English
In whatever place, Ānanda, the powerful deities take up their abode, the minds of powerful kings and royal ministers there are inclined to build dwellings. In whatever place the middling deities take up their abode, the minds of middling kings and royal ministers there are inclined to build dwellings. In whatever place the lowly deities take up their abode, the minds of lowly kings and royal ministers there are inclined to build dwellings. As far as, Ānanda, the noble realm extends, as far as trade routes go, this Pāṭaliputta will be a chief city, a center of commerce. Pāṭaliputta, Ānanda, will have three dangers: from fire, or from water, or from internal strife. or not.” 153. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, approached the Blessed One. Having approached, they exchanged greetings with the Blessed One, and after conversing in a friendly and memorable way, they stood to one side. Standing to one side, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, said to the Blessed One: “May Master Gotama consent to our meal today, together with the community of monks.” The Blessed One consented by remaining silent. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, understanding the Blessed One’s consent, went to their own dwelling. Having gone, they prepared excellent hard and soft food in their dwelling and announced the time to the Blessed One: “It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready.” Then the Blessed One, having dressed in the forenoon, took his bowl and robe and went with the community of monks to the dwelling of Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers. Having gone, he sat down on the seat prepared. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, personally served and satisfied the community of monks headed by the Buddha with excellent hard and soft food. Then Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, when the Blessed One had finished eating and had removed his hand from the bowl, took a low seat and sat down to one side. When Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, were seated to one side, the Blessed One expressed his appreciation with these verses: “In whatever place a wise person dwells, there he should feed the virtuous, the restrained, the celibate. “To the deities who are there, he should dedicate the offering. Honored, they honor him; respected, they respect him. “Then they show him compassion, like a mother her own child. A person favored by deities always sees good fortune.” Then the Blessed One, having expressed his appreciation to Sunidha and Vassakāra, the Magadhan chief ministers, with these verses having rejoiced, rose from his seat and departed. 154. Now at that time, Sunidha and Vassakāra, the chief ministers of Magadha, followed the Blessed One closely, saying: "Whatever gate the ascetic Gotama leaves by today, that will be called Gotama's Gate. Whatever ford he crosses the river Gaṅgā by, that will be called Gotama's Ford." Then the gate by which the Blessed One departed was called Gotama's Gate. Then the Blessed One approached the river Gaṅgā. At that time, the river Gaṅgā was full, level with its banks, a crow's drink. Some people were looking for a boat, some were looking for a raft, some were binding a float, wishing to go from this shore to the other shore. Then the Blessed One—just as a strong man might extend his flexed arm, or flex his extended arm—even so, vanished from the near bank of the river Gaṅgā and reappeared on the far bank with the community of bhikkhus. The Blessed One saw those people, some looking for a boat, some looking for a raft, some binding a float, wishing to go from this shore to the other shore. Then the Blessed One, understanding this matter, on that occasion uttered this inspired utterance: "Those who cross the ocean-like flood, Having made a bridge, abandoning the puddles; Indeed, people bind a float, But the wise are already crossed." The First Recitation Section. Discourse on the Noble Truths 155. Then the Blessed One addressed Venerable Ānanda, saying: "Come, Ānanda, let us approach Koṭigāma." "Yes, venerable sir," Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with a large community of bhikkhus, arrived at Koṭigāma. There, it is said, the Blessed One dwelt in Koṭigāma. There, the Blessed Then he addressed the bhikkhus: "Because, bhikkhus, the Four Noble Truths were not understood, were not penetrated, thus have I run on, thus have I wandered on, for a long, long time, both I and you. Which four? Because, bhikkhus, the Noble Truth of Suffering was not understood, was not penetrated, thus have I run on, thus have I wandered on, for a long, long time, both I and you. Because, bhikkhus, the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering was not understood, was not penetrated, thus have I run on, thus have I wandered on, for a long, long time, both I and you. Because, bhikkhus, the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering was not understood, was not penetrated, thus have I run on, thus have I wandered on, for a long, long time, both I and you. Because, bhikkhus, the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering was not understood, was not penetrated, thus have I run on, thus have I wandered on, for a long, long time, both I and you. But now, bhikkhus, the Noble Truth of Suffering has been understood, has been penetrated. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering has been understood, has been penetrated. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering has been understood, has been penetrated. The Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering has been understood, has been penetrated. The craving for existence is cut off, the guide to existence is destroyed, there is no more renewed existence." This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this: "Not seeing the Four Noble Truths as they really are, I have wandered on for a long, long time through various births. Now these have been seen, the guide to existence is uprooted; the root of suffering is cut off, there is no more renewed existence." There, too, the Blessed One, while dwelling in Koṭigāma, often gave this discourse to the bhikkhus: "Such is virtue, such is concentration, such is wisdom. Concentration imbued with virtue is of great fruit, of great benefit. Wisdom imbued with concentration is of great fruit, of great benefit. The mind imbued with wisdom is rightly freed..." Thus he is freed from the taints, namely— the taint of sensual desire, the taint of existence, the taint of ignorance. Those who do not return, whose destination is perfect enlightenment. 156. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Koṭigāma as long as he wished, addressed Venerable Ānanda: “Come, Ānanda, let us go to Nātikā.” “Yes, venerable sir,” replied Venerable Ānanda to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, together with a large community of bhikkhus, arrived at Nātikā. There, too, the Blessed One stayed in Nātikā, in the brick house. Then Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached and saluted the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the bhikkhu named Sāḷha has passed away in Nātikā; what is his destination, what is his future state? Venerable sir, the bhikkhunī named Nandā has passed away in Nātikā; what is her destination, what is her future state? Venerable sir, the lay follower named Sudatta has passed away in Nātikā; what is his destination, what is his future state? Venerable sir, the lay follower named Sujātā has passed away in Nātikā; what is her destination, what is her future state? Venerable sir, the lay follower named Kukkuṭa has passed away in Nātikā; what is his destination, what is his future state? Venerable sir, the lay follower named Kāḷimba… Venerable sir, the lay follower named Nikaṭa… Venerable sir, the lay follower named Kaṭissaha… Venerable sir, the lay follower named Tuṭṭha… Venerable sir, the lay follower named Santuṭṭha… Venerable sir, the lay follower named Bhadda… Venerable sir, the lay follower named Subhadda has passed away in Nātikā; what is his destination, what is his future state?” 157. “Sāḷha, Ānanda, by the destruction of the taints, having realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, he abided therein. Nandā, Ānanda, the bhikkhunī, by the complete destruction of the five lower fetters, By the destruction of the lower fetters, spontaneously reborn, there attaining final Nibbāna, not liable to return from that world. Sudatta, Ananda, the lay follower, by the destruction of the three fetters, by the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, is a once-returner, having come to this world just once more, will make an end of suffering. Sujata, Ananda, the lay follower, by the destruction of the three fetters, is a stream-enterer, not liable to fall into states of woe, assured, bound for full enlightenment. Kukkuṭa, Ananda, the lay follower, by the destruction of the five lower fetters, spontaneously reborn, there attaining final Nibbāna, not liable to return from that world. Kāḷimba, Ananda, the lay follower, and so on, Nikaṭa, Ananda, the lay follower, and so on, Kaṭissaha, Ananda, the lay follower, and so on, Tuṭṭha, Ananda, the lay follower, and so on, Santuṭṭha, Ananda, the lay follower, and so on, Bhadda, Ananda, the lay follower, and so on, Subhadda, Ananda, the lay follower, by the destruction of the five lower fetters, spontaneously reborn, there attaining final Nibbāna, not liable to return from that world. More than fifty, Ananda, lay followers in Nātika have passed away, by the destruction of the five lower fetters, spontaneously reborn, there attaining final Nibbāna, not liable to return from that world. More than ninety, Ananda, lay followers in Nātika have passed away, by the destruction of the three fetters,