• Anthology of Discourses 3.1 Sutta Nipāta 3.1

Going Forth Pabbajjāsutta

ā€œI shall extol going forth ā€œPabbajjaṁ kittayissāmi, with the example of the Clear-eyed One, yathā pabbaji cakkhumā; the course of inquiry that led to Yathā vÄ«maṁsamāno so, his choice to go forth. pabbajjaṁ samarocayi.

ā€˜This life at home is cramped, Sambādhoyaṁ gharāvāso, a realm of dirt.’ rajassāyatanaṁ iti; ā€˜The life of one gone forth is like an open space.’ Abbhokāsova pabbajjā, Seeing this, he went forth. iti disvāna pabbaji.

Having gone forth, he shunned Pabbajitvāna kāyena, bad deeds of body. pāpakammaṁ vivajjayi; And leaving verbal misconduct behind, Vacīduccaritaṁ hitvā, he purified his livelihood. ājīvaṁ parisodhayi.

The Buddha went to Rājagaha, Agamā rājagahaṁ buddho, the Mountainfold of the Magadhans. magadhānaṁ giribbajaṁ; He betook himself for alms, Piį¹‡įøÄya abhihāresi, replete with excellent marks. ākiṇṇavaralakkhaṇoā€.

Bimbisāra saw him Tamaddasā bimbisāro, while standing atop his longhouse. pāsādasmiṁ patiį¹­į¹­hito; Noticing that he was endowed with marks, Disvā lakkhaṇasampannaṁ, he said the following: imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.

ā€˜Pay heed, sirs, to this one, ā€œImaṁ bhonto nisāmetha, handsome, majestic, radiant; abhirÅ«po brahā suci; accomplished in deportment, Caraṇena ca sampanno, he looks just a plough’s length in front. yugamattaƱca pekkhati.

Eyes downcast, mindful, Okkhittacakkhu satimā, unlike one from a low family. nāyaṁ nÄ«cakulāmiva; Let the king’s messengers run out, RājadÅ«tābhidhāvantu, and find where the mendicant will go.’ kuhiṁ bhikkhu gamissatiā€.

The messengers sent out Te pesitā rājadÅ«tā, followed right behind, thinking piį¹­į¹­hito anubandhisuṁ; ā€˜Where will the mendicant go? Kuhiṁ gamissati bhikkhu, Where shall he find a place to stay?’ kattha vāso bhavissati.

Wandering indiscriminately for alms, Sapadānaṁ caramāno, sense doors guarded and well restrained, guttadvāro susaṁvuto; aware and mindful, Khippaṁ pattaṁ apūresi, his bowl was quickly filled. sampajāno paṭissato.

Having wandered for alms, Piį¹‡įøacāraṁ caritvāna, the sage left the city. Nikkhamma nagarā muni; He betook himself to Mount Paį¹‡įøava, Paį¹‡įøavaṁ abhihāresi, thinking, ā€˜Here is the place I shall stay.’ Ettha vāso bhavissati.

Seeing that he had arrived at a place to stay, Disvāna vāsūpagataṁ, the messengers withdrew nearby, Tayo dūtā upāvisuṁ; but one of them returned Tesu ekova āgantvā, to inform the king. Rājino paṭivedayi.

ā€˜Great king, the mendicant ā€œEsa bhikkhu mahārāja, is on the east flank of Mount Paį¹‡įøava. Paį¹‡įøavassa puratthato; There he sits, like a tiger or a bull, Nisinno byagghusabhova, like a lion in a mountain cave.’ SÄ«hova girigabbhareā€.

Hearing the messenger’s report, Sutvāna dÅ«tavacanaṁ, the aristocrat set out Bhaddayānena khattiyo; hurriedly in his fine chariot TaramānarÅ«po niyyāsi, towards Mount Paį¹‡įøava. Yena paį¹‡įøavapabbato.

He went as far as vehicles could go, Sa yānabhÅ«miṁ yāyitvā, then dismounted from his chariot, Yānā oruyha khattiyo; approached on foot, Pattiko upasaį¹…kamma, and reaching him, drew near. Āsajja naṁ upāvisi.

Seated, the king greeted him Nisajja rājā sammodi, and made polite conversation. Kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ tato; When the courtesies were over, Kathaṁ so vÄ«tisāretvā, he said the following: Imamatthaṁ abhāsatha.

ā€˜You are young, just a youth, ā€œYuvā ca daharo cāsi, a lad in the prime of life. Paį¹­hamuppattiko susu; You are endowed with beauty and stature, Vaṇṇārohena sampanno, like an aristocrat of good birth Jātimā viya khattiyo.

in glory at the army’s head, Sobhayanto anÄ«kaggaṁ, surrounded by a troop of elephants. Nāgasaį¹…ghapurakkhato; I offer you pleasures—enjoy them! Dadāmi bhoge bhuƱjassu, But please tell me of your birth.’ Jātiṁ akkhāhi pucchitoā€.

ā€˜Up north, O King, ā€œUjuṁ janapado rāja, on the slopes of the Himalayas, Himavantassa passato; full of wealth and strength, lies the land Dhanaviriyena sampanno, of one whose abode is among the Kosalans. Kosalesu niketino.

Their clan is named for the Sun, Ādiccā nāma gottena, they are Sakyans by birth. Sākiyā nāma jātiyā; I have gone forth from that family—Tamhā kulā pabbajitomhi, I do not yearn for sensual pleasure. Na kāme abhipatthayaṁ.

Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures, KāmesvādÄ«navaṁ disvā, seeing renunciation as sanctuary, Nekkhammaṁ daį¹­į¹­hu khemato; I shall go on to strive; Padhānāya gamissāmi, that is where my mind delights.ā€™ā€ Ettha me raƱjatÄ« manoā€ti.