[383]
I am filled with confidence all the more,
having heard the Dhamma of great flavor:
the Dhamma that has been taught is dispassion (virāga),
without clinging to anything at all.
Many are the dazzling things in the world,
here upon this circle of the earth;
they churn up, methinks, one's thinking —
thoughts of the beautiful, bound up with lust.
As a rain-cloud would lay to rest
the dust stirred up by the wind,
so thoughts subside
when one sees with wisdom (paññā).
"All conditioned things (saṅkhārā) are impermanent":
when one sees this with wisdom,
then one grows disenchanted with suffering (dukkha) —
this is the path to purity (visuddhi).
"All conditioned things are suffering":
when one sees this with wisdom,
then one grows disenchanted with suffering —
this is the path to purity.
"All things (dhammā) are not-self (anattā)":
when one sees this with wisdom,
then one grows disenchanted with suffering —
this is the path to purity.
The elder Koṇḍañña, awakened in succession to the Buddha,
a man of keen exertion,
has abandoned birth and death,
consummate in the holy life (brahmacariya).
The flood, the snare, the firm stake,
the mountain so hard to cleave —
having cut the stake and the snare,
having split the rock so hard to break,
crossed over, gone to the far shore, a meditator (jhāyī),
he is released from the bondage of Māra.
A restless, fickle bhikkhu,
relying upon evil friends,
sinks down in the great flood,
overwhelmed by the wave.
Not restless, not fickle,
prudent, his faculties restrained,
with good friends (kalyāṇamitta), intelligent —
such a one may make an end of suffering.
His limbs like the knotted joints of the kāla plant,
lean, his body overspread with veins,
knowing moderation in food and drink,
a man of undaunted mind —
touched by gadflies and mosquitoes
in the wilderness, in the mighty forest,
like an elephant at the head of the battle,
mindful (sato), he should endure there.
I take no delight in death,
I take no delight in life;
I await my time,
as a hired servant awaits his wages.
I take no delight in death,
I take no delight in life;
I await my time,
clearly comprehending (sampajāno) and mindful.
The Teacher has been served by me,
the Buddha's teaching has been done;
the heavy burden has been laid down,
the conduit to existence (bhavanetti) has been uprooted.
And the goal for whose sake I went forth
from home into homelessness —
that goal I have attained:
what need have I of a co-resident pupil (saddhivihārin)?
The Elder Aññākoṇḍañña.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.