Bodhivaggo
1-4: Nigrodhasuttaṁ (4)
The Discourse about the Banyan (Tree)
Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I heard:
ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Uruvelāyaṁ viharati,
at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Uruvelā,
najjā Nerañjarāya tīre Ajapālanigrodhamūle paṭhamābhisambuddho.
on the bank of the river Nerañjarā, at the root of the Goatherds’ Banyan tree, in the first (period) after attaining Awakening.
Tena kho pana samayena Bhagavā
Then at that time the Fortunate One
sattāhaṁ ekapallaṅkena nisinno hoti vimuttisukhapaṭisaṁvedī.
was sitting in one cross-legged posture for seven days experiencing the happiness of freedom.
Atha kho Bhagavā tassa sattāhassa accayena
Then with the passing of those seven days, the Fortunate One
tamhā samādhimhā vuṭṭhāsi.
arose from that concentration.
Atha kho aññataro huhuṅkajātiko brāhmaṇo
Then a certain brāhmaṇa who was by nature a grumbler
yena Bhagavā tenupasaṅkami, This construction
For a study of these approach formulas (based on Dīghanikāya) see Mark Allon, Style and Function (Tokyo, 1997).
went to the Fortunate One,
upasaṅkamitvā, Bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.
and after going, he exchanged greetings with the Fortunate One.
Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sārāṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi.
After exchanging courteous talk and greetings, he stood on one side.
Ekamantaṁ ṭhito Notice the complex repetition of the cognates in the last three sentences: first the finite followed by the absolutive ...
While stood on one side that brāhmaṇa said this to the Fortunate One:
“Kittāvatā nu kho bho Gotama brāhmaṇo hoti?
“To what extent, dear Gotama, is one a brāhmaṇa?
Katame ca pana brāhmaṇakaraṇā dhammā?” ti
And again what things make one a brāhmaṇa?”
Atha kho Bhagavā, etam-atthaṁ viditvā,
Then the Fortunate One, having understood the significance of it,
tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance:
“Yo brāhmaṇo bāhitapāpadhammo, There is a word play here between
“That brāhmaṇa who has removed bad things,
Nihuhuṅko nikkasāvo yatatto,
Not grumbling, free from blemish, self-restrained,
Vedantagū vusitabrahmacariyo,
With perfect understanding, (and) the spiritual life accomplished,
Dhammena so Brahmavādaṁ vadeyya, Another word play, this time having reference to the Brāhmaṇical doctrine of the impersonal Brahman, as found in the Upaniṣads.
Righteously he might speak a word about the Brahman,
Yassussadā
For him there is no arrogance anywhere in the world.”