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ud.6.10 Udana

The Discourse about the Arising of the Realised One

Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta’s Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then at that time venerable Ānanda went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.

While sat on one side venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One: “For as long as the Realised Ones, reverend Sir, do not arise in the world, the Worthy Ones, the Perfect Sambuddhas, for that long the wanderers from other sects are venerated, respected, revered, honoured, esteemed, and in receipt of robes, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal requisites to help when sick. But when the Realised Ones, reverend Sir, do arise in the world, the Worthy Ones, the Perfect Sambuddhas, then the wanderers from other sects are not venerated, not respected, not revered, not honoured, not esteemed, and are not in receipt of robes, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal requisites to help when sick. Now, reverend Sir, the Gracious One is venerated, respected, revered, honoured, esteemed, and in receipt of robes, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal requisites to help when sick, and so is the Community of monks.”

“Just so, Ānanda, for as long as the Realised Ones, Ānanda, do not arise in the world, the Worthy Ones, the Perfect Sambuddhas, for that long the wanderers from other sects are venerated, respected, revered, honoured, esteemed, and in receipt of robes, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal requisites to help when sick. But when the Realised Ones, Ānanda, do arise in the world, the Worthy Ones, the Perfect Sambuddhas, then the wanderers from other sects are not venerated, not respected, not revered, not honoured, not esteemed, and are not in receipt of robes, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal requisites to help when sick. Now the Realised One is venerated, respected, revered, honoured, esteemed, and in receipt of robes, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal requisites to help when sick, and so is the Community of monks.”

Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“The glow worm shines forth for as long as the light-maker the sun does not rise,
But when the brilliant one the sun has risen,
The glow worm’s light is destroyed, and does not shine forth.

In the same way the reasoners shine forth for
as long as the Perfect Sambuddhas do not arise in the world.

The reasoners are not purified, nor are their disciples, of wrong view,
they are not released from suffering.”

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

Arising

So I have heard.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
“Sir, so long as the Realized Ones, the perfected ones, the fully awakened Buddhas do not arise in the world, the wanderers who follow other paths are honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
But when the Realized Ones do arise in the world, the wanderers who follow other paths are no longer honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they do not receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
Now only the Buddha is honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And he receives robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”
“That’s so true, Ānanda. So long as the Realized Ones do not arise in the world, the wanderers who follow other paths are honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And they receive robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
But when the Realized Ones do arise in the world, the wanderers who follow other paths are no longer honored in this way.
Now only the Realized One is honored, respected, revered, venerated, and esteemed. And he receives robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And so does the mendicant Saṅgha.”
Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:
“The glow-worm shines so long
as the beacon of the sun does not rise.
But when the sun has come up,
that light is erased and shines no more.
So too the reasoners shine bright
so long as the Buddhas don’t arise in the world.
The reasoners are not purified, nor are their disciples.
Having bad views, they are not freed from suffering.”