Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.30

Numbered Discourses 10.30

3. Mahāvagga

3. The Great Chapter

Dutiyakosalasutta

Kosala (2nd)

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo uyyodhikā nivatto hoti vijitasaṅgāmo laddhādhippāyo. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena ārāmo tena pāyāsi. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi, yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova ārāmaṁ pāvisi.

Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala returned from combat after winning a battle and succeeding in his objective. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went to the monastery. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū abbhokāse caṅkamanti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū etadavoca: “kahaṁ nu kho, bhante, bhagavā etarahi viharati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho. Dassanakāmā hi mayaṁ, bhante, taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.

At that time several bhikkhus were walking mindfully in the open air. Then King Pasenadi of Kosala went up to them and said, “Sirs, where is the Blessed One at present, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha? For I want to see the Buddha.”

“Eso, mahārāja, vihāro saṁvutadvāro. Tena appasaddo upasaṅkamitvā ataramāno ālindaṁ pavisitvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭehi; vivarissati te bhagavā dvāran”ti.

“Great king, that’s his dwelling, with the door closed. Approach it quietly, without hurrying; go onto the porch, clear your throat, and knock with the latch. The Buddha will open the door.”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo yena so vihāro saṁvutadvāro, tena appasaddo upasaṅkamitvā ataramāno ālindaṁ pavisitvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭesi. Vivari bhagavā dvāraṁ. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo vihāraṁ pavisitvā bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavato pādāni mukhena ca paricumbati pāṇīhi ca parisambāhati nāmañca sāveti: “rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo; rājāhaṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo”ti.

So the king approached the Buddha’s dwelling and knocked, and the Buddha opened the door. Then King Pasenadi entered the Buddha’s dwelling. He bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet, caressing them and covering them with kisses, and pronounced his name: “Sir, I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala! I am Pasenadi, king of Kosala!”

“Kaṁ pana tvaṁ, mahārāja, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno imasmiṁ sarīre evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karosi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsesī”ti?

“But great king, for what reason do you demonstrate such utmost devotion for this body, conveying your manifest love?”

“Kataññutaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, kataveditaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

“Sir, it’s because of my gratitude and thanks for the Buddha that I demonstrate such utmost devotion, conveying my manifest love.

Bhagavā hi, bhante, bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya bahuno janassa ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatāya kusaladhammatāya. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā bahujanahitāya paṭipanno bahujanasukhāya bahuno janassa ariye ñāye patiṭṭhāpitā yadidaṁ kalyāṇadhammatāya kusaladhammatāya, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

The Buddha is practicing for the welfare and happiness of the people. He has established many people in the noble system, that is, the principles of goodness and skillfulness. This is a reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā sīlavā vuddhasīlo ariyasīlo kusalasīlo kusalasīlena samannāgato. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā sīlavā vuddhasīlo ariyasīlo kusalasīlo kusalasīlena samannāgato, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha is ethical, possessing ethical conduct that is mature, noble, and skillful. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā dīgharattaṁ āraññiko, araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā dīgharattaṁ āraññiko, araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha lives in the wilderness, frequenting remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā santuṭṭho itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha is content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā santuṭṭhikathā pavivekakathā asaṁsaggakathā vīriyārambhakathā sīlakathā samādhikathā paññākathā vimuttikathā vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpāya kathāya nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā yāyaṁ kathā abhisallekhikā cetovivaraṇasappāyā, seyyathidaṁ—appicchakathā …pe… vimuttiñāṇadassanakathā, evarūpāya kathāya nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha gets to take part in talk about self-effacement that helps open the heart, when he wants, without trouble or difficulty. That is, talk about fewness of wishes, contentment, seclusion, aloofness, arousing energy, ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and the knowledge and vision of freedom. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī akicchalābhī akasiralābhī, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha gets the four jhānas—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when he wants, without trouble or difficulty. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto, so tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha recollects many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. He remembers: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so he recollects his many kinds of past lives, with features and details. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāti: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā vacīduccaritena samannāgatā manoduccaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ upavādakā micchādiṭṭhikā micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannā; ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā vacīsucaritena samannāgatā manosucaritena samannāgatā ariyānaṁ anupavādakā sammādiṭṭhikā sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā, te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti, iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha sees sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. He understands how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds. ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They spoke ill of the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they acted out of that wrong view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never spoke ill of the noble ones; they had right view; and they acted out of that right view. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ He understands how sentient beings are reborn according to their deeds. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ paññāvimuttiṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati. Yampi, bhante, bhagavā āsavānaṁ khayā anāsavaṁ cetovimuttiṁ …pe… sacchikatvā upasampajja viharati, idampi kho ahaṁ, bhante, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno bhagavati evarūpaṁ paramanipaccakāraṁ karomi, mettūpahāraṁ upadaṁsemi.

Furthermore, the Buddha has realized the undefiled freedom of heart and freedom by wisdom in this very life, and lives having realized it with his own insight due to the ending of defilements. This is another reason that I demonstrate such utmost devotion for the Buddha, conveying my manifest love.

Handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bhante, gacchāma. Bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā”ti.

Well, now, sir, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.”

“Yassadāni tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālaṁ maññasī”ti. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmīti.

“Please, great king, go at your convenience.” Then King Pasenadi got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Dasamaṁ.

Mahāvaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sīhādhivutti kāyena, cundena kasiṇena ca; Kāḷī ca dve mahāpañhā, kosalehi pare duveti.