[444]
The Uraga, and the Dhaniya too, the Khaggavisāṇa, the Kasi [Kasibhāradvāja],
the Cunda, then again the Bhava [Parābhava], the Vasala, and the Karaṇīya [Metta],
the Hemavata, then the Yakkha [Āḷavaka], the Vijaya — an excellent sutta — and the Muni.
The best chapter, the first, most excellent in meaning,
bearing twelve suttas, well analyzed,
taught by the One with Vision, the Stainless One —
that excellent chapter is heard of as "the Uraga."
The Ratana, the Āmagandha, the Hiri, that named Maṅgala,
the Sūciloma and the Kapila [Dhammacariya], the Brāhmaṇadhamma [Brāhmaṇadhammika],
the Nāvā, the Kiṃsīla, and the Uṭṭhāna,
the Rāhula, and again the Vaṅgīsa,
and therein the Sammāparibbājaniya
and the excellent Dhammika sutta, well analyzed —
bearing fourteen suttas, in the second place:
they call it "the excellent Cūḷaka chapter" [Cūḷavagga].
The Pabbajjā, the Padhāna, that named Subhāsita,
the Puraḷāsa [Sundarikabhāradvāja], then again the Māgha,
the Sabhiya, the Keṇiya [Sela], that named Salla,
the excellent Vāseṭṭha, and the Kokālika too,
the excellent Nāḷaka sutta, well analyzed,
and likewise, once more, the Anupassī [Dvayatānupassanā] —
bearing twelve suttas, in the third place,
that excellent chapter is heard of under the name "Mahā" [Mahāvagga].
The Kāma, the Guhaṭṭhaka, that named Duṭṭhaṭṭhaka,
the excellent Suddhaṭṭhaka, that named Paramaṭṭhaka,
the Jarā and the excellent Metteyya sutta [Tissametteyya], well analyzed,
the Pasūra and the Māgandiya, the Pūrabheda [Purābheda],
the Kalahavivāda and both the Viyūhas [Cūḷaviyūha and Mahāviyūha],
the Tuvaṭaka, the Attadaṇḍa, and the Sāriputta —
bearing sixteen suttas, in the fourth place:
they call it "the excellent Aṭṭhaka chapter" [Aṭṭhakavagga].
In the delightful country of Magadha,
in that excellent region, an abode of those who have made merit,
at the excellent, well-laid-out Pāsāṇaka Shrine,
dwelt the Blessed One, foremost of the assembly.
Where both [hosts] had gathered in full,
in an assembly of twelve yojanas,
questioned there, it is said, by the sixteen brahmins,
through the questioning wrought of the sixteen questions,
he made it fully clear, he gave the Dhamma,
complete in phrasing that illuminates the meaning;
he taught the Dhamma that begets supreme security,
for the welfare of the world — the Victor (Jina), the best of bipeds (dipadagga).
The excellent discourse (suttavara), richly varied with many dhammas,
the means of release from all defilements (kilesa) —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Conjoined with phrasing and with words of meaning,
firm-set with similes made known through letters,
shattering [the stains] by the knowledge that surveys the world —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Amid the stain of lust (rāga), stainless, supreme in stainlessness;
amid the stain of hatred (dosa), stainless, supreme in stainlessness;
amid the stain of delusion (moha), stainless, supreme in stainlessness;
shattering [the stains] by the knowledge that surveys the world —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Amid the stain of the defilements, stainless, supreme in stainlessness;
amid the stain of misconduct, stainless, supreme in stainlessness;
shattering [the stains] by the knowledge that surveys the world —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
The defilements — the taints (āsava), the bonds, and the yokes —
the hindrances (nīvaraṇa), and the three stains:
as the means of freeing it [the world] from those defilements,
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Stainless, dispelling all defilements;
the fading away of lust, imperturbable, sorrowless;
the Dhamma peaceful, sublime, and very hard to see —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Shattering and stilling lust and hatred;
cutting off the womb [of rebirth], the bad destinations, and the fivefold consciousness (viññāṇa),
and delight in the ground that is craving (taṇhā); a shelter and a deliverance —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Deep, hard to see, fine and subtle,
its subtle meaning to be known by the wise,
shattering [the stains] by the knowledge that surveys the world —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
An enduring adornment of the flowers of the nine limbs [of the Teacher's teaching],
analyzed by way of the faculties (indriya), the jhānas, and the liberations (vimokkha),
having the excellent Eightfold Path (aṭṭhaṅgika-magga) as the supreme vehicle —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Like the moon, stainless, utterly pure;
like the ocean, brightly adorned with jewels;
like a flower, its splendor like the sun's —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
Secure and benign, blissful, cooling, peaceful,
the supreme goal, a shelter from Death,
as the cause of its [the world's] beholding the perfect quenching —
the best of bipeds taught that excellent discourse.
The Suttanipāta is concluded.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.