5.14. Udaya’s Questions (SNP5.14)

Udaya
To the contemplative seated free of dust,
done what should be done, with inflows none,
to the one beyond all dharmas gone,
to him with a question have I come:
Please say by shattering ignorance
how Final Knowledge’s free.

Buddha
Let go desires for pleasures of sense,
with all bad-mindedness as well,
sloth dispel and check remorse,

poised mindfulness completely pure,
forerun by Dharma-distinguishing:
I say by shattering ignorance,
there’s Final Knowledge free.

Udaya
What’s the fetter of the world?
and what the world’s wandering?
By abandonment of what
is it Nirvāṇa named?

Buddha
Enjoyment: the fetter of the world,
while thinking, the world’s wandering,
the letting-go of craving—
it’s Nirvāṇa named.

Udaya
How is consciousness broken up
in one who practises mindfully?
To the Lord we come with this question,
we wish to hear your words.

Buddha
Feeling both within, without—
in that do not delight,
thus consciousness is broken up
in one who practises mindfully.

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.