4.11 The Story about the Elder Godhika’s Parinibbāna
Godhikattherassa Parinibbānavatthu

“Māra cannot find the path,” [29.90] {1.431} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while in residence at Veḷuvana near Rājagaha with reference to the passing into Pariibbāna by Elder Godhika.

For while this venerable elder was in residence at Black Rock on Mount Isigili, heedful, ardent, resolute, having attained emancipation of the mind by the practice of meditation, he was attacked by a certain disease brought on by diligent application to duty, and fell away from a state of absorption. A second time and a third time, and unto six times, did he enter into a state of absorption and fall away therefrom. As he entered into a state of absorption for the seventh time, he thought to himself: “Six times I have fallen away from a state of absorption. Doubtful is the future state of him who falls away from a state of absorption. Now is the time for me to use the razor.”

Accordingly he took the razor with which he shaved his hair, and lay down on his bed, intending to sever his windpipe. Māra perceived his intention and thought to himself: “This bhikkhu intends to use the razor. Those who use the razor are indifferent to life. Such men, having attained insight, win Arahatship. But if I try to prevent him from carrying out his intention, he will pay no attention to my words. I will therefore induce the Teacher to prevent him.” So in the guise of an unknown he approached the Teacher and spoke thus: {1.432}

Great Hero, One who is Great in Wisdom,
shining with glory and psychic power,
One who has Overcome All Foes and Fear,
All-Seeing One, I bow down at your feet.

Your disciple, Great Hero, though
having overcome death, still
wishes and thinks about dying,
prohibit it, Resplendent One.

Why, Fortunate One, does your disciple,
who takes delight in the Dispensation,
a trainee, who is unattained,
make his time, One Famed amongst Men?

At that moment the elder drew his knife. The Teacher, perceiving that it was Māra, pronounced the following verse:

Exactly this the wise ones do,
they do not yearn for life, having
overcome craving at the root,
Godhika attained Parinibbāna. [29. 91]

Now the Fortunate One, accompanied by a large number of bhikkhus, entered the place where the elder had lain down and used his knife. At that moment Māra, the Wicked One, like a pillar of smoke or a mass of darkness, was searching in all directions for the elder’s consciousness. He thought: “Where has his rebirth-consciousness fixed itself?”

The Fortunate One pointed out to the bhikkhus the pillar of smoke and the mass of darkness and said to them: “Bhikkhus, that is Māra, the Wicked One, searching for the consciousness of the youth of good family Godhika. Thinks he: ‘Where has the consciousness of the youth of good family Godhika fixed itself?’ But, bhikkhus, the consciousness of the youth of good family Godhika has not fixed itself. For, bhikkhus, the youth of good family Godhika has passed into Parinibbāna.”

Māra, unable to find the place where the consciousness of the elder had fixed itself, assumed the form of a prince, {1.433} and taking in his hand a lute made of the light yellow wood of the vilva tree, approached the Teacher and asked him:

Above, below, and across the middle,
in every point and intermediate points,
I sought him, without finding him,
whereabouts has Godhika gone?

The Teacher said to Māra:

This wise man, who is resolute,
who meditates, delighting in meditation,
who is devoted, day and night,
without having desire for life,

overcoming death and his army,
he will never return again, having
overcome craving at the root,
Godhika attained Parinibbāna.

When the Teacher had thus spoken, Māra, the Wicked One, addressed the Fortunate One with a verse:

He is overcome with grief,
his Vīṇā dropped from the arms,
then did that Yakkha, depressed,
disappear right there and then.

Then said the Teacher: “Wicked One, what have you to do with the place where the consciousness of the youth of good family Godhika has fixed itself? A hundred or a thousand like you could never find it.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

57. Tesaṁ sampannasīlānaṁ, appamādavihārinaṁ,
sammad-aññāvimuttānaṁ, Māro maggaṁ na vindati.

Māra cannot find the path of
those who are endowed with virtue,
who live heedfully, and who are
freed through complete and deep knowledge.

At the end of the teaching many attained the fruition of Stream-entry, and many people benefited from that teaching.

last updated: August 2024