The Young Man Piṅgiya’s Questions (SNP5.17)

“I am old, without strength, with poor complexion,” said venerable Piṅgiya,
“my eyes are unclear, and hearing is difficult—
may I indeed not perish a fool mid-way!
Explain the Teaching so that I may know
the complete giving up of birth and old age here.”

“Having seen people being struck down amid forms, Piṅgiya,” said the Gracious One,
“and that heedless people are pained amid forms—therefore you, Piṅgiya, being heedful,
must give up form, and not come into existence again.”

“The four directions, the four intermediate directions,” said venerable Piṅgiya,
“above and below: in these ten directions,
there is nothing for you that is unseen, unheard,
unsensed, or uncognized in the world!
Explain the Teaching so that I may know
the complete giving up of birth and old age here.”

“Seeing human beings, victims of craving, Piṅgiya,” said the Gracious One,
“are tormented, and overcome by old age—
therefore you, Piṅgiya, being heedful,
must give up craving and not come into existence again.”

The Young Man Piṅgiya’s Questions are Finished

Translated by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu.

Original translation 1999, revised, May 2007.

The text and translation, together with detailed notes and discussions, may be found in multiple formats on the translator’s website, Ancient Buddhist Texts.

Used by kind permission of Bhikkhu Ānandajoti.

The original translation was released under the following licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.