Verses on Dhamma 6.10: 10. Dhammassavanavatthu

6.10.p1

Appakā te manussesūti imaṃ dhammadesanaṃ satthā jetavane viharanto dhammassavanaṃ ārabbha kathesi.

Of all men there are few. This religious instruction was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to the subject of hearing the Law.

6.10.p2

Sāvatthiyaṃ kira ekavīthivāsino manussā samaggā hutvā gaṇabandhena dānaṃ datvā sabbarattiṃ dhammassavanaṃ kāresuṃ, sabbarattiṃ pana dhammaṃ sotuṃ nāsakkhiṃsu. Ekacce kāmaratinissitā hutvā, puna gehameva gatā, ekacce dosanissitā hutvā, ekacce mānanissitā hutvā, ekacce thinamiddhasamaṅgino hutvā tattheva nisīditvā pacalāyantā sotuṃ nāsakkhiṃsu. Punadivase bhikkhū taṃ pavattiṃ ñatvā dhammasabhāyaṃ kathaṃ samuṭṭhāpesuṃ. Satthā āgantvā ‘‘kāya nuttha, bhikkhave, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā’’ti pucchitvā ‘‘imāya nāmā’’ti vutte, ‘‘bhikkhave, imā sattā nāma yebhuyyena bhavanissitā, bhavesu eva laggā viharanti, pāragāmino nāma appakā’’ti anusandhiṃ ghaṭetvā dhammaṃ desento imā gāthā āha –

We are told that the residents of a certain street in Sāvatthi banded themselves together, gave alms in common, and determined to spend the entire night in hearing the Law. But they were unable to listen to the Law all night long. Some were overcome with

sexual passion and returned home again; others were overcome with hatred; others, falling prey to sloth and torpor, sat down in their places, nodded, and failed to hear the Law.

On the following day the monks heard of the incident and discussed it in the Hall of Truth. The Teacher came in and asked them, “Monks, what are you sitting here now talking about?” They told him. “Monks, creatures here in this world are for the most part attached to existence, and live clinging to the three modes of existence. Those that go to the other shore are few in number.” And joining the connection and instructing them in the Law, he pronounced the following Stanzas,

6.10.85

‘‘Appakā te manussesu, ye janā pāragāmino;
Athāyaṃ itarā pajā, tīramevānudhāvati.

85. Of all men there are few that go to the other shore;
The rest of mankind merely run up and down the bank.

6.10.86

‘‘Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte, dhamme dhammānuvattino;
Te janā pāramessanti, maccudheyyaṃ suduttara’’nti.

86. But those who conform to the Law, when the Law is rightly preached,
Those men will cross to the farther shore of the Kingdom of Death, hard to cross
though it be.

6.10.86_2

Tattha appakāti thokā na bahū. Pāragāminoti nibbānapāragāmino. Athāyaṃ itarā pajāti yā panāyaṃ avasesā pajā sakkāyadiṭṭhitīrameva anudhāvati, ayameva bahutarāti attho. Sammadakkhāteti sammā akkhāte sukathite. Dhammeti desanādhamme. Dhammānuvattinoti taṃ dhammaṃ sutvā tadanucchavikaṃ paṭipadaṃ pūretvā maggaphalasacchikaraṇena dhammānuvattino. Pāramessantīti te evarūpā janā nibbānapāraṃ gamissanti. Maccudheyyanti kilesamārasaṅkhātassa maccussa nivāsaṭṭhānabhūtaṃ tebhūmikavaṭṭaṃ. Suduttaranti ye janā dhammānuvattino, te etaṃ suduttaraṃ duratikkamaṃ māradheyyaṃ taritvā atikkamitvā nibbānapāraṃ gamissantīti attho.

6.10.86_3

Desanāvasāne bahū sotāpattiphalādīni pāpuṇiṃsūti.

6.10.86_4

Dhammassavanavatthu dasamaṃ.