MN 26. Ariyapariyesanasuttaṁ
The Discourse about the Noble Search
[3. The Decision to Search for Awakening]
Aham-pi sudaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbe va sambodhā,
I also, monks, before the Awakening,
anabhisambuddho Bodhisatto va samāno,
while still an unawakened Bodhisatta,
attanā jātidhammo samāno, jātidhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to birth, sought out what was subject to birth,
attanā jarādhammo samāno, jarādhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to old-age, sought out what was subject to old-age,
attanā byādhidhammo samāno, byādhidhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to sickness, sought out what was subject to sickness,
attanā maraṇadhammo samāno, maraṇadhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to death, sought out what was subject to death,
attanā sokadhammo samāno, sokadhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to grief, sought out what was subject to grief,
attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno, saṅkilesadhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi.
being myself subject to defilements, sought out what was subject to defilements.
Tassa mayhaṁ, bhikkhave, etad-ahosi:
Then, monks, this occurred to me:
‘Kiṁ nu BJT, RTE, PTS:
‘Why, being myself subject to birth, do I seek out what is subject to birth,
attanā jarādhammo samāno, jarādhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to old-age, do I seek out what is subject to old-age,
attanā byādhidhammo samāno, byādhidhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to disease, do I seek out what is subject to disease,
attanā maraṇadhammo samāno, maraṇadhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to death, do I seek out what is subject to death,
attanā sokadhammo samāno, sokadhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi,
being myself subject to grief, do I seek out what is subject to grief,
attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno, saṅkilesadhammañ-ñeva pariyesāmi?
being myself subject to defilements, do I seek out what is subject to defilements?
Yaṁ nūnāhaṁ PTS:
What if I, being myself subject to birth, after understanding the danger in being subject to birth,
ajātaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ Nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ,
were to seek out the birthless, supreme, secure Nibbāna,
attanā jarādhammo samāno, jarādhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā,
being myself subject to old-age, after understanding the danger in being subject to old-age,
ajaraṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ Nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ,
were to seek out the ageless, supreme, secure Nibbāna,
attanā byādhidhammo samāno, byādhidhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā,
being myself subject to disease, after understanding the danger in being subject to disease,
abyādhiṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ Nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ,
were to seek out the sickless, supreme, secure Nibbāna,
attanā maraṇadhammo samāno, maraṇadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā,
being myself subject to death, after understanding the danger in being subject to death,
amataṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ Nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ,
were to seek out the deathless, supreme, secure Nibbāna,
attanā sokadhammo samāno, sokadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā,
being myself subject to grief, after understanding the danger in being subject to grief,
asokaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ Nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyaṁ,
were to seek out the griefless, supreme, secure Nibbāna,
attanā saṅkilesadhammo samāno, saṅkilesadhamme ādīnavaṁ viditvā,
being myself subject to defilements, after understanding the danger in being subject to defilements,
asaṅkiliṭṭhaṁ anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ Nibbānaṁ pariyeseyyan-ti?’
were to seek out the undefiled, supreme, secure Nibbāna?’