[427] 3.
"To the imperturbable one (aneja), the seer of the root," (thus said the venerable Puṇṇaka,)
"I have come in need with a question:
dependent on what did seers and men —
khattiyas and brahmins — to the deities (devatā)
perform sacrifice (yañña), many here in the world?
I ask you, Blessed One; tell me this."
"Whatever seers and men," ("Puṇṇaka," said the Blessed One,)
"khattiyas and brahmins, to the deities
performed sacrifice, many here in the world —
hoping, Puṇṇaka, for this state of existence (itthatta),
bound to aging (jarā), they performed their sacrifices."
"Whatever seers and men," (thus said the venerable Puṇṇaka,)
"khattiyas and brahmins, to the deities
performed sacrifice, many here in the world —
did they, Blessed One, being heedful (on the path of sacrifice),
cross over birth (jāti) and aging, dear sir?
I ask you, Blessed One; tell me this."
"They hope, they extol, (they yearn,) they offer oblations," ("Puṇṇaka," said the Blessed One,)
"contingent upon gain they yearn for sensual pleasures (kāmā).
Yoked to sacrifice, impassioned with lust for existence (bhavarāga),
they have not crossed over birth and aging, I say."
"If those yoked to sacrifice have not crossed over," (thus said the venerable Puṇṇaka,)
"by means of sacrifices, birth and aging, dear sir,
then who, pray, in the world of devas and humans
has crossed over birth and aging, dear sir?
I ask you, Blessed One; tell me this."
"Having comprehended the far and the near in the world," ("Puṇṇaka," said the Blessed One,)
"one for whom there is no perturbation regarding anything in the world —
at peace, smokeless, untroubled, without longing —
he has crossed over birth and aging, I say."
The Question of the Student Puṇṇaka, the Third, is concluded.
[Suttanipāta, the fifth (chapter), the Pārāyanavagga: the fourth, the Question of Mettagū.]
[Variant readings noted in the Siam edition: (1) Po., Yu. read yaññamakappayiṃsu throughout; (2) Yu. puthū idha; (3) Ma. itthattaṃ, Yu. itthabhāvaṃ; (4) Po. oraṃ (for jaraṃ); (5) Po., Ma. āsīsanti; (6) Po. te ve nātariṃsu; (7) Ma. paroparāni.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.