The Udana - Inspired Utterances of The Buddha
54. Udāna 6.4: The First Discourse about the Various Sectarians
- Translated from the Pali by Ānandajoti Bhikkhu (More copyright information)
1Thus I heard: At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Wood, at Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Then at that time many and various sectarians, ascetics, brāhmaṇas, and wanderers were living at Sāvatthī, having various views, various likings, various tendencies, subject to dependence on various views, such as:
2There were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The world is eternal — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
3But there were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The world is not eternal — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
4There were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The world is finite — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
5But there were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The world is infinite — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
6There were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "That which is soul, that is also the body — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
7But there were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The soul is one thing, the body is another thing, — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
8There were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The individual exists after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
9But there were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The individual does not exist after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
10There were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The individual exists and does not exist after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
11But there were some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who were of this argument, this view: "The individual neither exists nor does not exist after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish."
12They lived contending, quarelling, disputing, attacking each other with sharp tongues, saying: "Such is Dhamma, such is not Dhamma; such is not Dhamma, such is Dhamma."
13Then many monks, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up their bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. After walking for alms in Sāvatthī, while returning from the alms-round after the meal, they went to the Gracious One, and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side. While sat on one side those monks said this to the Gracious One:
14"Here, reverend Sir, many and various sectarians, ascetics, brāhmaṇas, and wanderers are living at Sāvatthī, having various views, various likings, various tendencies, subject to dependence on various views, such as:
15There are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The world is eternal — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
But there are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The world is not eternal — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
There are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The world is finite — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
But there are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The world is infinite — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
There are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘That which is soul, that is also the body — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
But there are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The soul is one thing, the body is another thing, — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
There are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The individual exists after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
But there are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The individual does not exist after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
There are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The individual exists and does not exist after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
But there are some ascetics and brāhmaṇas who are of this argument, this view: ‘The individual neither exists nor does not exist after death — this alone is the truth, all else is foolish.’
They live contending, quarelling, disputing, attacking each other with sharp tongues, saying: ‘Such is Dhamma, such is not Dhamma; such is not Dhamma, such is Dhamma.’ "
16"Wanderers from other sects, monks, are blind, without vision, they do not know what is good, they do not know what is not good, they do not know what is Dhamma, they do not know what is not Dhamma. They, not knowing what is good, not knowing what is not good, not knowing what is Dhamma, not knowing what is not Dhamma, live contending, quarelling, disputing, attacking each other with sharp tongues, saying: ‘Such is Dhamma, such is not Dhamma; such is not Dhamma, such is Dhamma.’
17"Formerly, monks, in this Sāvatthī there was a certain King. Then that King, monks, addressed a certain man, saying: ‘Please go, dear Sir, and as many of those congenitally blind as there are in Sāvatthī assemble them in one place.’
"‘Yes, your Majesty’, said that man, monks, and after replying to the King, and after taking hold of all of those congenitally blind in Sāvatthī, he went to the King, and after going he said this to the King: ‘As many of those congenitally blind as there are in Sāvatthī, your Majesty, have assembled.’
"‘Then show an elephant, I say, to those congenitally blind.’
"‘Yes, your Majesty’, said that man, monks, and after replying to the King, he showed an elephant to those congenitally blind, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
18"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's head, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's ear, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's tusk, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's trunk, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's body, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's leg, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the elephant's thigh, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the top of the elephant's tail, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
"To some of those congenitally blind he showed the tip of the elephant's tail, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, blind men!’
19"Then, monks, that man, having shown the elephant to those congenitally blind, went to the King, and after going he said this to the King: ‘Those congenitally blind have seen the elephant, your Majesty, now is the time for whatever you are thinking, your Majesty.’
20"Then that King, monks, went to the congenitally blind, and after going he said this to those congenitally blind: ‘Did you see the elephant, blind men?’
"‘Yes, your Majesty, we did see the elephant.’
"‘Speak, blind men, and say: "Such is an elephant." ’
21"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's head, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a pot.’
22"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's ear, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a winnowing fan. ’
23"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's tusk, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a ploughshare."
24"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's trunk, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a plough-pole."
25"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's body, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a store-house’
26"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's leg, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a pillar.’
27"Those congenitally blind who had seen the elephant's thighs, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a mortar.’
28"Those congenitally blind who had seen the top of the elephant's tail, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a pestle.’
29"Those congenitally blind who had seen the tip of the elephant's tail, monks, said this: ‘Such is an elephant, your Majesty, he is like a broom.’
30"And they, saying: ‘Such is an elephant, such is not an elephant; such is not an elephant, such is an elephant,’ hit each other with their fists, and with that, monks, the King was pleased.
31"Just so, monks, wanderers from other sects are blind, without vision, they do not know what is good, they do not know what is not good, they do not know what is Dhamma, they do not know what is not Dhamma. They, not knowing what is good, not knowing what is not good, not knowing what is Dhamma, not knowing what is not Dhamma, live contending, quarelling, disputing, attacking each other with sharp tongues, saying: ‘Such is Dhamma, such is not Dhamma; such is not Dhamma, such is Dhamma.’ "
32Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
33"Some ascetics and brāhmaṇas, it seems, are attached to these views,
Having grasped ahold of it, they dispute, like people who see only one side."
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā nānātitthiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇaparibbājakā sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasanti nānādiṭṭhikā nānākhantikā nānārucikā nānādiṭṭhinissayanissitā.
2Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
3Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "asassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
4Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "antavā loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
5Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "anantavā loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
6Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "taṁ jīvaṁ taṁ sarīraṁ, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
7Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "aññaṁ jīvaṁ aññaṁ sarīraṁ, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
8Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
9Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
10Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "hoti ca na ca hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
11Santi paneke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: "neva hoti na na hoti tathāgato paraṁ maraṇā, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan"ti.
12Te bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: "ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo"ti.
13Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁsu. Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
14"Idha, bhante, sambahulā nānātitthiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇaparibbājakā sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasanti nānādiṭṭhikā nānākhantikā nānārucikā nānādiṭṭhinissayanissitā –
15Santeke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘sassato loko, idameva saccaṁ moghamaññan’ti … pe … te bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: ‘ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo’"ti.
16"Aññatitthiyā, bhikkhave, paribbājakā andhā acakkhukā; atthaṁ na jānanti, anatthaṁ na jānanti, dhammaṁ na jānanti, adhammaṁ na jānanti. Te atthaṁ ajānantā anatthaṁ ajānantā dhammaṁ ajānantā adhammaṁ ajānantā bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: ‘ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo’ti.
17Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, imissāyeva sāvatthiyā aññataro rājā ahosi. Atha kho, bhikkhave, so rājā aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: ‘ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yāvatakā sāvatthiyā jaccandhā te sabbe ekajjhaṁ sannipātehī’ti.
‘Evaṁ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, so puriso tassa rañño paṭissutvā yāvatakā sāvatthiyā jaccandhā te sabbe gahetvā yena so rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: ‘sannipātitā kho te, deva, yāvatakā sāvatthiyā jaccandhā’ti.
‘Tena hi, bhaṇe, jaccandhānaṁ hatthiṁ dassehī’ti.
‘Evaṁ, devā’ti kho, bhikkhave, so puriso tassa rañño paṭissutvā jaccandhānaṁ hatthiṁ dassesi –
18Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa sīsaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa kaṇṇaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa dantaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa soṇḍaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa kāyaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa pādaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa satthiṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa naṅguṭṭhaṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
Ekaccānaṁ jaccandhānaṁ hatthissa vāladhiṁ dassesi: ‘ediso, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti.
19Atha kho, bhikkhave, so puriso jaccandhānaṁ hatthiṁ dassetvā yena so rājā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ rājānaṁ etadavoca: ‘diṭṭho kho tehi, deva, jaccandhehi hatthī; yassadāni kālaṁ maññasī’ti.
20Atha kho, bhikkhave, so rājā yena te jaccandhā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te jaccandhe etadavoca: ‘diṭṭho vo, jaccandhā, hatthī’ti?
‘Evaṁ, deva, diṭṭho no hatthī’ti.
‘Vadetha, jaccandhā, kīdiso hatthī’ti?
21Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa sīsaṁ diṭṭhaṁ ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi kumbho’ti.
22Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa kaṇṇo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi suppo’ti.
23Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa danto diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi khīlo’ti.
24Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa soṇḍo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi naṅgalīsā’ti.
25Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa kāyo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi koṭṭho’ti.
26Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa pādo diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi thūṇo’ti.
27Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa satthi diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi udukkhalo’ti.
28Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa naṅguṭṭhaṁ diṭṭhaṁ ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi musalo’ti.
29Yehi, bhikkhave, jaccandhehi hatthissa vāladhi diṭṭho ahosi, te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ediso, deva, hatthī seyyathāpi sammajjanī’ti.
30Te ‘ediso hatthī, nediso hatthī; nediso hatthī, ediso hatthī’ti aññamaññaṁ muṭṭhīhi saṁsumbhiṁsu. Tena ca pana, bhikkhave, so rājā attamano ahosi.
31Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aññatitthiyā paribbājakā andhā acakkhukā. Te atthaṁ na jānanti anatthaṁ na jānanti, dhammaṁ na jānanti adhammaṁ na jānanti. Te atthaṁ ajānantā anatthaṁ ajānantā, dhammaṁ ajānantā adhammaṁ ajānantā bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṁ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharanti: ‘ediso dhammo, nediso dhammo; nediso dhammo, ediso dhammo’"ti.
32Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Catutthaṁ.