The Questions of the Youth Ajita

By what is the world enveloped?

(said the venerable Ajita)

Because of what does it not shine?

What do you say is its smearing?

What is its great danger?

Sutta Nipāta 5.2 Ajitamāṇavapucchā “Kenassu nivuto loko, (iccāyasmā ajito) Kenassu nappakāsati; Kissābhilepanaṁ brūsi, Kiṁsu tassa mahabbhayaṁ”.

The world is enveloped by ignorance,

(said the Blessed One, Ajita)

Because of avarice and negligence it does not shine.

Craving is its smearing, I say.

“Avijjāya nivuto loko, (ajitāti bhagavā) Vevicchā pamādā nappakāsati; Jappābhilepanaṁ brūmi, Dukkhamassa mahabbhayaṁ”.

Suffering is its great danger.

The streams flow everywhere,

(said the venerable Ajita)

What holds back the streams?

“Savanti sabbadhi sotā, (iccāyasmā ajito) Sotānaṁ kiṁ nivāraṇaṁ; Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūhi, Kena sotā pidhiyyare”.

Tell me the restraint for the streams.

By what are the streams shut off?

Whatever streams there are in the world,

(said the Blessed One, Ajita)

“Yāni sotāni lokasmiṁ, (ajitāti bhagavā) Sati tesaṁ nivāraṇaṁ; Sotānaṁ saṁvaraṁ brūmi, Paññāyete pidhiyyare”.

Mindfulness is what holds them back.

I call it the restraint for the streams;

By wisdom they are shut off.

Wisdom and mindfulness,

(said the venerable Ajita)

“Paññā ceva sati yañca, (iccāyasmā ajito) Nāmarūpañca mārisa; Etaṁ me puṭṭho pabrūhi, Katthetaṁ uparujjhati”.

And name-and-form, dear sir:

Asked by me, tell me this:

Where does this cease?

This question that you have asked,

“Yametaṁ pañhaṁ apucchi, ajita taṁ vadāmi te; Yattha nāmañca rūpañca, asesaṁ uparujjhati; Viññāṇassa nirodhena, etthetaṁ uparujjhati”.

Ajita, I will answer it for you.

Where name-and-form

Ceases without remainder:

With the cessation of consciousness,

“Ye ca saṅkhātadhammāse, ye ca sekhā puthū idha; Tesaṁ me nipako iriyaṁ, puṭṭho pabrūhi mārisa”.

Right here it ceases.

Those who have known the Dhamma,

And the many trainees here:

Tell me of their conduct, O wise one,

“Kāmesu nābhigijjheyya, Manasānāvilo siyā; Kusalo sabbadhammānaṁ, Sato bhikkhu paribbaje”ti.

When asked by me, dear sir.

One should not covet sensual pleasures;

One's mind should be untroubled.

Skilled in all phenomena,

Ajitamāṇavapucchā paṭhamā.

A disciple should wander mindfully.