5.16. Mogharāja’s Question (SNP5.16)

Mogharāja
The Sakyan I’ve requested twice
but the Seer has not replied;
I have heard tell that questioned thrice,
a Sage divine explains.

I do not understand the view
of the renowned Gotama
upon this world, the other world,
on Brahma’s realm, the deva’s world.

So to the One of vision supreme,
with this query have I come:
how should one regard the world
that the Death-king sees one not?

Buddha
Be ever mindful, Mogharāja,
and as empty, view the world,
with view of self pulled up,
and thus crossed over death—
who sees the world like this
the King of Death sees not.

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.