Ja 248 Kiṁsukopamajātaka
The Story about the Flame of the Forest
In the present four monks become Arahats, but along different paths, and wonder how all paths lead to the same destination. The Buddha then tells a story about people who see a Kiṁsuka tree at different times, and describe it very differently, but it is the same tree.
1. Sabbehi Kiṁsuko diṭṭho, kiṁ nvettha vicikicchatha?
The Kiṁsuka has been seen by (you) all, why are you doubtful here?
Na hi sabbesu ṭhānesu sārathī paripucchito ti!
You haven’t questioned the charioteer about all conditions!
Tattha,
In this connection, you haven’t questioned the charioteer about all conditions,
sabbehi vo Kiṁsuko diṭṭho,
the Kiṁsuka has been seen by all of you,
kiṁ nu tumhe ettha vicikicchatha?
why are you doubtful here?
Sabbesu ṭhānesu Kiṁsuko veso.
The appearance of the Kiṁsuka (should be seen) in all conditions.
Tumhehi pana na hi sabbesu ṭhānesu sārathi paripucchito,
But not having questioned the charioteer about the Kiṁsuka in all conditions,
tena vo kaṅkhā uppannā ti.
doubt has arisen for you because of that.
2. Evaṁ sabbehi ñāṇehi yesaṁ dhammā ajānitā,
In this way, for those who do not understand things with all knowledge,
Te ve dhammesu kaṅkhanti, Kiṁsukasmiṁ va bhātaro ti.
They doubt about things, like the brothers regarding the Kiṁsuka.
Tassattho:
This is the meaning:
yathā te bhātaro sabbesu ṭhānesu Kiṁsukassa adiṭṭhattā kaṅkhiṁsu,
just as those brothers have doubts, not having seen the Kiṁsuka in all conditions,
evaṁ sabbehi vipassanāñāṇehi yesaṁ,
so for those who, with insight and knowledge,
sabbe chaphassāyatanakhandhabhūtadhātubhedā dhammā ajānitā,
do not understand all things analysed as the six contacts, the spheres, the constituents, the materials and the elements,
Sotāpattimaggassa anadhigatattā appaṭividdhā,
not having attained, not having penetrated, the path of Stream-Entry, The first stage on the path to Awakening.
te ve tesu phassāyatanādidhammesu kaṅkhanti,
they have doubts about these things like contacts, spheres and so on,
yathā ekasmiṁ yeva Kiṁsukasmiṁ cattāro bhātaro ti.
just as the four brothers did regarding the Kiṁsuka.