Majjhima Nikāya 18

The Middle-Length Suttas Collection 18

Madhupiṇḍikasutta

The Honey-Cake

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kapilavatthuṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Kapilavatthusmiṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena mahāvanaṁ tenupasaṅkami divāvihārāya. Mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā beluvalaṭṭhikāya mūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Kapilavatthu for alms. He wandered for alms in Kapilavatthu. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Great Wood, plunged deep into it, and sat at the root of a young wood apple tree for the day’s meditation.

Daṇḍapāṇipi kho sakko jaṅghāvihāraṁ¹ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno yena mahāvanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā yena beluvalaṭṭhikā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā daṇḍamolubbha ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho daṇḍapāṇi sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kiṁvādī samaṇo kimakkhāyī”ti?

Daṇḍapāṇi the Sakyan, while going for a walk, plunged deep into the Great Wood. He approached the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side leaning on his staff, and said to the Buddha, “What does the ascetic teach? What does he explain?”

“Yathāvādī kho, āvuso, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya na kenaci loke viggayha tiṭṭhati, yathā ca pana kāmehi visaṁyuttaṁ viharantaṁ taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ akathaṅkathiṁ chinnakukkuccaṁ bhavābhave vītataṇhaṁ saññā nānusenti—evaṁvādī kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evamakkhāyī”ti.

“Sir, my teaching is such that one does not conflict with anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans. And it is such that perceptions do not underlie the brahmin who lives detached from sensual pleasures, without doubting, stripped of worry, and rid of craving for rebirth in this or that state. That’s what I teach, and that’s what I explain.”

Evaṁ vutte, daṇḍapāṇi sakko sīsaṁ okampetvā, jivhaṁ nillāḷetvā, tivisākhaṁ nalāṭikaṁ nalāṭe vuṭṭhāpetvā daṇḍamolubbha pakkāmi.

When he had spoken, Daṇḍapāṇi shook his head, waggled his tongue, raised his eyebrows until his brow puckered in three furrows, and he departed leaning on his staff.

Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena nigrodhārāmo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya kapilavatthuṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ. Kapilavatthusmiṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena mahāvanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ divāvihārāya. Mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā beluvalaṭṭhikāya mūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdiṁ. Daṇḍapāṇipi kho, bhikkhave, sakko jaṅghāvihāraṁ anucaṅkamamāno anuvicaramāno yena mahāvanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Mahāvanaṁ ajjhogāhetvā yena beluvalaṭṭhikā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mayā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā daṇḍamolubbha ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho, bhikkhave, daṇḍapāṇi sakko maṁ etadavoca: ‘kiṁvādī samaṇo kimakkhāyī’ti?

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the Banyan Tree Monastery, sat down on the seat spread out, and told the bhikkhus what had happened.

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhikkhave, daṇḍapāṇiṁ sakkaṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘yathāvādī kho, āvuso, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya na kenaci loke viggayha tiṭṭhati, yathā ca pana kāmehi visaṁyuttaṁ viharantaṁ taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ akathaṅkathiṁ chinnakukkuccaṁ bhavābhave vītataṇhaṁ saññā nānusenti—evaṁvādī kho ahaṁ, āvuso, evamakkhāyī’ti. Evaṁ vutte, bhikkhave, daṇḍapāṇi sakko sīsaṁ okampetvā, jivhaṁ nillāḷetvā, tivisākhaṁ nalāṭikaṁ nalāṭe vuṭṭhāpetvā daṇḍamolubbha pakkāmī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kiṁvādī pana, bhante, bhagavā sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya na kenaci loke viggayha tiṭṭhati? Kathañca pana, bhante, bhagavantaṁ kāmehi visaṁyuttaṁ viharantaṁ taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ akathaṅkathiṁ chinnakukkuccaṁ bhavābhave vītataṇhaṁ saññā nānusentī”ti?

When he had spoken, one of the bhikkhus said to him, “But sir, what is the teaching such that the Buddha does not conflict with anyone in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans? And how is it that perceptions do not underlie the Buddha, the brahmin who lives detached from sensual pleasures, without indecision, stripped of worry, and rid of craving for rebirth in this or that state?”

“Yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ. Esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ, esevanto paṭighānusayānaṁ, esevanto diṭṭhānusayānaṁ, esevanto vicikicchānusayānaṁ, esevanto mānānusayānaṁ, esevanto bhavarāgānusayānaṁ, esevanto avijjānusayānaṁ, esevanto daṇḍādānasatthādānakalahaviggahavivādatuvaṁtuvaṁpesuññamusāvādānaṁ. Etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī”ti.

“Bhikkhu, a person is beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions. If they don’t find anything worth approving, welcoming, or getting attached to in the source from which these arise, just this is the end of the underlying tendencies to desire, repulsion, views, doubt, conceit, the desire to be reborn, and ignorance. This is the end of taking up the rod and the sword, the end of quarrels, arguments, and disputes, of accusations, divisive speech, and lies. This is where these bad, unskillful qualities cease without anything left over.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.

That is what the Buddha said. When he had spoken, the Holy One got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: “idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā, vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā, uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ. Esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ …pe… etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī’ti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?

Soon after the Buddha left, those bhikkhus considered, “The Buddha gave this brief passage for recitation, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha?”

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.

Then those bhikkhus thought, “This Venerable Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha. Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”

Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā mahākaccānena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idaṁ kho no, āvuso kaccāna, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ. Esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ …pe… etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī’ti. Tesaṁ no, āvuso kaccāna, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: “yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ. Esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ …pe… etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī”’ti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyāti? Tesaṁ no, āvuso kaccāna, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ, pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti. Vibhajatāyasmā mahākaccāno”ti.

Then those bhikkhus went to Mahākaccāna, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said: “May Venerable Mahākaccāna please explain this.”

“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva mūlaṁ, atikkamma khandhaṁ, sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya; evaṁsampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte, taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā, amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha. So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati, cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto, vattā pavattā, atthassa ninnetā, amatassa dātā, dhammassāmī tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi, yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

“Friends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves. Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you overlooked him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter. For he is the Buddha, who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the teacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of the deathless, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

“Addhāvuso kaccāna, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati, cakkhubhūto ñāṇabhūto dhammabhūto brahmabhūto, vattā pavattā, atthassa ninnetā, amatassa dātā, dhammassāmī tathāgato. So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi, yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma. Yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma. Api cāyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ, pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ. Vibhajatāyasmā mahākaccāno agaruṁ katvā”ti.

“Certainly he is the Buddha, who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the teacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of the deathless, the lord of truth, the Realized One. That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter. We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer. Still, Mahākaccāna is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions. You are capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha. Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

“Tena hāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasikarotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.

“Well then, friends, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā mahākaccāno etadavoca:

“Yes, friend,” they replied. Venerable Mahākaccāna said this:

“Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ, esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ …pe… etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī’ti, imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi—

“Friends, the Buddha gave this brief passage for recitation, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail: ‘A person is beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions. If they don’t find anything worth approving, welcoming, or getting attached to in the source from which these arise … This is where these bad, unskillful qualities cease without anything left over.’ This is how I understand the detailed meaning of this passage for recitation.

Cakkhuñcāvuso, paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ, tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso, phassapaccayā vedanā, yaṁ vedeti taṁ sañjānāti, yaṁ sañjānāti taṁ vitakketi, yaṁ vitakketi taṁ papañceti, yaṁ papañceti tatonidānaṁ purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti atītānāgatapaccuppannesu cakkhuviññeyyesu rūpesu.

Eye consciousness arises dependent on the eye and sights. The meeting of the three is contact. Contact is a condition for feeling. What you feel, you perceive. What you perceive, you think about. What you think about, you proliferate. What you proliferate about is the source from which a person is beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions. This occurs with respect to sights known by the eye in the past, future, and present.

Sotañcāvuso, paṭicca sadde ca uppajjati sotaviññāṇaṁ …pe…

Ear consciousness arises dependent on the ear and sounds. …

ghānañcāvuso, paṭicca gandhe ca uppajjati ghānaviññāṇaṁ …pe…

Nose consciousness arises dependent on the nose and smells. …

jivhañcāvuso, paṭicca rase ca uppajjati jivhāviññāṇaṁ …pe…

Tongue consciousness arises dependent on the tongue and tastes. …

kāyañcāvuso, paṭicca phoṭṭhabbe ca uppajjati kāyaviññāṇaṁ …pe…

Body consciousness arises dependent on the body and touches. …

manañcāvuso, paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ, tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso, phassapaccayā vedanā, yaṁ vedeti taṁ sañjānāti, yaṁ sañjānāti taṁ vitakketi, yaṁ vitakketi taṁ papañceti, yaṁ papañceti tatonidānaṁ purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti atītānāgatapaccuppannesu manoviññeyyesu dhammesu.

Mind consciousness arises dependent on the mind and thoughts. The meeting of the three is contact. Contact is a condition for feeling. What you feel, you perceive. What you perceive, you think about. What you think about, you proliferate. What you proliferate about is the source from which a person is beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions. This occurs with respect to thoughts known by the mind in the past, future, and present.

So vatāvuso, cakkhusmiṁ sati rūpe sati cakkhuviññāṇe sati phassapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Phassapaññattiyā sati vedanāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Vedanāpaññattiyā sati saññāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Saññāpaññattiyā sati vitakkapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Vitakkapaññattiyā sati papañcasaññāsaṅkhāsamudācaraṇapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

When there is the eye, sights, and eye consciousness, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘contact’. When there is what’s known as contact, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘feeling’. When there is what’s known as feeling, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘perception’. When there is what’s known as perception, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘thought’. When there is what’s known as thought, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘being beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions’.

So vatāvuso, sotasmiṁ sati sadde sati …pe… ghānasmiṁ sati gandhe sati …pe… jivhāya sati rase sati …pe… kāyasmiṁ sati phoṭṭhabbe sati …pe… manasmiṁ sati dhamme sati manoviññāṇe sati phassapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Phassapaññattiyā sati vedanāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Vedanāpaññattiyā sati saññāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Saññāpaññattiyā sati vitakkapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati. Vitakkapaññattiyā sati papañcasaññāsaṅkhāsamudācaraṇapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—ṭhānametaṁ vijjati.

When there is the ear … nose … tongue … body … mind, thoughts, and mind consciousness, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘contact’. … When there is what’s known as thought, it’s possible to point out what’s known as ‘being beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions’.

So vatāvuso, cakkhusmiṁ asati rūpe asati cakkhuviññāṇe asati phassapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Phassapaññattiyā asati vedanāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Vedanāpaññattiyā asati saññāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Saññāpaññattiyā asati vitakkapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Vitakkapaññattiyā asati papañcasaññāsaṅkhāsamudācaraṇapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

When there is no eye, no sights, and no eye consciousness, it’s quite impossible to point out what’s known as ‘contact’. When there isn’t what’s known as contact, it’s not possible to point out what’s known as ‘feeling’. When there isn’t what’s known as feeling, it’s not possible to point out what’s known as ‘perception’. When there isn’t what’s known as perception, it’s not possible to point out what’s known as ‘thought’. When there isn’t what’s known as thought, it’s not possible to point out what’s known as ‘being beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions’.

So vatāvuso, sotasmiṁ asati sadde asati …pe… ghānasmiṁ asati gandhe asati …pe… jivhāya asati rase asati …pe… kāyasmiṁ asati phoṭṭhabbe asati …pe… manasmiṁ asati dhamme asati manoviññāṇe asati phassapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Phassapaññattiyā asati vedanāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Vedanāpaññattiyā asati saññāpaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Saññāpaññattiyā asati vitakkapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Vitakkapaññattiyā asati papañcasaññāsaṅkhāsamudācaraṇapaññattiṁ paññāpessatīti—netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

When there is no ear … nose … tongue … body … mind, no thoughts, and no mind consciousness, it’s not possible to point out what’s known as ‘contact’. … When there isn’t what’s known as thought, it’s not possible to point out what’s known as ‘being beset by concepts of identity that emerge from the proliferation of perceptions’.

Yaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ …pe… etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī’ti, imassa kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi. Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha. Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.

This is how I understand the detailed meaning of that brief passage for recitation given by the Buddha. If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this. You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmato mahākaccānassa bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: ‘yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ. Esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ …pe… etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī’ti. Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi: ‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho: “yatonidānaṁ, bhikkhu, purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti. Ettha ce natthi abhinanditabbaṁ abhivaditabbaṁ ajjhositabbaṁ. Esevanto rāgānusayānaṁ, esevanto paṭighānusayānaṁ, esevanto diṭṭhānusayānaṁ, esevanto vicikicchānusayānaṁ, esevanto mānānusayānaṁ, esevanto bhavarāgānusayānaṁ, esevanto avijjānusayānaṁ, esevanto daṇḍādānasatthādānakalahaviggahavivādatuvaṁtuvaṁpesuññamusāvādānaṁ. Etthete pāpakā akusalā dhammā aparisesā nirujjhantī”ti. Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti? Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi: ‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā mahākaccāno satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ, pahoti cāyasmā mahākaccāno imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ, yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti. Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā mahākaccāno tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ mahākaccānaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchimha. Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā mahākaccānena imehi ākārehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho vibhatto”ti.

“Yes, friend,” said those bhikkhus, approving and agreeing with what Mahākaccāna said. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened. Then they said: “Mahākaccāna clearly explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno; mahāpañño, bhikkhave, mahākaccāno. Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ mahākaccānena byākataṁ. Eso cevetassa attho. Evañca² naṁ dhārethā”ti.

“Mahākaccāna is astute, bhikkhus, he has great wisdom. If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Mahākaccāna. That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “seyyathāpi, bhante, puriso jighacchādubbalyapareto madhupiṇḍikaṁ adhigaccheyya, so yato yato sāyeyya, labhetheva sādurasaṁ asecanakaṁ.

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, suppose a person who was weak with hunger was to obtain a honey-cake. Wherever they taste it, they would enjoy a sweet, delicious flavor.

Evameva kho, bhante, cetaso bhikkhu dabbajātiko, yato yato imassa dhammapariyāyassa paññāya atthaṁ upaparikkheyya, labhetheva attamanataṁ, labhetheva cetaso pasādaṁ. Ko nāmo ayaṁ, bhante, dhammapariyāyo”ti?

In the same way, wherever a sincere, capable bhikkhu might examine with wisdom the meaning of this exposition of the teaching they would only gain joy and clarity. Sir, what is the name of this exposition of the teaching?”

“Tasmātiha tvaṁ, ānanda, imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ madhupiṇḍikapariyāyotveva naṁ dhārehī”ti.

“Well, Ānanda, you may remember this exposition of the teaching as ‘The Honey-Cake Discourse’.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā ānando bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda was happy with what the Buddha said.

Madhupiṇḍikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.