(Pārāyanatthutigāthā)
(Verses in Praise of the Way to the Beyond)
Idam-avoca Bhagavā Magadhesu viharanto Pāsāṇake cetiye.
This was said by the Fortunate One while living among the Magadhans at the Pāsāṇaka shrine.
Paricārika-soḷasānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ajjhiṭṭho,
The sixteen attendant brahmins requested,
puṭṭho puṭṭho pañhaṁ byākāsi.
asked, and asked, and he answered the questions.
Ekamekassa ce pi pañhassa attham-aññāya,
If, knowing the meaning of each question,
Dhammam-aññāya, Dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjeyya,
knowing the Teaching, he would practice in conformity with the Teaching,
gaccheyy' eva jarā-maraṇassa pāraṁ.
he would surely go beyond old age and death.
Pāraṁ gamanīyā ime Dhammā ti,
It is said these teachings go to the beyond,
tasmā imassa Dhammapariyāyassa
therefore this presentation of the Teaching
Pārāyanaṁ tv' eva adhivacanaṁ.
is indeed called The Way to the Beyond.
Ajito TissaMetteyyo, Puṇṇako atha Mettagū,
Ajita, Tissa Metteyya, Puṇṇaka, also Mettagū,
Dhotako Upasīvo ca, Nando ca atha Hemako, [149 (1124) 1]
Dhotaka, and Upasīva, Nanda, and also Hemaka,
TodeyyaKappā dubhayo, Jatukaṇṇī ca paṇḍito,
the two: Todeyya, and Kappa, and Jatukaṇṇī, the one who is wise,
Bhadrāvudho Udayo ca, Posālo cāpi brāhmaṇo,
Bhadrāvudha, and Udaya, also the brahmin Posāla,
Mogharājā ca medhāvī, Pingiyo ca mahā isi. [150 (1125) 2]
Mogharāja, the intelligent one, and the great seer Piṅgiya.
Ete Buddhaṁ upāgacchuṁ, sampannacaraṇaṁ isiṁ,
These went to the Buddha, to the seer with perfect conduct,
pucchantā nipuṇe pañhe, Buddhaseṭṭhaṁ upāgamuṁ. [151 (1126) 3]
asking subtle questions, they went to the Buddha who is best.
Tesaṁ Buddho byākāsi pañhe puṭṭho yathātathaṁ,
The Buddha answered as it truly is the questions that they asked,
pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena tosesi brāhmaṇe muni. [152 (1127) 4]
and by answering the questions the sage satisfied those brahmins.
Te tositā Cakkhumatā, Buddhen' ādiccabandhunā,
They, being satisfied by the Visionary, the Buddha, the kinsman of the sun,
brahmacariyam-acariṁsu varapaññassa santike. [153 (1128) 5]
lived the spiritual life under the One With Excellent Wisdom.
Ekamekassa pañhassa yathā Buddhena desitaṁ,
The Buddha taught like this (in response) to the questions one by one,
tathā yo paṭipajjeyya gacche pāraṁ apārato. [154 (1129) 6]
he who practices like this can go from here to the beyond.
Apārā pāraṁ gaccheyya bhāvento maggam-uttamaṁ.
From here to the beyond he can go by developing the supreme path.
Maggo sŏ pāraṁ gamanāya, tasmā Pārāyanaṁ iti. [155 (1130) 7]
This is the path for going to the beyond, therefore it is called The Way to the Beyond.