The Questions of Nanda

There are sages in the world,

(said the venerable Nanda),

so people say.

How is this?

Do they call one a sage because of their knowing,

or truly because of their way of life?

Sutta Nipāta 5.8 Nandamāṇavapucchā “Santi loke munayo, (iccāyasmā nando) Janā vadanti tayidaṁ kathaṁsu; Ñāṇūpapannaṁ no muniṁ vadanti, Udāhu ve jīvitenūpapannaṁ”.

Not by views, nor by learning, nor by knowing,

do the skillful here call one a sage, Nanda.

Having disbanded the armies, untroubled, free from longing:

those who live thus, I say, are sages.

“Na diṭṭhiyā na sutiyā na ñāṇena, (…)

Whoever these ascetics and brahmins are,

(said the venerable Nanda),

Munīdha nanda kusalā vadanti; Visenikatvā anīghā nirāsā, Caranti ye te munayoti brūmi”.

who declare purity through what is seen and heard,

who declare purity through rules and observances,

who declare purity in various other ways:

“Ye kecime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (iccāyasmā nando) Diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ; Sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ, Anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ.

could it be, Blessed One, that by living restrained in those things,

they have crossed over birth and old age, dear sir?

I ask you, Blessed One, tell me this.

Whoever these ascetics and brahmins are,

Kaccissu te bhagavā tattha yatā carantā, Atāru jātiñca jarañca mārisa; Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

(said the Blessed One),

who declare purity through what is seen and heard,

who declare purity through rules and observances,

who declare purity in various other ways:

“Ye kecime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (nandāti bhagavā) Diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ; Sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ, Anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ; Kiñcāpi te tattha yatā caranti, Nātariṁsu jātijaranti brūmi”.

even though they live restrained in those things,

they have not crossed over birth and old age, I say.

Whoever these ascetics and brahmins are,

(said the venerable Nanda),

“Ye kecime samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (iccāyasmā nando) Diṭṭhassutenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ; Sīlabbatenāpi vadanti suddhiṁ, Anekarūpena vadanti suddhiṁ.

who declare purity through what is seen and heard,

who declare purity through rules and observances,

who declare purity in various other ways:

if you, O sage, say they have not crossed the flood,

Te ce muni brūsi anoghatiṇṇe, Atha ko carahi devamanussaloke; Atāri jātiñca jarañca mārisa, Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.

then who in the world of gods and humans

has crossed over birth and old age, dear sir?

I ask you, Blessed One, tell me this.

I do not say that all ascetics and brahmins,

“Nāhaṁ sabbe samaṇabrāhmaṇāse, (nandāti bhagavā) Jātijarāya nivutāti brūmi; Ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā, Sīlabbataṁ vāpi pahāya sabbaṁ.

(said the Blessed One),

are enveloped by birth and old age.

Those here who have abandoned entirely what is seen, heard, or sensed,

and abandoned entirely rules and observances,

Anekarūpampi pahāya sabbaṁ, Taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse; Te ve narā oghatiṇṇāti brūmi”.

and abandoned entirely the various other ways:

who, having fully known craving, are free from taints:

these are the people, I say, who have crossed the flood.

“Etābhinandāmi vaco mahesino, Sukittitaṁ gotamanūpadhīkaṁ; Ye sīdha diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā, Sīlabbataṁ vāpi pahāya sabbaṁ.

I rejoice in these words of the great seer,

well-proclaimed by Gotama, free from acquisitions.

Those here who have abandoned entirely what is seen, heard, or sensed,

and abandoned entirely rules and observances,

Anekarūpampi pahāya sabbaṁ, Taṇhaṁ pariññāya anāsavāse; Ahampi te oghatiṇṇāti brūmī”ti.

and abandoned entirely the various other ways:

who, having fully known craving, are free from taints:

I too say they have crossed the flood.

Nandamāṇavapucchā sattamā.

The Questions of Nanda, the seventh.