The Discourse about Ananda

ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Rājagahe viharati,
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Rājagaha,

Veḷuvane Kalandakanivāpe.
in Bamboo Wood, at the Squirrels' Feeding Place.

tadahuposathe pubbanhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā,
on the Observance day, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacīvaram-ādāya, Rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
after picking up his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms.

Addasā kho Devadatto āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ Rājagahe piṇḍāya carantaṁ,
Devadatta saw venerable Ānanda walking for alms in Rājagaha,

disvāna, yena āyasmā Ānando tenupasaṅkami,
and after seeing (him), he went to venerable Ānanda,

upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ Ānandaṁ etad-avoca:
and after going, he said this to venerable Ānanda:

“Ajjatagge dānāhaṁ āvuso Ānanda aññatreva Bhagavatā,
“From today forward, friend Ānanda, apart from the Gracious One,

aññatra Bhikkhusaṅghā, Uposathaṁ karissāmi Saṅghakammāni cā” ti.
apart from the Community of monks, I will hold the Observance and perform [Legal] Acts of the Community.”

Atha kho āyasmā Ānando Rājagahe piṇḍāya caritvā,
Then venerable Ānanda, after walking for alms in Rājagaha,

pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto, yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkami,
while returning from the alms-round after the meal, went to the Gracious One,

upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā, ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
and after going and worshipping the Gracious One, he sat down on one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā Ānando Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
While sat on one side venerable Ānanda said this to the Gracious One:

“Idhāhaṁ bhante pubbanhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā,
“Here I, reverend Sir, having dressed in the morning time,

pattacīvaram-ādāya, Rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.
after picking up my bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms.

Addasā kho maṁ bhante Devadatto Rājagahe piṇḍāya carantaṁ,
Devadatta saw me, reverend Sir, walking for alms in Rājagaha,

disvāna, yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami, upasaṅkamitvā maṁ etad-avoca:
and after seeing (me), he came to me, and after coming, he said this to me:

‘Ajjatagge dānāhaṁ āvuso Ānanda aññatreva Bhagavatā
‘From today forward, friend Ānanda, apart from the Gracious One,

aññatra Bhikkhusaṅghā Uposathaṁ karissāmi Saṅghakammāni cā’ ti.
apart from the Community of monks, I will hold the Observance and perform [Legal] Acts of the Community.’

Ajja bhante Devadatto Saṅghaṁ bhindissati,
Today, reverend Sir, Devadatta will split the Order,

Uposathañ-ca karissati Saṅghakammāni cā” ti.
and will hold the Observance and perform [Legal] Acts of the Community (apart).”

Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it,

tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:

“Sukaraṁ sādhunā sādhu, ~ sādhu pāpena dukkaraṁ,
“Done with ease by the good is good, ~ good by the bad is done (only) with difficulty,

Pāpaṁ pāpena sukaraṁ, ~ pāpam-Ariyehi dukkaran”-ti.
Bad by the bad is done with ease, ~ bad by the Noble Ones is done (only) with difficulty.”