Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
48. Indriya Saṃyutta
5. Jarā Vagga
Sutta 42
Uṇṇābho Brāhmaṇa Suttaṃ
Uṇṇābha the Brahmain
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time Bhagava, Sāvatthī-town revisiting
Eastern Park,
the mansion of Migara's Mother.
There then Uṇṇābha the Brahmain approached the Lucky Man.
Having approached he drew near.
Having drawn near he exchanged greetings with the Lucky Man.
Having exchanged greetings he took a seat to one side.
Seated to one side then,
Uṇṇābha the Brahmain said this
to the Lucky Man:
"There are these five forces, good Gotama,
diverse in scope,
diverse in pasturage,
not brought to life by one-another's scope or pasturage.
What five?
The eye-force,
the ear-force,
the nose-force,
the tongue-force,
the body-force.
These are the five forces.
Now then good Gotama, of these five forces,
diverse in scope,
diverse in pasturage,
not brought to life by one-another's scope or pasturage,
what is the home,
and seated in what
is the bringing to life
of their scope and pasturage?"
■
"There are these five forces, Brahmin,
diverse in scope,
diverse in pasturage,
not brought to life by one-another's scope or pasturage.
What five?
The eye-force,
the ear-force,
the nose-force,
the tongue-force,
the body-force.
These are the five forces.
Now then Brahmin, of these five forces,
diverse in scope,
diverse in pasturage,
not brought to life by one-another's scope or pasturage,
mind is the home,
and seated in mind
is the bringing to life
of their scope and pasturage."
■
"Then further, good Gotama,
of mind,
what is the home,
and seated in what
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage?"
"Of mind, Brahmin,
memory is the home,
and seated in memory
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage."
■
"Then further, good Gotama,
of memory,
what is the home,
and seated in what
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage?"
"Of memory, Brahmin,
freedom is the home,
and seated in freedom
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage."
■
"Then further, good Gotama,
of freedom,
what is the home,
and seated in what
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage?"
"Of freedom, Brahmin,
Nibbāna is the home,
and seated in Nibbāna
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage."
■
"Then further, good Gotama,
of Nibbāna,
what is the home,
and seated in what
is the bringing to life
of its scope and pasturage?"
"Out of bounds, Brahmin,
is this question.
Not to be had
is the encompassing of this question.
It is for plunging into Nibbāna, Brahmin,
that the godly life is lived
Nibbāna is its destination,
Nibbāna is its culmination."
■
At that then, Brahmin Uṇṇābha
thrilled and rejoicing in the words of the Lucky Man,
rose from his seat and departed
keeping the Lucky Man to his right side.
§
There then,
not long after the departure of the Brahmin Uṇṇābha,
the Lucky Man addressed the beggars:
"Given such as a house, beggars,
or a room in a house,
facing the newly risen sun at sunrise,
a window,[1]
on what body would a sun-ray alight?"
"Upon the western wall, Bhante."
"Even so, beggars,
the Brahmin Uṇṇābha has lit upon
a faith in the Tathāgata,
that has taken root,
strongly established itself,
not to be confused,||
by shaman
or Brahmin
or god
or Devil
or Brahmā,
or anyone in the world.
Should it come time for the Brahmin Uṇṇābha
to make an end, beggars,
there is no yoke to rebirth,
yoked to which yoke to rebirth
the Brahmin Uṇṇābha would come again to this world."
[1] Vātapānena. Wind-opening. Wind-o.
