The Question of the Youth Bhadrāvudha

Sutta Nipāta 5.13 Bhadrāvudhamāṇavapucchā “Okañjahaṁ taṇhacchidaṁ anejaṁ, (iccāyasmā bhadrāvudho) Nandiñjahaṁ oghatiṇṇaṁ vimuttaṁ; Kappañjahaṁ abhiyāce sumedhaṁ, Sutvāna nāgassa apanamissanti ito.

The one who has abandoned home, cut off craving, the unperturbed,

(said the venerable Bhadrāvudha),

Who has abandoned relishing, crossed the flood, and is released,

The wise one who has abandoned constructs, I implore.

Nānājanā janapadehi saṅgatā, Tava vīra vākyaṁ abhikaṅkhamānā; Tesaṁ tuvaṁ sādhu viyākarohi, Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo”.

Having heard the Great One, they will depart from here.

Various people have assembled from the provinces,

Longing for your word, O hero.

Explain it well to them,

“Ādānataṇhaṁ vinayetha sabbaṁ, (bhadrāvudhāti bhagavā Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe; Yaṁ yañhi lokasmimupādiyanti, Teneva māro anveti jantuṁ.

For indeed, you have known this Dhamma.

One should dispel all craving to grasp,

(said the Blessed One to Bhadrāvudha),

Above, below, across, and in the middle.

Tasmā pajānaṁ na upādiyetha, Bhikkhu sato kiñcanaṁ sabbaloke; Ādānasatte iti pekkhamāno, Pajaṁ imaṁ maccudheyye visattan”ti.

For whatever they cling to in the world,

By just that does Māra pursue a person.

Therefore, understanding this, a mindful disciple

Should not cling to anything in the entire world,

Bhadrāvudhamāṇavapucchā dvādasamā.

Attending this generation stuck in grasping,

Entangled in the realm of Death.

The Question of the Youth Bhadrāvudha, the twelfth.