Saɱyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
44. Avyākata Saɱyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
44. Kindred Sayings about the Unrevealed
Sutta 11
Sabhiya Suttaɱ
Sabhiya[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1][than][bodh] Thus have I heard:
Once the venerable Sabhiya of the Kaccanas
was staying at Ñātika in the Brick Hall.
Then the Wanderer Vacchagotta went to visit the venerable Sabhiya,
and on coming to him
greeted him in friendly fashion,
and after the exchange of civilities,
sat down at one side.
So seated the Wanderer Vacchagotta said to the venerable Sabhiya: -
"How say you, master Kaccana?[2]
Does the Tathāgata, exist after death?"
"That, Vaccha, is not revealed by the Exalted One."
■
"Does the Tathāgata, not exist after death?"
"That, Vaccha, is not revealed by the Exalted One."
■
"Does the Tathāgata, both exist and not exist after death?"
"That, Vaccha, is not revealed by the Exalted One."
■
"Does the Tathāgata, neither exist nor not-exist after death?"
"That, Vaccha, is not revealed by the Exalted One."
§
"Now, master Kaccana, what is the reason,
what is the cause
why Gotama the recluse,
when questioned thus,
does not answer that:
The Tathāgata, exists after death.'
or
'The Tathāgata, does not exist after death?'
or:
'The Tathāgata, both exists and does not exist after death'
or:
'The Tathāgata, neither exists nor does not-exist after death'?
§
"Now as to the reason,
the grounds,
for describing him as 'embodied'
or 'disembodied',
as 'conscious'
or 'unconscious',
as 'neither conscious nor unconscious', -
if such reason,
such grounds,
should cease in every way,
entirely,
wholly,
utterly
and without remainder,
by what definition
could one describe him
as 'embodied'
or 'disembodied',
as 'conscious'
or 'unconscious',
as 'neither conscious nor unconscious?'"[3]
§
"How long have you been ordained, Kaccana?"
"Not long, friend.
Only three years."
"It is indeed a great thing, friend,
for one to know thus much
in so short a time;[4]
not to speak of things abstruse."[5]
The Book of the Sixfold Sphere.
[1] Cf. Sn. pp. 91-102 (Sabhiya-avtta); K.S. iii, 7 n. Formerly a Wanderer, meeting the Master, he became converted and attained Arahantship. At Brethren, 177, one of his name is credited with the well-known verse of Dhammapada, 6, 312:|| ||
Pare ca na vijānanti 'mayam ettha yamāmase.'
"by non-adherents" and also by adherents. The gods who are followers are often heard to speak of him using this name.
— p.p.
[2] His clan-name, just as the Buddha is called by his clan-name 'Gotama' by non-adherents.
[3] I.e., since the Tathāgata, or any saint, in fact, at death undergoes asesa-virāga-nirodha (utter cessation of all that one can speak of), it is for lack of words that a definition is not given.
[4] Yassa pi etaṅ ettakena kālena ... kāranaṅ bhaveyya. Comy.
[5] Abhikkante, lit. 'in the going beyond' or 'far.' Comy. channāā-katā (secret things).
