Cūḷagopālaka - The Shorter Discourse on the Cowherd

Thus have I hear:

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling among the Vajjis, at Ukkacela on the bank of the river Ganges.

There, the Blessed One addressed the disciples:

Disciples, he said.

Venerable Sir, the disciples replied to the Blessed One in assent.

The Blessed One said this:

Disciples, once upon a time, there was a foolish cowherd of Magadha. At the end of the rains, during the autumn, without examining the near bank of the Ganges river, and without examining the far bank, he made the cows cross over in a place that was not a ford to the northern bank for the Videhas.

Then the cows, in midstream, in the Ganges river, were swept into a whirlpool and there met their end.

And why is that?

Because the foolish cowherd of Magadha, at the end of the rains, during the autumn, without examining the near bank of the Ganges river, and without examining the far bank, made the cows cross over in a place that was not a ford to the northern bank for the Videhas.

In the same way those ascetics and brahmins who are unskillful for this world and unskillful for the world beyond, unskillful for Māra's domain and unskillful for the domain of the not-Māra, unskillful for the realm of death and unskillful for the realm beyond death, whatever they might think should be heard or believed, it will be for their long-term harm and suffering.

There was once a wise cowherd of Magadha. At the end of the rains, during the autumn, after examining the near bank of the Ganges river, and after examining the far bank, he made the cows cross over at a ford to the northern bank for the Videhas.

First, he made the strong bulls, those who were leaders and guides, cross.

They cut across the current of the Ganges and safely reached the other shore.

Then followed the sturdy cows, the well-trained cows.

They too cut across the current and safely reached the other shore.

Then he made the heifers follow.

They too cut across the current and safely reached the other shore.

Then followed the young calves.

They too cut across the current and safely reached the other shore.

Once upon a time a newborn calf, just a few days old, being carried along by the maternal affection of its mother, it too cut across the current of the Ganges and safely reached the other shore.

And why is that?

Just as the cowherd born in the land of Magadha, wise by nature, at the end of the rainy season in autumn, considered the near bank of the river Ganges and the far bank, and drove the cows across at a ford to the northern shore of Videha;

In the same way those recluses or brahmins who are skilled in the welfare of this world and the next, skilled in the realm of Māra and the realm beyond Māra, skilled in the realm of death and the realm beyond death, for those who will listen to and believe in what is to be heard from them, it will be for their long-term welfare and happiness.

Just as those great bulls among cows, leaders of cattle, cut across the stream of the Ganges safely to reach the other side;

In the same way those disciples who are arahants, with taints destroyed, who have lived the holy life, done what was to be done, laid down the burden, reached their own goal, destroyed the fetters of existence, and who have attained true knowing and liberation, they have cut across the stream of Māra and reached the other shore safely.

Just as the strong bulls, the good cattle, cut across the stream of the Ganges safely to reach the other shore;

In the same way those disciples who, by the destruction of the five lower fetters, are born spontaneously [in the Pure Abodes] and there attain final Nibbāna, without returning from that world, they too have cut across the stream of Māra and will reach the other shore safely.

Just as the young calves, the heifer and the heifer's calves, cut across the stream of the Ganges safely to reach the other shore;

In the same way those disciples who, by the destruction of three fetters, and with the weakening of greed, hatred, and delusion, are once-returners, coming back to this world only one more time and making an end of suffering, they too have cut across the stream of Māra and will reach the other shore safely.

Just as the thin, weak calves, cut across the stream of the Ganges safely to reach the other shore;

In the same way those disciples who, by the destruction of three fetters, are stream-enterers, no longer subject to downfall, fixed in destiny, having Nibbāna as their goal, they too have cut across the stream of Māra and will reach the other shore safely.

Just as that young calf, newly born, carried by the mother's grace, drifted across the stream of the Ganges safely to the other shore.

In the same way those disciples who are followers of the Dhamma and followers of faith will also safely cross over the stream of Māra.

I am skilled in this world, skilled in the beyond, skilled in Māra's realm, skilled in the realm beyond Māra, skilled in the realm of Death, skilled in the realm beyond Death.

For those who think, This should be listened to, this should be believed in:for them, it will be for long-lasting welfare and happiness.

Thus spoke the Blessed One.

Having spoken, the Sugata, the Teacher, further said:

This world, the other world,

Known well by the wise;

What is reached by Māra,

What is not reached by Death.

All the world known,

By the Enlightened One who knows;

The door to the Deathless opened,

Secure for the attainment of Nibbāna.

The stream of the Evil One cut,

Destroyed, obliterated.

Be filled with rejoicing,

You have reached the secure, disciples.

The discourse on the Cowherd is concluded.