5:0 Introductory Verses

976Desiring the state of nothingness,
a brahmin master of the hymns
went from the delightful city of the Kosalans
to a region in the south. (1)

977In the domain of Assaka,
in the neighborhood of Aḷaka,
he lived on the bank of the Godhāvarī River
by means of gleaning and fruit. (2)

978Situated nearby
there was a large village.
With the revenue that arose from it,
he held a grand sacrifice. (3)

979Having completed the grand sacrifice,
he again entered the hermitage.
When he had re-entered,
another brahmin arrived. (4)

980He had calloused feet, he was thirsty;
he had dirty teeth and a dusty head.
Having approached [his host],
[the visitor] asked for five hundred [coins]. (5)

981Having beheld him,
BāvariI follow Ce, which has the name as Bāvari, followed too by Norman. Be and Ee have the name as Bāvarī. invited him to a seat.
He asked about his happiness and health,
and spoke this statement: (6)

982“Whatever wealth I had to give away,
I have disposed of it all.
Believe me, brahmin:
I do not have five hundred [coins].” (7) [191]

983“When I am making this request,
if you do not present it to me,
on the seventh day from now
may your head split into seven parts.” (8)

984Having put on a performance,
that charlatan uttered a fearsome curse.
Having heard his statement,
Bāvari was despondent. (9)

985Not eating, he became emaciated,
stricken by the dart of sorrow.
Then, in such a state of mind,
he did not delight in meditation. (10)

986Having seen him terrified and despondent,
a deity who desired his good
approached Bāvari
and uttered this statement: (11)

987“That charlatan who desires wealth
does not understand the head.
He has no knowledge at all
about the head or head-splitting.” (12)

988“If you know, worthy one,
please inform me when you are asked
about the head and head-splitting:
let us hear that word of yours.” (13)

989“I too do not know this matter;
I have no knowledge at all of this.
For the head and head-splitting:
this is what the conquerors have seen.” (14)

990“Then, on this circle of the earth,
who knows about the head
and head-splitting?
Tell me this, O deity!” (15) [192]

991“Earlier already the world-leader,
a descendent of King Okkāka,
a Sakyan son, the maker of light, (16)
went forth from Kapilavatthu.

992“He, brahmin, is the Enlightened One
who has gone beyond all phenomena,
who has attained all superknowledge and power,
the one with vision into all phenomena.
Having attained the destruction of all kamma,Reading with Be and Ce sabbakammakkhayaṃ. Ee sabbadhammakkhayaṃ should be corrected accordingly.
he is liberated in the extinction of acquisitions. (17)

993“The Buddha, the Blessed One in the world,
the One with Vision, teaches the Dhamma.
Go to him and ask him your question:
he will explain that matter to you.” (18)

994Having heard the word
“Enlightened One,” Bāvari was elated.
His sorrow diminished,
and he gained abundant rapture. (19)

995Delighted, elated, exhilarated,
Bāvari asked that deity:
“In what village or town, or in what country,
does the World Protector dwell,
where we might go and pay homageReading with Ce and Ee namassemu as againt Be passemu, “might see.”
to the Enlightened One, the best of bipeds?” (20)

996“The conqueror is in Sāvatthī, in the realm of Kosala;
[there dwells] the one of abundant wisdom, of excellent vast intelligence.
That Sakyan son, unrivaled, free of influxes, bull of men,
is one who understands head-splitting.” (21)

997He then addressed his pupils,
brahmins who had mastered the hymns:

“Come, brahmin students, I will speak.
Listen to this word of mine. [193]
Now there has arisen in the world
one famed as ‘the Enlightened One,’ (22)

998 “One whose manifestation in the world
is rarely encountered.
Go quickly to Sāvatthī
and see the best of bipeds.” (23)

999“When we see him, brahmin,
how might we know that he is the Buddha?
Since we do not know, tell us
how we might recognize him.” (24)

1000. “The characteristics of a great man
have come down in the hymns.
Thirty-two such marks are explained
complete in their sequence. (25)

1001. “For one whose body has these
characteristics of a great man,
there are only two destinations;
for a third does not exist. (26)

1002. “If he dwells at home,
having conquered this earth
without violence, without a weapon,
he rules over it righteously. (27)

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1003. “But if he should go forth
from home to homelessness,
he becomes a buddha with coverings removed,
an unsurpassed arahant. (28)

1004. “Ask him solely with your mind
about [my] birth, clan, characteristics,
hymns, and pupils, and ask further
about the head and head-splitting. (29)

1005. “If he is a buddha,
one of unobstructed vision,
he will reply verbally
to the questions asked by the mind.” (30)

1006. Having heard the word of Bāvari,
his sixteen brahmin pupils —
Ajita, Tissa Metteyya,
Puṇṇaka, and Mettagū, (31) [194]

1007. Dhotaka and Upasīva,
Nanda and Hemaka,
the pair Todeyya and Kappa,
and the wise Jatukaṇṇī, (32)

1008. Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,
and the brahmin Posāla,
the intelligent Mogharāja,
and the great rishi Piṅgiya — (33)

1009. all leaders of their own groups,
famed throughout the whole world,
meditators who delighted in the jhānas,
who had formed past habitual formations, (34)

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1010. paid homage to Bāvari,
and having circumambulated him,
all with matted locks, wearing hides,
they set out toward the north — (35)

1011. to Patiṭṭhāna of Aḷaka,
then to the former Māhissatī,
to Ujjenī and Gonaddhā,
Vedisā, and Vanasa, (36)

1012. to Kosambī and Sāketa,
the supreme city Sāvatthī,
Setavya and Kapilavatthu,
and the city Kusinārā, (37)

1013. on to Pāvā and Bhoga city,
to Vesālī, to the Māgadhan city [Rājagaha],
and to the Pāsāṇaka Cetiya,
delightful and charming. (38) [195]

1014. As a thirsty person [seeks] cool water,
as a merchant [seeks] great profit,
or one oppressed by heat [seeks] shade,
they hastily climbed the mountain. (39)

1015. On that occasion the Blessed One
in front of the Sangha of bhikkhus
was teaching the Dhamma to the bhikkhus
like a lion that roars in the woods. (40)

1016. Ajita saw the Buddha,
like the glorious sun with a hundred rays,Reading with Ce sataraṃsiva (Be sataraṃsiṃ va). Norman accepts Ee vītaraṃsi va, but sataraṃsi occurs elsewhere: suvaṇṇavaṇṇaṃ sambuddhaṃ, sataraṃsiṃva bhāṇumaṃ at Ap I 130, I 146, and suvaṇṇavaṇṇaṃ sambuddhaṃ, sataraṃsiṃva uggataṃ at I 191.
like the moon on the fifteenth [of the fortnight]
when it has arrived at fullness. (41)

1017. Then, having seen his body
and his features complete,
he stood to one side, thrilled,
and asked the questions mentally: (42)

1018. “Speak with reference to his birth;
tell his clan and characteristics;
tell his perfection in the hymns.
How many pupils does the brahmin teach?” (43)

1019. “His age is a hundred and twenty years,
and by clan he is a Bāvari;
there are three characteristics on his body;
he is a master of the Three Vedas, (44)

1020. “of the characteristics and histories,
along with the lexicon and rules of ritual.
He teaches five hundred pupils;
he has reached perfection in his own teaching.” (45) [196]

1021. “O supreme man, reveal in detail
the characteristics of Bāvari.
O you who have cut off craving,
do not let doubt remain in us!” (46)

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1022. “He can cover his face with his tongue;
he has a tuft of hair between his eyebrows;
his male organ is enclosed in a sheath:
know thus, brahmin student.” (47)

1023. Having heard the questions answered
without having heard anything being asked,
exhilarated, making salutations,
all the people wondered: (48)

1024. “Was it a deva or Brahmā,
or even Indra, the husband of Sujā,
who asked those questions with the mind?
To whom did he reply?” (49)

1025. “Bāvari asks about the head
and the splitting of the head.
Explain this, Blessed One!
Remove our doubt, O rishi!” (50)

1026. “Know ignorance to be ‘the head’;
clear knowledge is ‘head-splitting’
when conjoined with faith, mindfulness,
concentration, desire, and energy.” (51)

1027. Thereupon the brahmin student,
uplifted by great exhilaration,
arranged his cloak over one shoulder
and fell with his head at the Buddha’s feet. (52)

1028. “The brahmin Bāvari, dear sir,
together with his pupils,
exultant in mind, joyful,
worships your feet, One with Vision.” (53) [197]

1029. “May the brahmin Bāvari be happy,
together with his pupils.
May you too be happy!
May you live long, brahmin student! (54)

1030. “Whatever doubt Bāvari has,
and you, or all the others —
you are given permission, so ask
whatever you wish in your mind.” (55)

1031. Given permission by the Buddha,
Ajita sat down, and making salutation,
he there asked the Tathāgata
the very first question. (56)

Vatthugāthā

976Kosalānaṁ purā rammā,
agamā dakkhiṇāpathaṁ;
Ākiñcaññaṁ patthayāno,
brāhmaṇo mantapāragū.

977So assakassa visaye,
aḷakassa samāsane;
Vasi godhāvarīkūle,
uñchena ca phalena ca.

978Tasseva upanissāya,
gāmo ca vipulo ahu;
Tato jātena āyena,
mahāyaññamakappayi.

979Mahāyaññaṁ yajitvāna,
puna pāvisi assamaṁ;
Tasmiṁ paṭipaviṭṭhamhi,
añño āgañchi brāhmaṇo.

980Ugghaṭṭapādo tasito,
paṅkadanto rajassiro;
So ca naṁ upasaṅkamma,
satāni pañca yācati.

981Tamenaṁ bāvarī disvā,
āsanena nimantayi;
Sukhañca kusalaṁ pucchi,
idaṁ vacanamabravi.

982"Yaṁ kho mama deyyadhammaṁ,
Sabbaṁ visajjitaṁ mayā;
Anujānāhi me brahme,
Natthi pañcasatāni me".

983"Sace me yācamānassa,
bhavaṁ nānupadassati;
Sattame divase tuyhaṁ,
muddhā phalatu sattadhā".

984Abhisaṅkharitvā kuhako,
bheravaṁ so akittayi;
Tassa taṁ vacanaṁ sutvā,
bāvarī dukkhito ahu.

985Ussussati anāhāro,
Sokasallasamappito;
Athopi evaṁ cittassa,
Jhāne na ramatī mano.

986Utrastaṁ dukkhitaṁ disvā,
Devatā atthakāminī;
Bāvariṁ upasaṅkamma,
Idaṁ vacanamabravi.

987"Na so muddhaṁ pajānāti,
Kuhako so dhanatthiko;
Muddhani muddhapāte vā,
Ñāṇaṁ tassa na vijjati".

988"Bhotī carahi jānāsi,
Taṁ me akkhāhi pucchitā;
Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca,
Taṁ suṇoma vaco tava".

989"Ahampetaṁ na jānāmi,
Ñāṇamettha na vijjati;
Muddhani muddhādhipāte ca,
Jinānaṁ hettha dassanaṁ".

990"Atha ko carahi jānāti,
Asmiṁ pathavimaṇḍale;
Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca,
Taṁ me akkhāhi devate".

991"Purā kapilavatthumhā,
Nikkhanto lokanāyako;
Apacco okkākarājassa,
Sakyaputto pabhaṅkaro.

992So hi brāhmaṇa sambuddho,
Sabbadhammāna pāragū;
Sabbābhiññābalappatto,
Sabbadhammesu cakkhumā;
Sabbakammakkhayaṁ patto,
Vimutto upadhikkhaye.

993Buddho so bhagavā loke,
Dhammaṁ deseti cakkhumā;
Taṁ tvaṁ gantvāna pucchassu,
So te taṁ byākarissati".

994Sambuddhoti vaco sutvā,
Udaggo bāvarī ahu;
Sokassa tanuko āsi,
Pītiñca vipulaṁ labhi.

995So bāvarī attamano udaggo,
Taṁ devataṁ pucchati vedajāto;
"Katamamhi gāme nigamamhi vā pana,
Katamamhi vā janapade lokanātho;
Yattha gantvāna passemu,
Sambuddhaṁ dvipaduttamaṁ".

996"Sāvatthiyaṁ kosalamandire jino,
Pahūtapañño varabhūrimedhaso;
So sakyaputto vidhuro anāsavo,
Muddhādhipātassa vidū narāsabho".

997Tato āmantayī sisse,
Brāhmaṇe mantapārage;

Etha māṇavā akkhissaṁ,
Suṇātha vacanaṁ mama.
Yasseso dullabho loke,
Pātubhāvo abhiṇhaso;

998Svājja lokamhi uppanno,
Sambuddho iti vissuto;
Khippaṁ gantvāna sāvatthiṁ,
Passavho dvipaduttamaṁ".

999"Kathaṁ carahi jānemu,
Disvā buddhoti brāhmaṇa;
Ajānataṁ no pabrūhi,
Yathā jānemu taṁ mayaṁ".

1000"Āgatāni hi mantesu,
Mahāpurisalakkhaṇā;
Dvattiṁsāni ca byākkhātā,
Samattā anupubbaso.

1001Yassete honti gattesu,
Mahāpurisalakkhaṇā;
Dveyeva tassa gatiyo,
Tatiyā hi na vijjati.

1002Sace agāraṁ āvasati,
Vijeyya pathaviṁ imaṁ;
Adaṇḍena asatthena,
Dhammena manusāsati.

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1003Sace ca so pabbajati,
Agārā anagāriyaṁ;
Vivaṭṭacchado sambuddho,
Arahā bhavati anuttaro.

1004Jātiṁ gottañca lakkhaṇaṁ,
Mante sisse punāpare;
Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca,
Manasāyeva pucchatha.

1005Anāvaraṇadassāvī,
Yadi buddho bhavissati;
Manasā pucchite pañhe,
Vācāya vissajessati".

1006Bāvarissa vaco sutvā,
Sissā soḷasa brāhmaṇā;
Ajito tissametteyyo,
Puṇṇako atha mettagū.

1007Dhotako upasīvo ca,
Nando ca atha hemako;
Todeyya-kappā dubhayo,
Jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito.

1008Bhadrāvudho udayo ca,
Posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo;
Mogharājā ca medhāvī,
Piṅgiyo ca mahāisi.

1009Paccekagaṇino sabbe,
Sabbalokassa vissutā;
Jhāyī jhānaratā dhīrā,
Pubbavāsanavāsitā.

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1010Bāvariṁ abhivādetvā,
Katvā ca naṁ padakkhiṇaṁ;
Jaṭājinadharā sabbe,
Pakkāmuṁ uttarāmukhā.

1011Aḷakassa patiṭṭhānaṁ,
Purimāhissatiṁ tadā;
Ujjeniñcāpi gonaddhaṁ,
Vedisaṁ vanasavhayaṁ.

1012Kosambiñcāpi sāketaṁ,
Sāvatthiñca puruttamaṁ;
Setabyaṁ kapilavatthuṁ,
Kusinārañca mandiraṁ.

1013Pāvañca bhoganagaraṁ,
Vesāliṁ māgadhaṁ puraṁ;
Pāsāṇakaṁ cetiyañca,
Ramaṇīyaṁ manoramaṁ.

1014Tasitovudakaṁ sītaṁ,
Mahālābhaṁva vāṇijo;
Chāyaṁ ghammābhitattova,
Turitā pabbatamāruhuṁ.

1015Bhagavā tamhi samaye,
Bhikkhusaṅghapurakkhato;
Bhikkhūnaṁ dhammaṁ deseti,
Sīhova nadatī vane.

1016Ajito addasa buddhaṁ,
Sataraṁsiṁva bhāṇumaṁ;
Candaṁ yathā pannarase,
Pāripūriṁ upāgataṁ.

1017Athassa gatte disvāna,
Paripūrañca byañjanaṁ;
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito haṭṭho,
Manopañhe apucchatha.

1018"Ādissa jammanaṁ brūhi,
Gottaṁ brūhi salakkhaṇaṁ;
Mantesu pāramiṁ brūhi,
Kati vāceti brāhmaṇo".

1019"Vīsaṁ vassasataṁ āyu,
So ca gottena bāvarī;
Tīṇissa lakkhaṇā gatte,
Tiṇṇaṁ vedāna pāragū.

1020Lakkhaṇe itihāse ca,
Sanighaṇḍusakeṭubhe;
Pañcasatāni vāceti,
Sadhamme pāramiṁ gato".

1021"Lakkhaṇānaṁ pavicayaṁ,
Bāvarissa naruttama;
Kaṅkhacchida pakāsehi,
Mā no kaṅkhāyitaṁ ahu".

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1022"Mukhaṁ jivhāya chādeti,
Uṇṇassa bhamukantare;
Kosohitaṁ vatthaguyhaṁ,
Evaṁ jānāhi māṇava".

1023Pucchañhi kiñci asuṇanto,
Sutvā pañhe viyākate;
Vicinteti jano sabbo,
Vedajāto katañjalī.

1024"Ko nu devo vā brahmā vā,
Indo vāpi sujampati;
Manasā pucchite pañhe,
Kametaṁ paṭibhāsati".

1025"Muddhaṁ muddhādhipātañca,
Bāvarī paripucchati;
Taṁ byākarohi bhagavā,
Kaṅkhaṁ vinaya no ise".

1026"Avijjā muddhāti jānāhi,
Vijjā muddhādhipātinī;
Saddhāsatisamādhīhi,
Chandaviriyena saṁyutā".

1027Tato vedena mahatā,
Santhambhitvāna māṇavo;
Ekaṁsaṁ ajinaṁ katvā,
Pādesu sirasā pati.

1028"Bāvarī brāhmaṇo bhoto,
Saha sissehi mārisa;
Udaggacitto sumano,
Pāde vandati cakkhuma".

1029"Sukhito bāvarī hotu,
Saha sissehi brāhmaṇo;
Tvañcāpi sukhito hohi,
Ciraṁ jīvāhi māṇava.

1030Bāvarissa ca tuyhaṁ vā,
Sabbesaṁ sabbasaṁsayaṁ;
Katāvakāsā pucchavho,
Yaṁ kiñci manasicchatha".

1031Sambuddhena katokāso,
Nisīditvāna pañjalī;
Ajito paṭhamaṁ pañhaṁ,
Tattha pucchi tathāgataṁ.

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Vatthugāthā niṭṭhitā.