed decay, sir?
I ask the Lord thus, please tell me of this.

Buddha
Some of these monks and brahmins they say
that purity comes from the seen and the heard,
from rites and from vows and from other things too
and even though they have practised thus,
I say they’ve not crossed over birth and decay.

Nanda
Some of these monks and brahmins they say
that purity comes from the seen and the heard,
from rites and from vows and from other things too,
if you say, O Sage, they’ve not crossed the flood,
who fares through the world of devas, mankind,
crossed over birth and crossed decay, sir?
I ask the Lord thus, please tell me of this.

Buddha
Of these monks and these brahmins I do not say
that all are shrouded by birth and decay:
those who’ve let go of the seen, heard, and known,
of rites and of vows and others—all,
completely craving Known and from the inflows free—
those persons I say have crossed over the flood.

Nanda
By the Great Seeker’s words I’m truly delighted
well-explained, O Gotama, is “to assets unattached”,
those who’ve let go of the seen, heard and known,
of rites and of vows and of other things—all,
completely craving Known and from the inflows free—
also I say they’ve crossed over the flood.