1. Abhabbo khīṇāsavo bhikkhu sampajānamusā bhāsituṃ.

abhabba (adj) = unable, incapable;
khīṇāsava (adj) = free from taints, whose taints are destroyed;
sampajānamusā = deliberate falsehood / lies;
bhāsituṃ (infinitive from bhāsati) = to speak

Translation : A bhikkhu whose taints are destroyed / exhausted is unable to speak deliberate lies.

 

2. Nayidaṃ sukaraṃ agāraṃ ajjhāvasatā ekantaparipuṇṇaṃ ekantaparisuddhaṃ saṅkhalikhitaṃ brahmacariyaṃ carituṃ.

nayidaṃ = na + idaṃ
idaṃ = this,
sukara = easy,
agāra = home,
ajjhāvasanta (adj) = one who inhabits / dwells,
ajjhāvasatā (inst. s of ajjhāvasanta) = by one dwelling (at),
ekanta = absolutely, extremely, perfectly;
paripuṇṇa = complete, full;
parisuddha = pure,
saṅkhalikhita = polished conch / shell,
brahmacariya = holy life,
carituṃ (infinitive from carati) = to live, to conduct;

Translation : It is not easy for one dwelling at home (for a householder) to live complete, absolutely pure holy life, which is like a polished conch.

 

3. Sakkā bhoge ca bhuñjituṃ puññāni ca kātuṃ.

sakkā (ind) = possible, able to;
bhoga = possession, wealth;
bhuñjituṃ (infinitive from bhuñjati) = to enjoy, to relish;
puñña = merit, good deed;
kātuṃ (infinitive from karoti) = to do, to perform;

Translation : It is possible to enjoy the possessions / wealth and (still) perform merits.

 

4. Pañcahi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu abhabbo sammāsamādhiṃ upasampajja viharituṃ.

pañca = five,
pañcahi = with five,
dhamma = quality,
samannāgata (adj) = possessing, endowed with;
abhabba = incapable,
sammāsamādhi = right concentration,
upasampajja = having attained,
viharituṃ (infinitive from viharati) = to dwell,
upasampajja viharituṃ = to attain and dwell,

Translation : Bhikkhus, a monk endowed with / possessed of five qualities is incapable of attaining and dwelling in right concentration.

The sentence can also be translated as – It is not possible for a bhikkhu … to attain and dwell in right concentration.

Note : These five qualities as mentioned in this sutta are – (1) a bhikkhu cannot patiently endure forms, (2) cannot … sounds, (3) … odours, (4) … tastes, and (5) … tactile objects.

 

5. Piṇḍapātiko, āvuso, bhikkhu piṇḍāya caranto labhati kālena kālaṃ manāpike cakkhunā rūpe passituṃ, labhati kālena kālaṃ manāpike sotena sadde sotuṃ, labhati kālena kālaṃ manāpike ghānena gandhe ghāyituṃ, labhati kālena kālaṃ manāpike jivhāya rase sāyituṃ, labhati kālena kālaṃ manāpike kāyena phoṭṭhabbe phusituṃ.

piṇḍapātika = one who collects alms,
caranta = one who walks,
labhati = gets,
kāla = time,
kālena kālaṃ = from time to time,
manāpika = pleasing, charming;
cakkhu = eye,
rūpa = form, object;
passituṃ = (infinitive from passati) = to see,
sota = ear,
sadda = sound,
sotuṃ = (infinitive from suṇāti) = to listen,
ghāna = nose,
gandha = smell, odour;
ghāyituṃ = (infinitive from ghāyati) = to smell,
jivhā = tongue,
rasa = taste, flavour;
sāyituṃ = (infinitive from sāyati) = to taste,
kāya = body,
phoṭṭhabba = tangible / tactile object,
phusituṃ = (infinitive from phusati) = to touch,

Translation : Friends! An alms-gathering monk while walking for alms, gets to see from time to time, pleasing forms with the eye; gets to listen from time to time, pleasing sounds with the ear, gets to smell from time to time, pleasing odours with the nose; gets to taste from time to time, pleasing flavours with the tongue; gets to touch from time to time, pleasing tangible objects with the body.

 

6. Hoti kho pana so samayo yaṃ imaṃ kāyaṃ jarā phusati. Jiṇṇena kho pana jarāya abhibhūtena na sukaraṃ buddhānaṃ sāsanaṃ manasi kātuṃ, na sukarāni araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevituṃ.

hoti = is,
pana = and, but;
so = that,
samaya = time,
yaṃ = that which, when;
ima = this,
imaṃ kāyaṃ = this body,
jarā = old age,
phusati = touches,
jiṇṇa = old,
abhibhūta = overcome,
na = no,
sukara = easy,
sāsana = teaching, dispensation;
manasi kātuṃ (infinitive from manasi karoti) = to bear in mind, to take to heart, to attend to;
araññavanapattha = forest, jungle;
panta = solitary,
senāsana = dwelling place, lodging;
paṭisevituṃ (infinitive from paṭisevati) = to follow, to practise, to indulge in

Translation : But there is a time when old age touches this body (this body will become old). It is not easy for one who is old, overpowered by old age, to attend to the teachings of the Buddhas, it is not easy (for him) to resort to solitary dwellings in forest and jungles.

 

7. Tadā nisajja pāsāde, dānaṃ dātuṃ vicintayiṃ.

tadā = then,
nisajja = having sat, being seated;
pāsāda = palace, mansion;
dātuṃ (infinitive from dadāti) = to give,
vicintayiṃ (PT, first person s. of vicinteti) = I thought, considered

Translation : Then, seated in the palace, I considered to give dāna (I thought of giving dāna).

 

8. Ahaṃ khomhi paṇḍito viyatto medhāvī paṭibalo atītānāgatapaccuppanne atthe cintetuṃ.

ahaṃ = I,
khomhi = kho + amhi,
amhi = I am,
paṇḍita = wise, intelligent,
viyatta = learned, accomplished;
medhāvī = wise,
paṭibala = able,
atītānāgatapaccuppanna = atīta + anāgata + paccuppanna = past, future and present
attha = benefit, advantage, welfare;
cintetuṃ (infinitive from cinteti) = to think, consider

Translation : I am wise, learned, intelligent, able to consider benefits (what is beneficial) regarding the past, present and future.

 

9. “Icchāma mayaṃ, bhante, pacchābhūmaṃ janapadaṃ gantuṃ, pacchābhūme janapade nivāsaṃ kappetun”ti.

icchāma = we wish, we desire;
mayaṃ = we,
pacchābhūma = western region,
janapada = country, province;
gantuṃ (infinitive from gam - gacchati) = to go,
nivāsa = dwelling, abode;
kappetun”ti = kappetuṃ + ti,
nivāsaṃ kappetuṃ (infinitive from nivāsaṃ kappeti) = to stay, to put up, to take up residence

Translation : Venerable Sir, we wish to go to the western province, (and) to take up residence in the western province.

Note : Please note the sandhi – kappetunti, where on combining with ‘ti’, the last letter ‘’ of the word kappetuṃ changes into ‘n’, the nasal from ta-vagga. Such sandhis are basically sound changes for easier pronunciation of the new (combined) words.

 

10. Yathā yathā kho ahaṃ, bhikkhave, upasaṅkamiṃ tathā tathā pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū nāsakkhiṃsu sakāya katikāya saṇṭhātuṃ.

yathā = as,
upasaṅkamiṃ = I approached,
tathā = thus, then;
pañcavaggiya = belonging to the group of five,
pañcavaggiyā bhikkhū = the five bhikkhus, the group of five monks;
nāsakkhiṃsu = na + sakkhiṃsu
sakkhiṃsu (PT third person p of sakkoti) = were capable of, were able to;
saka = own,
katikā = agreement, pact;
saṇṭhātuṃ (infinitive from saṇṭhāti) = to remain, to continue, to keep up

Translation : Bhikkhus, as I approached, the group of five bhikkhus was unable to keep up their (own) pact / agreement.

Note : The above sentence is with reference to the Buddha’s first meeting with the group of five monks, at Isipatana, after his enlightenment. The five monks, his former companions in the austere practices, had left the Bodhisatta, after he started partaking of the food. Now, as they saw the Buddha approaching them from far, they decided that they would not welcome him or perform any acts expressing respect. However, as the Buddha approached them, they were unable to keep up their pact and went on to welcome him and prepared a seat for him etc.

Last modified: Saturday, 4 November 2023, 12:18 PM