1“Anejaṁ mūladassāviṁ,
“To the imperturbable, the seer of the root,”
2(iccāyasmā puṇṇako)
said Venerable Puṇṇaka,
3Atthi pañhena āgamaṁ;
“I have come seeking with a question.
4Kiṁ nissitā isayo manujā,
On what grounds have seers and men,
5Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ;
aristocrats and brahmins here in the world
6Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke,
performed so many different <j>sacrifices to the gods?
7Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.
I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
8“Ye kecime isayo manujā,
“Whatever seers and men,”
9(puṇṇakāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,
10Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ;
“aristocrats and brahmins here in the world
11Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke,
have performed so many different <j>sacrifices to the gods:
12Āsīsamānā puṇṇaka itthattaṁ;
all performed sacrifices bound to old age,
13Jaraṁ sitā yaññamakappayiṁsu”.
longing for this place.”
14“Ye kecime isayo manujā,
“As to those seers and men,”
15(iccāyasmā puṇṇako)
said Venerable Puṇṇaka,
16Khattiyā brāhmaṇā devatānaṁ;
“and aristocrats and brahmins here in the world
17Yaññamakappayiṁsu puthūdha loke,
who have performed so many different <j>sacrifices to the gods:
18Kaccissu te bhagavā yaññapathe appamattā;
being diligent in the technique of sacrifice,
19Atāruṁ jātiñca jarañca mārisa,
have they crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow?
20Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.
I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
21“Āsīsanti thomayanti abhijappanti juhanti,
“Hoping, invoking, praying, and worshiping,”
22(puṇṇakāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,
23Kāmābhijappanti paṭicca lābhaṁ;
“they pray for pleasure derived from profit.
24Te yājayogā bhavarāgarattā,
Devoted to sacrifice, besotted by rebirth,
25Nātariṁsu jātijaranti brūmi”.
they’ve not crossed over rebirth and old age, <j>I declare.”
26“Te ce nātariṁsu yājayogā,
“If those devoted to sacrifice,”
27(iccāyasmā puṇṇako)
said Venerable Puṇṇaka,
28Yaññehi jātiñca jarañca mārisa;
“have not, by sacrificing, <j>crossed over rebirth and old age,
29Atha ko carahi devamanussaloke,
who then in the world of gods and humans
30Atāri jātiñca jarañca mārisa;
has crossed over rebirth and old age, good fellow?
31Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ”.
I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this.”
32“Saṅkhāya lokasmi paroparāni,
“Having appraised the world high and low,”
33(puṇṇakāti bhagavā)
replied the Buddha,
34Yassiñjitaṁ natthi kuhiñci loke;
“there is nothing in the world that disturbs them.
35Santo vidhūmo anīgho nirāso,
Peaceful, unclouded, untroubled, <j>with no need for hope—
36Atāri so jātijaranti brūmī”ti.
they’ve crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”