SNP5.18 — Sutta Nipāta 5.18

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Verses in Praise of the Way to the Far Shore

The Blessed One said this while dwelling among the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇaka Shrine. Requested by the sixteen attending brahmins, he answered the questions as he was asked each in turn.

If one were to know the meaning and know the teaching of each and every question, and practice in line with the teaching, one would surely go to the far shore of old age and death. These teachings lead to the far shore—therefore, the designation for this exposition of the Dhamma is The Way to the Far Shore (Pārāyana).

Ajita, Tissa Metteyya,

Puṇṇaka, and then Mettagū;

Dhotaka and Upasīva,

Nanda, and then Hemaka;

Both Todeyya and Kappa,

and the wise Jatukaṇṇī;

Bhadrāvudha and Udaya,

and also the brahmin Posāla;

The intelligent Mogharāja,

and the great seer Piṅgiya:

These approached the Tathāgata,

the seer accomplished in conduct.

Asking profound questions,

they approached the supreme Tathāgata.

Being asked, the Tathāgata answered

their questions according to reality.

By answering their questions,

the sage satisfied the brahmins.

Satisfied by the Visionary,

the Tathāgata, the Kinsman of the Sun,

they lived the spiritual life

in the presence of the one of excellent wisdom.

Whoever would practice accordingly

for each and every question,

just as taught by the Tathāgata,

would go from the near shore to the far shore.

From the near shore to the far shore one would go,

developing the supreme path.

This is the path for going to the far shore,

therefore it is The Way to the Far Shore.

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