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Soõavaggo

5-3: Suppabuddhakuññhisuttaü (43)
The Discourse about the Leper Suppabuddha

Evaü me sutaü:
Thus I heard:

ekaü samayaü Bhagavà Ràjagahe viharati,
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Ràjagaha,

Veëuvane Kalandakanivàpe.
in Bamboo Wood, at the Squirrels' Feeding Place.

Tena kho pana samayena Ràjagahe Suppabuddho nàma kuññhi ahosi,
Then at that time the leper known as Suppabuddha (Wide Awake) was in Ràjagaha,

manussadaëiddo manussakapaõo manussavaràko.
a poor man, a wretched man, a miserable man.

Tena kho pana samayena Bhagavà
Then at that time the Gracious One

mahatiyà parisàya parivuto Dhammaü desento nisinno hoti.
was sitting teaching Dhamma surrounded by a great assembly.

Addasà kho Suppabuddho kuññhi
The leper Suppabuddha saw

taü mahàjanakàyaü dårato va sannipatitaü.
while still far away that great crowd of people assembled together.

Disvànassa etad-ahosi:
Having seen (that), this occurred to him:

ßNissaüsayaü kho ettha
ßUndoubtedly in this place

kiÿci khàdanãyaü và bhojanãyaü và bhàjiyissati.
some comestibles and edibles will be distributed.

Yannånàhaü yena so mahàjanakàyo tenupasaïkameyyaü,
Well now, I could go to that great crowd of people,

appeva nàmettha kiÿci khàdanãyaü và bhojanãyaü và labheyyantiû.
perhaps I will get some comestibles or edibles in this place.û

Atha kho Suppabuddho kuññhi yena so mahàjanakàyo tenupasaïkami.
Then the leper Suppabuddha went to that great crowd of people.

Addasà kho Suppabuddho kuññhi Bhagavantaü
The leper Suppabuddha saw the Gracious One

mahatiyà parisàya parivutaü Dhammaü desentaü nisinnaü.
sat teaching Dhamma surrounded by a great assembly.

Disvànassa etad-ahosi:
Having seen (that), this occurred to him:

ßNa kho ettha kiÿci khàdanãyaü và bhojanãyaü và bhàjiyati,
ßHere there are no comestibles or edibles being distributed,

samaõo ayaü Gotamo parisatiü Dhammaü deseti.
this ascetic Gotama is teaching Dhamma to the assembly.

Yannånàham-pi Dhammaü suõeyyanti,û tattheva ekamantaü nisãdi:
Perhaps I also could hear the Dhammaû, and he sat down right there (and then), (thinking):

ßAham-pi Dhammaü sossàmãû ti.
ßI will also listen to the Dhamma.û

Atha kho Bhagavà sabbàvantaü parisaü cetasà cetoparicca manasàkàsi
Then the Gracious One, applied his mind and encompassed fully the whole of that assembly with his mind, (thinking):

ßKo nu kho idha bhabbo Dhammaü viÿÿàtun?û-ti.
ßWho here is able to understand the Dhamma?û

Addasà kho Bhagavà Suppabuddhaü kuññhiü
The Gracious One saw the leper Suppabuddha

tassaü parisàyaü nisinnaü, disvànassa etad-ahosi:
sat in that assembly, and having seen (him), this occurred to him:

ßAyaü kho idha bhabbo Dhammaü viÿÿàtunû-ti,
ßThis one here is able to understand the Dhammaû,

Suppabuddhaü kuññhiü àrabbha ànupubbãkathaü kathesi,
and having regard to the leper Suppabuddha he related a gradual talk,

seyyathãdaü: dànakathaü, sãlakathaü, saggakathaü,
that is to say: talk on giving, talk on virtue, talk on heaven,

kàmànaü àdãnavaü okàraü saïkilesaü,
the danger, degradation, and defilement of sensual desires,

nekkhamme ca ànisaüsaü - pakàsesi.
and the advantages in renunciation - (these) he explained.

Yadà Bhagavà aÿÿàsi Suppabuddhaü kuññhiü
When the Gracious One knew that the leper Suppabuddha

kallacittaü muducittaü vinãvaraõacittaü udaggacittaü pasannacittaü,
was of ready mind, malleable mind, unhindered mind, uplifted mind, trusting mind,

atha yà Buddhànaü sàmukkaüsikà Dhammadesanà taü pakàsesi:
then he explained the Dhamma teaching the Awakened Ones have discovered themselves:

dukkhaü samudayaü nirodhaü maggaü.
suffering, origination, cessation, path.

Seyyathà pi nàma suddhaü vatthaü apagatakàlakaü
Just as it is known that a clean cloth without a stain

sammad-eva rajanaü patigaõheyya,
would take the dye well,

evam-eva Suppabuddhassa kuññhissa
so to the leper Suppabuddha

tasmiü yeva àsane virajaü vãtamalaü Dhammacakkhuü udapàdi:
on that very seat, the dust-free, stainless Vision-of-the-Dhamma arose:

ßYaü kiÿci samudayadhammaü, sabbaü taü nirodhadhamman-ti.û
ßWhatever has the nature of arising, all that has the nature of ceasing.û

Atha kho Suppabuddho kuññhi diññhadhammo pattadhammo
Then the leper Suppabuddha having seen the Dhamma, attained the Dhamma,

viditadhammo pariyogàëhadhammo tiõõavicikiccho vigatakathaükatho
understood the Dhamma, penetrated the Dhamma, crossed over uncertainty, being without doubts,

vesàrajjappatto aparappaccayo Satthusàsane,
attained full confidence, having become independent of others in the Teacher's teaching,

uññhàyàsanà yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkami,
after rising from his seat went to the Gracious One,

upasaïkamitvà Bhagavantaü abhivàdetvà, ekamantaü nisãdi.
and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down at one side.

Ekamantaü nisinno kho Suppabuddho kuññhi Bhagavantaü etad-avoca:
While he was sitting on one side the leper Suppabuddha said this to the Gracious One:

ßAbhikkantaü bhante! Abhikkantaü bhante!
ßExcellent, reverend Sir! Excellent reverend Sir!

Seyyathà pi bhante nikkujjitaü và ukkujjeyya,
Just as, reverend Sir, one might set upright what has been overturned,

pañicchannaü và vivareyya, måëhassa và maggaü àcikkheyya,
or open up what has been closed, or show a path to one who is lost,

andhakàre và telapajjotaü dhàreyya cakkhumanto råpàni dakkhintã ti,
or bear an oil lamp in the darkness so that those with vision can see forms,

evam-eva Bhagavatà anekapariyàyena dhammo pakàsito.
just so has the Dhamma been explained by the Gracious One in countless ways.

Esàhaü bhante Bhagavantaü saraõaü gacchàmi,
I go, reverend Sir, to the Gracious One for refuge,

dhammaÿ-ca Bhikkhusaïghaÿ-ca.
and to the Dhamma, and to the Community of monks.

Upàsakaü maü Bhagavà dhàretu
Please bear it in mind, reverend Gotama, that I am a lay follower

ajjatagge pàõupetaü saraõaü gatanû-ti.
who has gone for refuge from today forward for as long as I am furnished with life.û

Atha kho Suppabuddho kuññhi Bhagavatà
^o Then the Gracious One instructed, roused,

Dhammiyà kathàya sandassito, samàdapito, samuttejito, sampahaüsito,
enthused, and cheered the leper Suppabuddha with a Dhamma talk,

Bhagavato bhàsitaü abhinanditvà anumoditvà,
and after greatly rejoicing and gladly receiving this word of the Gracious One,

uññhàyàsanà, Bhagavantaü abhivàdetvà padakkhiõaü katvà pakkàmi.
after rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Gracious One, he went away.

Atha kho Suppabuddhaü kuññhiü acirapakkantaü
Then not long after the leper Suppabuddha had gone

gàvã taruõavacchà adhipàtetvà, jãvità voropesi.
a cow with a young calf having attacked him, deprived him of life.

Atha kho sambahulà bhikkhå yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkamiüsu,
Then many monks went to the Gracious One,

upasaïkamitvà Bhagavantaü abhivàdetvà, ekamantaü nisãdiüsu.
and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, they sat down on one side.

Ekamantaü nisinnà kho te bhikkhå Bhagavantaü etad-avocuü:
While sat on one side those monks said this to the Gracious One:

ßYo so bhante Suppabuddho nàma kuññhi Bhagavatà Dhammiyà kathàya
^o ßThat leper called Suppabuddha, reverend Sir, who was instructed, roused, enthused, and cheered

sandassito, samàdapito, samuttejito, sampahaüsito - so kàlakato.
by the Gracious One with a Dhamma talk - he has died.

Tassa kà gati, ko abhisamparàyoû ti?
What is his destination? What is his future state?û

ßPaõóito bhikkhave Suppabuddho kuññhi,
ßA wise man, monks, was Suppabuddha,

paccapàdi dhammassànudhammaü,
who practiced Dhamma in accordance with the Dhamma,

na ca maü dhammàdhikaraõaü vihesesi.
and did not trouble me on account of the Dhamma.

Suppabuddho bhikkhave kuññhi tiõõaü saüyojanànaü parikkhayà,
The leper Suppabuddha, monks, through the destruction of three fetters,

sotàpanno avinipàtadhammo niyato Sambodhiparàyanoû ti.
is a stream-enterer, not subject to the fall, and is assured of arriving at Full Awakening.û

Evaü vutte, aÿÿataro bhikkhu Bhagavantaü etad-avoca:
When that was said, a certain monk said this to the Gracious One:

ßKo nu kho bhante hetu, ko paccayo yena Suppabuddho kuññhi ahosi
ßWhat was the reason, reverend Sir, what was the cause, through which the leper Suppabuddha became

manussadaëiddo manussakapaõo manussavaràko?û ti.
a poor man, a wretched man, a miserable man?û

ßBhåtapubbaü bhikkhave Suppabuddho kuññhi
ßFormerly, monks, the leper Suppabuddha

imasmiü yeva Ràjagahe seññhiputto ahosi.
was a son of a wealthy merchant in this very Ràjagaha.

So uyyànabhåmiü niyyanto addasa Tagarasikhiü Paccekabuddhaü
While going to his pleasure park he saw the Independent Buddha Tagarasikkhã

nagaraü piõóàya pavisantaü, disvànassa etad-ahosi:
entering the city for alms, and having seen (him), this occurred to him:

ßKvàyaü kuññhi kuññhicãvarena hi vicaratã?û ti
ßWho is this leper roaming around with his leper's robe?û

Niññhuhitvà apasabyato karitvà pakkàmi.
And having spat, and circumambulated him (disrespectfully) on the left side, he went away.

So tassa kammassa vipàkena bahåni vassàni bahåni vassasatàni,
As a result of that deed of his for many years, for many hundreds of years,

bahåni vassasahassàni bahåni vassasatasahassàni niraye paccittha.
for many thousands of years, for many hundreds of thousands of years, he boiled in the nether regions.

Tasseva kammassa vipàkàvasesena
And as a result of the remaining part of that deed of his

imasmiü yeva Ràjagahe kuññhi ahosi,
he became a leper in this very Ràjagaha,

manussadaëiddo manussakapaõo manussavaràko.
a poor man, a wretched man, a miserable man.

So Tathàgatappaveditaü Dhammavinayaü àgamma,
(But) he came to the Dhamma and Discipline taught by the Realised One,

saddhaü samàdiyi, sãlaü samàdiyi, sutaü samàdiyi,
and obtained faith, obtained virtue, obtained learning,

càgaü samàdiyi, paÿÿaü samàdiyi.
obtained liberality, obtained wisdom.

So Tathàgatappaveditaü Dhammavinayaü àgamma,
After coming to the Dhamma and Discipline taught by the Realised One,

saddhaü samàdiyitvà, sãlaü samàdiyitvà, sutaü samàdiyitvà,
and obtaining faith, obtaining virtue, obtaining learning,

càgaü samàdiyitvà, paÿÿaü samidiyitvà,
obtaining liberality, obtaining wisdom,

kàyassa bhedà, paraü maraõà, sugatiü Saggaü lokaü upapanno,
at the break up of the body, after death, he arose in a fortunate destiny, in the world of Heaven,

devànaü Tàvatiüsànaü sahabyataü.
in the companionship of the Tàvatiüsa devas.

So tattha aÿÿe deve atirocati vaõõena ceva yasasà càû ti.
And there he surely outshines the other devas with his beauty and repute.û

Atha kho Bhagavà, etam-atthaü viditvà,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tàyaü velàyaü imaü udànaü udànesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: