5:12 The Questions of Bhadrāvudha

(Said the Venerable Bhadrāvudha)

1101“I entreat the home-leaver,
the cutter off of craving, one without impulse,
who has abandoned delight, crossed the flood, won liberation,
abandoned mental constructs — one extremely wise:
having heard this from the nāga,
they will depart from here.The text has apanamissanti ito, without specifying the subject of the plural verb. The subject must be the various peoples (nānājanā) mentioned in the next verse. (1)

1102“Various peoples from [various] countries
have gathered desiring your word, O hero.
Explain matters well to them,
for this Dhamma has been understood by you.” (2)

(“Bhadrāvudha,” said the Blessed One)

1103“One should remove all acquisitive craving,
above, below, and across in the middle. [214]
Whatever they cling to in the world,
by this itself Māra pursues a person. (3)

1104“Therefore understanding this, a mindful bhikkhu
should not cling to anything in the entire world.
Observing, ‘They are stuck on taking up,’ [he knows]
this population is attached to the realm of death.” (4)

Bhadrāvudhamāṇavapucchā

(iccāyasmā bhadrāvudho):

1101"Okañjahaṁ taṇhacchidaṁ anejaṁ,
Nandiñjahaṁ oghatiṇṇaṁ vimuttaṁ;
Kappañjahaṁ abhiyāce sumedhaṁ,
Sutvāna nāgassa apanamissanti ito.

1102 Nānājanā janapadehi saṅgatā,
Tava vīra vākyaṁ abhikaṅkhamānā;
Tesaṁ tuvaṁ sādhu viyākarohi,
Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo".

(bhadrāvudhāti bhagavā):

1103 "Ādānataṇhaṁ vinayetha sabbaṁ,
Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;
Yaṁ yañhi lokasmimupādiyanti,
Teneva māro anveti jantuṁ.

1104 Tasmā pajānaṁ na upādiyetha,
Bhikkhu sato kiñcanaṁ sabbaloke;
Ādānasatte iti pekkhamāno,
Pajaṁ imaṁ maccudheyye visattan"ti.

Bhadrāvudhamāṇavapucchā dvādasamā.