So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati maddakucchismiṁ migadāye.

Now at that time the Buddha’s foot had been cut by a wooden splinter. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavato pādo sakalikāya khato hoti. The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable. Bhusā sudaṁ bhagavato vedanā vattanti sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā; But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness. tā sudaṁ bhagavā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno. And then he spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware. Atha kho bhagavā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpetvā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno.

Then, late at night, seven hundred glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Maddakucchi, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Atha kho sattasatā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ maddakucchiṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.

Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “The ascetic Gotama is such an elephant, sir! “nāgo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; And as an elephant, he endures painful physical feelings that have come up—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable—unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.” nāgavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “The ascetic Gotama is such a lion, sir! “sīho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; And as a lion, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.” sīhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “The ascetic Gotama is such a thoroughbred, sir! “ājānīyo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; And as a thoroughbred, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.” ājānīyavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “The ascetic Gotama is such a boss bull, sir! “nisabho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; And as a boss bull, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.” nisabhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “The ascetic Gotama is such a behemoth, sir! “dhorayho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; And as a behemoth, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.” dhorayhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “The ascetic Gotama is truly tamed, sir! “danto vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo; And as someone tamed, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.” dantavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.

Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence: Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi: “See, his immersion is so well developed, and his mind is so well freed—not leaning forward or pulling back, and not held in place by forceful suppression. “passa samādhiṁ subhāvitaṁ cittañca suvimuttaṁ, na cābhinataṁ na cāpanataṁ na ca sasaṅkhāraniggayhavāritagataṁ. If anyone imagines that they can overcome such an elephant of a man, a lion of a man, a thoroughbred of a man, a boss bull of a man, a behemoth of a man, a tamed man—what is that but a failure to see?” Yo evarūpaṁ purisanāgaṁ purisasīhaṁ purisaājānīyaṁ purisanisabhaṁ purisadhorayhaṁ purisadantaṁ atikkamitabbaṁ maññeyya kimaññatra adassanā”ti.

“Learned in the five branches of Vedic lore, “Pañcavedā sataṁ samaṁ, brahmins practice fervent mortification for a full century. Tapassī brāhmaṇā caraṁ; But their minds are not properly freed, Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ, for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore. Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.

Seized by craving, <j>attached to precept and observance, Taṇhādhipannā vatasīlabaddhā, they practice rough and fervent mortification for a hundred years. Lūkhaṁ tapaṁ vassasataṁ carantā; But their minds are not properly freed, Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ, for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore. Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.

Someone who’s fond of conceit can’t be tamed, Na mānakāmassa damo idhatthi, and someone without immersion can’t be a sage. Na monamatthi asamāhitassa; Living negligent alone in the wilderness, Eko araññe viharaṁ pamatto, they can’t pass beyond Death’s dominion.” Na maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.

“Having given up conceit, serene within oneself, “Mānaṁ pahāya susamāhitatto, with a good heart, everywhere free; Sucetaso sabbadhi vippamutto; living diligent alone in the wilderness, Eko araññe viharamappamatto, they pass beyond Death’s dominion.” Sa maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.