English
means dwelling, moving, existing, maintaining, passing, living in the country named Magadha. "At the Pāsāṇaka shrine" means the Pāsāṇaka shrine is called the Buddha's seat - dwelling in Magadha, at the Pāsāṇaka shrine. "By sixteen attendant brahmins" means the brahmin Piṅgiya was a follower, an attendant, a servant, a pupil of the brahmin Bāvari. By Piṅgiya, those sixteen - thus also "by sixteen attendant brahmins." Or, those sixteen brahmins were followers, attendants, servants, pupils of the Buddha, the Blessed One - thus also "by sixteen attendant brahmins." "Being requested, questioned again and again, he answered the questions." "Requested" means requested, entreated. "Questioned again and again" means questioned, questioned, asked, asked, requested, requested, entreated, entreated, pleased, pleased. "He answered the questions" means he answered the questions, explained, taught, designated, established, revealed, divided, made clear, proclaimed - being requested, questioned again and again, he answered the questions. Therefore it is said - "This the Blessed One said, dwelling in Magadha, at the Pāsāṇaka shrine, by sixteen attendant brahmins being requested, questioned again and again, he answered the questions." 94. Even if for each single question, understanding the meaning, understanding the teaching, one were to practice according to the Dhamma and sub-Dhamma, g... He would reach the far shore of old age and death. These teachings lead to the far shore. Therefore, the designation for this discourse on the Dhamma is "Pārāyana" (The Way to the Far Shore). Even for each question, even for each question of Ajita, even for each question of Tissa-Metteyya, even for each question of Puṇṇaka, even for each question of Mettagū, even for each question of Dhotaka, even for each question of Upasīva, even for each question of Nandaka, even for each question of Hemaka, even for each question of Todeyya, even for each question of Kappa, even for each question of Jatukaṇṇī, even for each question of Bhadrāvudha, even for each question of Udaya, even for each question of Posāla, even for each question of Mogharāja, even for each question of Piṅgiya – even for each question. "Having understood the meaning, having understood the Dhamma" – the question itself is the Dhamma, the answer is the meaning. "Having understood the meaning" means having known, weighed, concluded, clarified, and made manifest the meaning. "Having understood the Dhamma" – having known, weighed, concluded, clarified, and made manifest the Dhamma – thus, "having understood the meaning, having understood the Dhamma." "He should practice in accordance with the Dhamma" – meaning the right practice, the conforming practice, the non-opposing practice, the practice in accordance with the meaning, the practice in accordance with the Dhamma and its sub-principles – he should practice in accordance with the Dhamma. "He would reach the far shore of old age and death" – the far shore of old age and death is called the deathless Nibbāna. That which is the calming of all formations, the relinquishing of all attachments, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna. "He would reach the far shore of old age and death" – he would go to the far shore of old age and death, he would attain the far shore, he would reach the far shore, he would realize the far shore – he would reach the far shore of old age and death. "These teachings lead to the far shore" – these teachings lead to the far shore. They lead to the far shore, the far shore. they reach the far shore, they attain the far shore, they lead to the crossing over of old age and death – these are the teachings that lead to the far shore. Therefore, of this discourse on Dhamma. 'Therefore' means for that reason, for that cause, for that condition, for that origin – therefore. 'Of this discourse on Dhamma' means of this 'Pārāyana' – therefore, of this discourse on Dhamma. 'Pārāyana' is the designation. 'Pāra' (the far shore) is called the deathless Nibbāna... and cessation, Nibbāna. 'Ayana' (the going) is called the path, namely – right view... and right concentration. 'Designation' means concept, appellation, term, usage, name, naming, nomenclature, etymology, expression, utterance – 'Pārāyana' is the designation. Therefore, it is said – ‘‘Even if for each single question understanding the meaning, understanding the Dhamma, one practices in accordance with the Dhamma, one would surely go to the far shore of old age and death. These are the teachings that lead to the far shore. Therefore, 'Pārāyana' is the designation for this discourse on Dhamma.’’ 95. Ajita, Tissa-Metteyya, Puṇṇaka, and Mettagū; Dhotaka, and Upasīva, Nanda, and then Hemaka. 96. Todeyya and Kappa, both, and Jatukaṇṇī, the wise one; Bhadrāvudha, and Udaya, and Posāla, the brahmin; Mogharāja, the intelligent one, and Piṅgiya, the great sage. 97. These approached the Buddha, the sage perfect in conduct; asking subtle questions, they came to the foremost Buddha. 'These approached the Buddha.' 'These' means the sixteen brahmins of the Pārāyana. 'Buddha' is that Blessed One, self-existent, without a teacher, who himself fully awakened to the truths in teachings unheard before, and there attained omniscience and mastery over the powers. 'Buddha' – in what sense is he Buddha? He is Buddha because he has awakened to the truths. He is Buddha because he awakens beings. He is Buddha by omniscience. He is Buddha by all-seeing. He is Buddha by having fully known. He is Buddha by having seen clearly. He is Buddha by being called one whose defilements are destroyed. He is Buddha by being called one who is unsoiled. He is Buddha by being utterly free from passion. one The Buddha is one whose defilements are utterly gone. The Buddha is one whose delusion is utterly gone. The Buddha is one who is utterly free from taints. The Buddha is one who has gone the one-way path. The Buddha is one who alone has fully awakened to the unsurpassed perfect self-awakening. The Buddha is one who has attained wisdom, having overcome unwisdom. "Buddha" is not a name made by a mother, nor by a father, nor by a brother, nor by a sister, nor by friends and associates, nor by relatives and kinsmen, nor by ascetics and brahmins, nor by deities. This is a true designation, leading to liberation, for the Buddhas, the Blessed Ones, upon the attainment of omniscience at the root of the Bodhi tree, that is, "Buddha." "They approach the Buddha" means they approached the Buddha, went to him, waited upon him, questioned him, inquired of him – they approached the Buddha. "The sage of perfect conduct": conduct is called the fulfillment of morality and good behavior. Restraint in morality is also conduct. Restraint of the senses is also conduct. Moderation in eating is also conduct. Devotion to wakefulness is also conduct. The seven good qualities are also conduct. The four jhānas are also conduct. "Perfect conduct" means perfect conduct, excellent conduct, distinguished conduct, foremost conduct, supreme conduct, pre-eminent conduct. "Sage" means the Blessed One, the sage, sought, searched for, investigated the great aggregate of morality, thus "sage"... ...or sought, searched for, investigated by beings of great power – "Where is the Buddha? Where is the Blessed One? Where is the God of gods? Where is the Bull among men?" – thus "sage" – the sage of perfect conduct. "Asking subtle questions." "Asking" means asking, requesting, entreating, pleasing. "Subtle questions" means profound, difficult to see, difficult to comprehend, peaceful, sublime, beyond the range of logic, subtle, to be known by the wise – questions – asking subtle questions. "They approached the supreme Buddha." "Buddha" means that Blessed One... ...a true designation, that is, "Buddha." "Supreme" means foremost, excellent, distinguished, pre-eminent, supreme, chief – they approached the Buddha, went to him, went to him. They waited upon, they questioned, they inquired— they approached the best of Buddhas. Therefore it is said: “These approached the Buddha, the sage perfect in conduct; Asking subtle questions, they approached the best of Buddhas.” 98. To them the Buddha explained, when asked, the question truly; By explaining the questions, the sage pleased the brahmins. “To them the Buddha explained.” “To them” means to the sixteen brahmins of the Parāyana. “Buddha” means that Blessed One... a true designation, namely “Buddha.” “Explained” means the Buddha explained to them, declared, taught, made known, established, revealed, analyzed, made clear, proclaimed – “to them the Buddha explained.” “When asked the question truly.” “When asked the question” means the question was asked, inquired, requested, entreated, pleased. “Truly” means as it should be declared, so he declared; as it should be taught, so he taught; as it should be made known, so he made known; as it should be established, so he established; as it should be revealed, so he revealed; as it should be analyzed, so he analyzed; as it should be made clear, so he made clear; as it should be proclaimed, so he proclaimed – “when asked the question truly.” “By explaining the questions” means by declaring, by teaching, by making known, by establishing, by revealing, by analyzing, by making clear, by proclaiming the questions – “by explaining the questions.” “The sage pleased the brahmins.” “Pleased” means he pleased, delighted, gladdened, satisfied, made them joyful. “Brahmins” means the sixteen brahmins of the Parāyana. “Sage” means silence is called knowledge... having transcended the net of attachment, he is a sage – “the sage pleased the brahmins.” Therefore it is said: “To them the Buddha explained, when asked, the question truly; By explaining the questions, the sage pleased the brahmins.” 99. They, pleased by the One with Vision, by the Buddha, kinsman of the sun; lived the holy life, in the presence of the supremely wise.