Verses on Dhamma 11.8: 8. Udānavatthu

11.8.p1

Anekajātisaṃsāranti imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ satthā bodhirukkhamūle nisinno udānavasena udānetvā aparabhāge ānandattherena puṭṭho kathesi.

Through a round of countless existences. This religious instruction was breathed forth by the Teacher while he sat at the foot of the Bo-tree, by way of Solemn Utterance; and at a later time was recited to the Elder Ānanda in answer to a question.

11.8.p2

So hi bodhirukkhamūle nisinno sūriye anatthaṅgateyeva mārabalaṃ viddhaṃsetvā paṭhamayāme pubbenivāsapaṭicchādakaṃ tamaṃ padāletvā majjhimayāme dibbacakkhuṃ visodhetvā pacchimayāme sattesu kāruññataṃ paṭicca paccayākāre ñāṇaṃ otāretvā taṃ anulomapaṭilomavasena sammasanto aruṇuggamanavelāya sammāsambodhiṃ abhisambujjhitvā anekehi buddhasatasahassehi avijahitaṃ udānaṃ udānento imā gāthā abhāsi –

For the Teacher, sitting at the foot of the Bo-tree, before the set of sun, overcame the force of Māra; in the first watch, drove away the darkness that veils previous states of existence; in the middle watch, acquired Supernatural Vision; and in the last watch, out of pity for living beings, by focussing his thoughts on Dependent Originations and meditating on it both forwards and backwards, at sunrise he obtained Complete Enlightenment. Thereupon he breathed forth a Solemn Utterance common to countless thousands of Buddhas, pronouncing the following Stanzas,

11.8.153

‘‘Anekajātisaṃsāraṃ, sandhāvissaṃ anibbisaṃ;
Gahakāraṃ gavesanto, dukkhā jāti punappunaṃ.

153. Through a round of countless existences have I run to no purpose,
Seeking the Builder of the House. Repeated birth is suffering.

11.8.154

‘‘Gahakāraka diṭṭhosi, puna gehaṃ na kāhasi;
Sabbā te phāsukā bhaggā, gahakūṭaṃ visaṅkhataṃ;
Visaṅkhāragataṃ cittaṃ, taṇhānaṃ khayamajjhagā’’ti.

154. I see you, Builder of the House. You shall not build the house again.
All your rafters are broken, and your ridge-pole is shattered.
The mind, at rest in Nibbāna, has attained extinction of cravings.

11.8.154_2

Tattha gahakāraṃ gavesantoti ahaṃ imassa attabhāvasaṅkhātassa gehassa kārakaṃ taṇhāvaḍḍhakiṃ gavesanto yena ñāṇena sakkā taṃ daṭṭhuṃ, tassa bodhiñāṇassatthāya dīpaṅkarapādamūle katābhinīhāro ettakaṃ kālaṃ anekajātisaṃsāraṃ anekajātisatasahassasaṅkhātaṃ imaṃ saṃsāravaṭṭaṃ anibbisaṃ taṃ ñāṇaṃ avindanto alabhantoyeva sandhāvissaṃ saṃsariṃ, aparāparaṃ anuvicarinti attho. Dukkhā jāti punappunanti idaṃ gahakārakagavesanassa kāraṇavacanaṃ. Yasmā jarābyādhimaraṇamissitāya jāti nāmesā punappunaṃ upagantuṃ dukkhā, na ca sā tasmiṃ adiṭṭhe nivattati. Tasmā taṃ gavesanto sandhāvissanti attho. Diṭṭhosīti sabbaññutaññāṇaṃ paṭivijjhantena mayā idāni diṭṭhosi. Puna gehanti puna imasmiṃ saṃsāravaṭṭe attabhāvasaṅkhātaṃ mama gehaṃ na kāhasi. Sabbā te phāsukā bhaggāti tava sabbā avasesā kilesaphāsukā mayā bhaggā. Gahakūṭaṃ visaṅkhatanti imassa tayā katassa attabhāvagehassa avijjāsaṅkhātaṃ kaṇṇikamaṇḍalampi mayā viddhaṃsitaṃ. Visaṅkhāragataṃ cittanti idāni mama cittaṃ visaṅkhāraṃ nibbānaṃ ārammaṇakaraṇavasena gataṃ anupaviṭṭhaṃ. Taṇhānaṃ khayamajjhagāti taṇhānaṃ khayasaṅkhātaṃ arahattaṃ adhigatosmīti.

11.8.154_3

Udānavatthu aṭṭhamaṃ.