2:14 Dhammika

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Then the lay follower Dhammika, together with five hundred lay followers, approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the lay follower Dhammika addressed the Blessed One in verses:

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376“I ask you, Gotama, one of broad wisdom:
How does a good disciple act,
whether one who has gone from home to homelessness
or those lay followers who live at home? (1)

377“For you know the course and destination
of the world together with its devas.
There is none equal to you, one who shows the subtle meaning,
for they say you are the excellent Buddha. (2)

378“Having directly experienced all knowledge,
you reveal the Dhamma, taking compassion on beings.
Your coverings are removed, you are the universal eye;
stainless, you shine radiantly in all the world. (3) [67]

379“Erāvaṇa, the nāga king, came into your presence
when he heard you are ‘the Conqueror.’
Having consulted with you, he departedNorman reads mantayitvā jagāma. Jagāma is a perfect form of gacchati. Pj II 369,16 accepts the received reading of the verb ajjhagamā and comments: ajjhagamā ti adhiagamā, gato ti vuttaṃ hoti. Norman (GD 230) adopts von Hinüber’s suggestion that we read here “an historically correct perfect form jagāma,” which “not only corrects the metre, but also gives a better sense, since we need a translation ‘went away,’ which a form from adhigam– would not give.”
[saying] “Excellent,” delighted to have heard [your words]. (4)

380“King Vessavaṇa Kuvera also approached you,
inquiring about the Dhamma.
When questioned, you answered him, O wise one,
and he too, having listened, was delighted. (5)

381“Adherents of other sects given to debate,
whether Ājīvikas or Nigaṇṭhas,
all fail to overtake you in wisdom,
as one standing cannot overtake one walking swiftly. (6)

382“These brahmins given to debate,
and also some who are elder brahmins,
are all dependent on you for the meaning,
as are others who think themselves debaters. (7)

383“For this Dhamma, subtle and blissful,
has been well proclaimed by you, O Blessed One.
All wish to hear that alone: when asked,
declare it to us, supreme Buddha.I read here with Be and Ce taṃ no vada as against Ee tvaṃ no vada. Pj II recognizes the latter as a variant but gives primacy to the former. (8)

384“All these bhikkhus sitting together
and the lay followers as well [wish] to hear it.
Let them hear the Dhamma realized by the stainless one
as the devas listen to Vāsava’s well-spoken words.”Vāsava is another name for Sakka, ruler of the devas. (9)

385“Listen to me, bhikkhus, I will proclaim to you
the cleansing Dhamma; all retain it in mind.I read here with Ce and Ee dharātha, as against Be carātha. [68]
A thoughtful person, seeing the good,
should adopt that deportment proper for a monk. (10)

386“A bhikkhu should not wander at the wrong time;
but at the proper time he should walk to the village for alms.Ce and Ee have gāmaṃ as against Be gāme.
For ties stick to one given to untimely wandering;
hence the buddhas do not wander at the wrong time. (11)

387“Forms and sounds, tastes and odors,
and tactile objects drive beings mad.
Having removed desire for these things,
at the proper time one should enter for the morning meal. (12)

388“Then, having obtained alms on the occasion,
having returned alone, one should sit down in seclusion.
Reflecting inwardly, one should not let one’s mind
wander outside but should keep oneself collected. (13)

389“If he should converse with a disciple,
or with anyone else, or with a bhikkhu,
he should speak about the sublime Dhamma;
he should not slander or criticize others. (14)

390“For some contend in debate,
but we do not praise those of slight wisdom.
Ties from here and there stick to them,
for they send their minds far away. (15)

391“Alms, a dwelling with bed and seat,
and water to wash the dirt from his cloak:
having heard the Dhamma taught by the Fortunate One,
a disciple of the one of excellent wisdom
should use these reflectively. (16)

392“For in regard to almsfood, a lodging,
and water to wash the dirt from his cloak, [69]
a bhikkhu will not cling to these things,
as a water drop does not cling to a lotus leaf. (17)

393“Now let me tell you the householder’s duty,
how one should act to become a good disciple.
For this entire duty of a bhikkhu
cannot be carried out by one with possessions. (18)

394“Having put down the rod toward all beings,
toward those in the world both firm and frail,
one should not kill living beings or cause to kill,
nor should one approve of others who kill. (19)

395“Next, a disciple should not knowingly
take anything not given anywhere.
One should not cause stealing or approve of theft;
one should entirely avoid taking anything not given. (20)

396“A wise person should avoid impure conduct
as one would avoid a blazing pit of coals.
But if one is incapable of the celibate life,
one should not transgress with another’s spouse. (21)

397“One who has entered a council or an assembly
should not speak falsely to anyone.
One should not make others lie or approve of false speech.
One should entirely avoid speaking untruth. (22)

398“A householder who espouses this Dhamma
should not indulge in intoxicating drink.
He should not make others drink or approve of drinking,
having understood that this ends in madness. (23)

399“Because of intoxication, foolish people do evil deeds,
and they make other heedless folk do such deeds. [70]
One should avoid this basis of demerit,
delightful to fools, causing madness and delusion. (24)

400“One should not kill living beings or take what is not given;
one should not speak falsely or drink intoxicants.
One should abstain from sex, from impure conduct;
one should not eat at night [and] outside the prescribed time. (25)

401“One should not wear garlands or apply perfumes;
one should sleep on a bed or a mat on the ground.
For this, they say, is the eightfold uposatha observance
taught by the Buddha, who has reached the end of suffering. (26)

402“Hence confident in mind, having observed
the uposatha complete with its eight factors
on the fourteenth, fifteenth, and eighth of the fortnight
and during special periods, (27)

403“in the morning the wise person
who has observed the uposatha,
rejoicing with a confident mind,
should distribute food and drink
to the Bhikkhu Sangha in a fitting way. (28)

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404“One should righteously support mother and father;
one should engage in a righteous business.
A heedful layperson, observing this practice,
reaches the devas called self-luminous.” (29) [71]

Dhammikasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Atha kho dhammiko upāsako pañcahi upāsakasatehi saddhiṁ yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho dhammiko upāsako bhagavantaṁ gāthāhi ajjhabhāsi:

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376"Pucchāmi taṁ gotama bhūripañña,
Kathaṅkaro sāvako sādhu hoti;
Yo vā agārā anagārameti,
Agārino vā panupāsakāse.

377 Tuvañhi lokassa sadevakassa,
Gatiṁ pajānāsi parāyaṇañca;
Na catthi tulyo nipuṇatthadassī,
Tuvañhi buddhaṁ pavaraṁ vadanti.

378 Sabbaṁ tuvaṁ ñāṇamavecca dhammaṁ,
Pakāsesi satte anukampamāno;
Vivaṭṭacchadosi samantacakkhu,
Virocasi vimalo sabbaloke.

379 Āgañchi te santike nāgarājā,
Erāvaṇo nāma jinoti sutvā;
Sopi tayā mantayitvājjhagamā,
Sādhūti sutvāna patītarūpo.

380 Rājāpi taṁ vessavaṇo kuvero,
Upeti dhammaṁ paripucchamāno;
Tassāpi tvaṁ pucchito brūsi dhīra,
So cāpi sutvāna patītarūpo.

381 Ye kecime titthiyā vādasīlā,
Ājīvakā vā yadi vā nigaṇṭhā;
Paññāya taṁ nātitaranti sabbe,
Ṭhito vajantaṁ viya sīghagāmiṁ.

382 Ye kecime brāhmaṇā vādasīlā,
Vuddhā cāpi brāhmaṇā santi keci;
Sabbe tayi atthabaddhā bhavanti,
Ye cāpi aññe vādino maññamānā.

383 Ayañhi dhammo nipuṇo sukho ca,
Yoyaṁ tayā bhagavā suppavutto;
Tameva sabbepi sussūsamānā,
Taṁ no vada pucchito buddhaseṭṭha.

384 Sabbepime bhikkhavo sannisinnā,
Upāsakā cāpi tatheva sotuṁ;
Suṇantu dhammaṁ vimalenānubuddhaṁ,
Subhāsitaṁ vāsavasseva devā".

385 "Suṇātha me bhikkhavo sāvayāmi vo,
Dhammaṁ dhutaṁ tañca carātha sabbe;
Iriyāpathaṁ pabbajitānulomikaṁ,
Sevetha naṁ atthadaso mutīmā.

386 No ve vikāle vicareyya bhikkhu,
Gāme ca piṇḍāya careyya kāle;
Akālacāriñhi sajanti saṅgā,
Tasmā vikāle na caranti buddhā.

387 Rūpā ca saddā ca rasā ca gandhā,
Phassā ca ye sammadayanti satte;
Etesu dhammesu vineyya chandaṁ,
Kālena so pavise pātarāsaṁ.

388 Piṇḍañca bhikkhu samayena laddhā,
Eko paṭikkamma raho nisīde;
Ajjhattacintī na mano bahiddhā,
Nicchāraye saṅgahitattabhāvo.

389 Sacepi so sallape sāvakena,
Aññena vā kenaci bhikkhunā vā;
Dhammaṁ paṇītaṁ tamudāhareyya,
Na pesuṇaṁ nopi parūpavādaṁ.

390 Vādañhi eke paṭiseniyanti,
Na te pasaṁsāma parittapaññe;
Tato tato ne pasajanti saṅgā,
Cittañhi te tattha gamenti dūre.

391 Piṇḍaṁ vihāraṁ sayanāsanañca,
Āpañca saṅghāṭirajūpavāhanaṁ;
Sutvāna dhammaṁ sugatena desitaṁ,
Saṅkhāya seve varapaññasāvako.

392 Tasmā hi piṇḍe sayanāsane ca,
Āpe ca saṅghāṭirajūpavāhane;
Etesu dhammesu anūpalitto,
Bhikkhu yathā pokkhare vāribindu.

393 Gahaṭṭhavattaṁ pana vo vadāmi,
Yathākaro sāvako sādhu hoti;
Na hesa labbhā sapariggahena,
Phassetuṁ yo kevalo bhikkhudhammo.

394 Pāṇaṁ na hane na ca ghātayeyya,
Na cānujaññā hanataṁ paresaṁ;
Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,
Ye thāvarā ye ca tasā santi loke.

395 Tato adinnaṁ parivajjayeyya,
Kiñci kvaci sāvako bujjhamāno;
Na hāraye harataṁ nānujaññā,
Sabbaṁ adinnaṁ parivajjayeyya.

396 Abrahmacariyaṁ parivajjayeyya,
Aṅgārakāsuṁ jalitaṁva viññū;
Asambhuṇanto pana brahmacariyaṁ,
Parassa dāraṁ na atikkameyya.

397 Sabhaggato vā parisaggato vā,
Ekassa veko na musā bhaṇeyya;
Na bhāṇaye bhaṇataṁ nānujaññā,
Sabbaṁ abhūtaṁ parivajjayeyya.

398 Majjañca pānaṁ na samācareyya,
Dhammaṁ imaṁ rocaye yo gahaṭṭho;
Na pāyaye pivataṁ nānujaññā,
Ummādanantaṁ iti naṁ viditvā.

399 Madā hi pāpāni karonti bālā,
Kārenti caññepi jane pamatte;
Etaṁ apuññāyatanaṁ vivajjaye,
Ummādanaṁ mohanaṁ bālakantaṁ.

400 Pāṇaṁ na hane na cādinnamādiye,
Musā na bhāse na ca majjapo siyā;
Abrahmacariyā virameyya methunā,
Rattiṁ na bhuñjeyya vikālabhojanaṁ.

401 Mālaṁ na dhāre na ca gandhamācare,
Mañce chamāyaṁ va sayetha santhate;
Etañhi aṭṭhaṅgikamāhuposathaṁ,
Buddhena dukkhantagunā pakāsitaṁ.

402 Tato ca pakkhassupavassuposathaṁ,
Cātuddasiṁ pañcadasiñca aṭṭhamiṁ;
Pāṭihāriyapakkhañca pasannamānaso,
Aṭṭhaṅgupetaṁ susamattarūpaṁ.

403 Tato ca pāto upavutthuposatho,
Annena pānena ca bhikkhusaṅghaṁ;
Pasannacitto anumodamāno,
Yathārahaṁ saṁvibhajetha viññū.

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404 Dhammena mātāpitaro bhareyya,
Payojaye dhammikaṁ so vaṇijjaṁ;
Etaṁ gihī vattayamappamatto,
Sayampabhe nāma upeti deve"ti.

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Dhammikasuttaṁ cuddasamaṁ.

Cūḷavaggo dutiyo.

Ratanāmagandho hiri ca,
maṅgalaṁ sūcilomena;
Dhammacariyañca brāhmaṇo,
nāvā kiṁsīlamuṭṭhānaṁ.

Rāhulo puna kappo ca,
paribbājaniyaṁ tathā;
Dhammikañca viduno āhu,
cūḷavagganti cuddasāti.