5.5. Mettagū’s Questions (SNP5.5)

Mettagū
Reached Vedas’ end, I deem, developed yourself,
so I ask the Lord thus, please tell me of this:
how then have resulted these various dukkhas
of various forms found in the world?

Buddha
On dukkha’s arising you’ve asked me indeed,
so as I have Known, I impart it to you:
The diverse-formed dukkhas come to exist
from attachments to asset of whatever kind.

That ignorant one attached indeed to assets,
stupidly reaches to dukkha repeatedly,
therefore that one in seeing dukkha’s birth and arising,
such attached-to assets should not be created.

Mettagū
Whatever we asked, to us you explained,
another thing I ask, please speak upon that:
how do the wise ones cross over the flood
of birth and decay, lamentation and grief?
O Sage, do well declare this to me now,
for certainly this dharma has been known by you.

Buddha
This Dharma I’ll explain to you,
Seen-now and not traditional law,
knowing which the mindful fare,
and cross the world’s entanglements.

Mettagū
I am delighted, Seeker Great,
with this Dharma ultimate,
knowing which the mindful fare,
and cross the world’s entanglements.

Buddha
Whatever you cognize above,
below, across and in between,
consciously dispel delight in them,
and settling-down—in “being” you’ll not stand.

Mindfully who live like this, aware,
such bhikkhus, let go of “making-mine”
with birth and decay, lamenting and grief:
just here do the wise all dukkha let go.

Mettagū
With the Great Seeker’s speech I am overjoyed,
well explained, O Gotama, is “assets unattached”,
for surely the Lord all dukkha has let go,
for certainly this Dharma has been Known by you.

Those who the Sage always advises,
surely they’re able to let go of dukkha,
to the Nāga drawn near, to you I bow down;
maybe the Lord will advise me as well.

Buddha
Knowing well that brahmin true to Love’s end*Sujato: The term translated by lkm in this and the next verse as “love’s end” is vedagū. This is a Brahmanical term referring to one accomplished in the three Vedas, and interpreted by the Buddha as one perfected in liberating knowledge. Perhaps lkm renders veda as “love” rather than “knowledge” due to the speaker’s name, mettagū. In some cases veda and its derivates, such as vedanā, extend in meaning to “emotion”. reached,
having nought and unattached to sensual being,
for certain that one this flood has overcrossed,
crossed to the Far Shore, free of doubts and harshness.

This is one who Knows, reached Love’s end just here,
cut bondage to any being, either high or low,
free from craving and desire, free from distress,
I say such one’s crossed over birth and decay.

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.