5.11. Kappa’s Question (SNP5.11)

Kappa
In midstream standing there,
in flood’s fearsome surge—
oppressed by age and death,
of the island tell me, sir,
do tell me of this isle,
where this will be no more.

Buddha
In midstream standing there,
in flood’s fearsome surge
oppressed by age and death, Kappa,
of the island I shall tell.

“Owning nothing and unattached”
that’s the isle of no-beyond,
Nirvāṇa do I call it
death-decay destroyed.

With Final Knowledge these mindful ones,
Now-seen the Dharma, cool-become,
they’re neither under Māra’s sway
nor Māra’s followers.

Translated by Laurence Khantipalo Mills.

This translation was edited by Bhikkhu Sujato as part of the full translation of the Sutta Nipāta with commentary prepared from a draft handwritten and typed manuscript of Laurence Khantipalo Mills in 2015. The project was managed by Laurence’s students Michael Wells and Gary Dellora, and initial digitizing of the text was by Sean Read. Full text is available at https://suttacentral.net/downloads

In addition to the suttas noted, Bhikkhu Sujato also translated verses 46, 78, 232, 465, 500, 589–597, 865, 885–890, 894–5, 897–901, 902–916, and 919–921.

This text is released dedicated to the Public Domain by way of Creative Commons Zero. No rights reserved.