ལྷའ་མད 4

4

Merit²⁵ cannot be plundered
From any man or woman.”

The divine being asked:

“What fetters this world,²⁶
And what releases this world?
What, when abandoned,
Leads to the attainment of that called nirvāṇa?”

The Blessed One replied:

“Desire fetters this world,
And the absence of desire releases it.
If craving is completely abandoned,
That which is called nirvāṇa is attained.”

The divine being asked:

“What is not destroyed even by a strong wind,
Nor burned by fire?
Even if the entire ground is inundated,
What is not spoiled by water?”

The Blessed One replied:

“Merit is not destroyed, even by strong wind,
Nor burned by fire.
Even if the entire ground is inundated,
Merit is not spoiled by water.”

The divine being asked:

“Who, greatly deceived,
Goes from this world to the next?
You indeed are the one
To dispel this doubt of mine.”

The Blessed One replied:

“Whoever possesses wealth,
But does not accumulate merit,
They, being greatly deceived,
Go from this world to the next.”

The divine being said:²⁷

“Aha! I have finally seen
A powerful brahmin who has transcended the world,
Who is free from all fears,²⁸
Who has passed completely beyond sorrow.”

After the Blessed One had spoken thus, the divine being rejoiced. It paid homage by bowing its head at the feet of the Blessed One, rejoiced, and disappeared.