snp.5.4 Suttanipata

The Young Man Puṇṇaka’s Questions

“To the one who is unmoved, who sees the root,” said venerable Puṇṇaka,
“I have come in need with a question:
On account of what did the seers and men,
nobles, and brahmins, here in the world
offer many sacrifices to the gods?
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”

“Whoever of those seers and men, Puṇṇaka,” said the Gracious One,
“nobles, and brahmins, here in the world,
offered many sacrifices to the gods,
they did so yearning, Puṇṇaka, for mundane existence,
on account of old age, they offered sacrifices.”

“Whoever of those seers and men,” said venerable Puṇṇaka,
“nobles, and brahmins, here in the world,
offered many sacrifices to the gods,
O Gracious One, perhaps those heedful of the path of sacrifice
have crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”

“They yearn and they praise, they hunger, and they offer,” said the Gracious One to Puṇṇaka,
“They hunger for sense pleasures, because of gain
they engage in sacrifice, excited by the passion for existence.
They have not crossed over birth and old age, I say.”

“If those engaged in sacrifice have not crossed over,” said venerable Puṇṇaka,
“birth and old age by their sacrifices, dear Sir,
then just who in the world of the Gods and men
has crossed over birth and old age, dear Sir?
I ask you, Gracious One, please tell this to me.”

“The one who has discerned far and near in the world,” said the Gracious One to Puṇṇaka,
“who has no turmoil anywhere in the world,
who is peaceful, not incensed, not troubled, not yearning,
he has crossed over birth and old age, I say.”

The Young Man Puṇṇaka’s Questions are Finished

- Translator: Bhikkhu Ānandajoti

- Editor: Bhikkhu Sujato

Puṇṇaka’s Questions

Puṇṇaka
I have come with a question for you,
The immovable, seer of the root;
Subject to what do the sages, people,
Nobles, and brahmins offer many kinds of sacrifices
To gods here in the world?
Lord Buddha, please tell me this.

Buddha
Whatever sages, people,
Nobles, and brahmins offer many kinds of sacrifices
To gods here in the world,
Do so wishing to be reborn, Puṇṇaka;
Subject to old age they offer their sacrfices.

Puṇṇaka
Whatever sages, people,
Nobles, and brahmins offer many kinds of sacrifices
To gods here in the world,
Did they, diligently following the way of sacrifice,
Cross over birth and old age, sir?
Lord Buddha, please tell me this.

Buddha
Hoping, praying, longing, and sacrificing,
Longing for sensual pleasures
That are dependent on getting things;
I declare that they, devoted to sacrifice
And besotted by rebirth,
Did not cross over birth and old age.

Puṇṇaka
If, sir, those devoted to sacrifice
Did not thereby cross over birth and old age,
Then who in the world of gods and men
Has crossed over birth and old age?
Lord Buddha, please tell me this.

Puṇṇaka
Having scrutinized the world near and far,
One who has no disturbances at all in the world,
Peaceful, clear, without affliction or desire,
Such a one has crossed over
Birth and old age, I declare.

- Translator: Laurence Khantipalo Mills

The Questions of Puṇṇaka

“To the imperturbable, the seer of the root,”
said Venerable Puṇṇaka,
“I have come seeking with a question.
On what grounds have hermits and men,
aristocrats and brahmins here in the world
performed so many different sacrifices to the gods?
I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
“Whatever hermits and men,”
replied the Buddha,
“aristocrats and brahmins here in the world
have performed so many different sacrifices to the gods:
all performed sacrifices bound to old age,
hoping for some state of existence.”
“As to those hermits and men,”
said Venerable Puṇṇaka,
“and aristocrats and brahmins here in the world
who have performed so many different sacrifices to the gods:
being diligent in the methods of sacrifice,
have they crossed over rebirth and old age, good sir?
I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
“Hoping, invoking, praying, and worshiping,”
replied the Buddha,
“they pray for pleasure derived from profit.
Devoted to sacrifice, besotted by rebirth,
they’ve not crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”
“If those devoted to sacrifice,”
said Venerable Puṇṇaka,
“have not, by sacrificing, crossed over rebirth and old age,
then who exactly in the world of gods and humans
has crossed over rebirth and old age, good sir?
I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
“Having assessed the world high and low,”
replied the Buddha,
“there is nothing in the world that disturbs them.
Peaceful, unclouded, untroubled, with no need for hope—
they’ve crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”