Dhammapada Verses 87, 88 and 89
Pancasata Agantukabhikkhu Vatthu
Kanham dhammam vippahaya
sukkam bhavetha pandito
oka anokamagamma1
viveke2 yattha duramam.
Tatrabhiratimiccheyya
hitva kame akincano3
pariyodapeyya attanam
cittaklesehi4 pandito.
Yesam sambodhiyangesu5
samma cittam subhavitam
adanapatinissagge
anupadaya ye rata
khinasava6 jutimanto7
te loke parinibbuta.8
Verses 87 & 88: The man of wisdom, leaving the home of craving and having
Nibbana as his goal, should give up dark, evil ways and cultivate pure, good
ones. He should seek great delight in solitude, detachment and Nibbana, which an
ordinary man finds so difficult to enjoy. He should also give up sensual
pleasures, and clinging to nothing, should cleanse himself of all impurities of
the mind.
Verse 89: Those, with mind well-developed in the seven Factors of
Enlightenment (bojjhanga), having rid themselves of all craving, rejoice in
their abandonment of attachment. Such men, with all moral intoxicants
eradicated, and powerful (with the light of Arahatta Magganana), have realized
Nibbana in this world (i.e., with Khandha aggregates remaining).
1. oka anakamagamma; lit., having gone from home to the homeless. In
this context interpreted as leaving the seat of craving and having Nibbana as a
goal.
2. viveke: solitude, detachment, Nibbana.
3. akincano: lit., having nothing; clinging to nothing. (The term kincana
may include any of the kilesas or defilements such as passion, ill will,
ignorance, etc; it also means clinging or attachment to the world.)
4. cittaklesehi: citta kilesa: impurities of the mind.
5. sambodhiyangesu: sambojjhanga: the Factors of Enlightenment or
requisites for attaining Magga Insight.
6. khinasava: one in whom human passions are extinguished; an arahat.
7. jutimanta: one endowed with the power of Arahatta Magganana.
8. te loke parinibbuta: the realization of Nibbana in the realm of the
five aggregates (khandhas), or in other words, in this world. But according to
the Commentary, in this context, both Sa-upadisesa and Anupadisesa
Nibbana are meant. Sa-upadisesa or Kilesa Nibbana is Nibbana
with groups of existence or khandhas remaining; it is realized by an arahat on
the attainment of arahatship. Anupadisesa or Khandha Nibbana is
Nibbana without groups of existence or khandhas remaining. It takes place on the
death of an arahat.
The Story of Five Hundred Visiting Bhikkhus
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (87),
(88) and (89) of this book, with reference to five hundred visiting bhikkhus.
Five hundred bhikkhus who had spent the vassa in Kosala came to pay homage to
the Buddha at the Jetavana monastery, at the end of the vassa.
The Buddha uttered the following three verses to suit their
various temperaments:
Verses 87 & 88: The man of wisdom, leaving the
home of craving and having Nibbana as his goal, should give up dark,
evil ways and cultivate pure, good ones. He should seek great delight
in solitude, detachment and Nibbana, which an ordinary man finds so
difficult to enjoy. He should also give up sensual pleasures, and
clinging to nothing, should cleanse himself of all impurities of the
mind.
|
|
Verse 89: Those, with mind well-developed in the
seven Factors of Enlightenment (bojjhanga), having rid themselves of
all craving, rejoice in their abandonment of attachment. Such men,
with all moral intoxicants eradicated, and powerful (with the light of
Arahatta Magganana), have realized Nibbana in this world (i.e., with
Khandha aggregates remaining).
|
End of Chapter Six: The Wise (Panditavagga)