Dialogues of the Buddha, Part II — trans. T. W. and C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1910)

1 Of many and divers elements, ruler of gods, is this world composed. And that being so, people naturally incline to adhere to one or another of those elements ; and to whichsoever it be they, being so inclined, become strongly and tenaciously addicted, holding that "just this is true, the rest is foolish." And therefore it is that recluses and brahmins are not all wholly of one creed, one practice, one persuasion, one aim.'

[283] ' Are all recluses and brahmins, sir, perfectly proficient, perfectly saved, living perfectly the best life1, have they attained the right ideal 2 ? '

' No, ruler of gods, they are not all so.'

' Why, sir, are they not all so ? '

1 Those recluses and brahmins, ruler of gods, who are set free through the entire destruction of craving, only they are perfectly proficient, only they are perfectly saved, only they are living perfectly the best life and have attained the ideal. Therefore is it that not all recluses and brahmins are perfectly proficient, perfectly saved, living perfectly the best life, and have attained the ideal V

Such was the fashion of the Exalted One's answer to Sakka's question. And Sakka, delighted with the Exalted One's utterances, expressed his pleasure and appreciation saying : — ' That is so, Exalted One, that is so, O Welcome One ! I have got rid of doubt and am no longer puzzled, through hearing the answer of the Exalted One.'

7. So Sakka, expressing his pleasure at, and appre-

D. ii. 284. THE QUESTIONS OF SAKKA. 31 7

ciation of the Exalted One's utterance, spoke thus : — 1 Passion \ lord, is disease, passion is a cancer, passion is a dart, passion drags a man about by one rebirth and then another, so that he finds himself now up above now down below. Whereas other recluses and brahmins not of your followers, lord, gave me no opportunity to ask these questions, the Exalted One has answered for me, instructing me at length, so that the dart of doubt and perplexity has by the Exalted One been extracted.'

1 Accanta-brahmacari = ' se//Aa/Mena brahmawi ariyamaggawz caratiti.' Cy. ' Walking 'in the highest, Aryan Path.'

2 Accanta-pariyosana = ' pariyosanan ti nibbanaw.' Cy. ' The ideal ' is a free rendering, the term meaning the end, goal or climax.

3 This paragraph is quoted as from the Sakka-pa/zha at Sawyutta III, 13. Two unnecessary words are there added at the end of it. Buddhaghosa does not say anything on the discrepancy. The two words are either there added by mistake from Majjhima I, 251, where the phrase recurs, or stood originally in our text here.

[284] ' Do you admit to us, ruler of gods, that you have put the same questions to other recluses or brahmins ? '

< I do, lord.'

1 Then tell me, if it be not inconvenient to you, how they answered you.'

1 It is not inconvenient to me when the Exalted One is seated to hear, or others like him.'

' Then tell, ruler of gods.'

' I went to those, lord, whom I deemed to be recluses and brahmins, because they were dwelling in secluded forest abodes, and I asked them those questions. Being asked, they did not withdraw themselves, but put a counter-question to me : — "Who is the venerable one ? " I replied, " I, sir, am Sakka, ruler of gods." They asked me further : — "What business has brought the venerable ruler of gods to this place ? " Whereupon I taught them the Dharma as I had heard and learnt it. And they with only so much were well pleased saying : — " We have seen Sakka, ruler of gods, and he has answered that which we asked of him ! " And actually, instead of me becoming their disciple, they became mine. But I, lord, am a disciple of the Exalted One, a Stream-winner, who cannot be reborn in any state of woe, and who has the assurance of attaining to enlightenment V

1 Eja = calana////ena ta«ha. Cy., i.e. 'Craving, with respect to the thrill' (e-motion, com-motion) caused by it. 'Passion' lacks etymological coincidence with the implication of ' movement ' in e j a, but no other term is forceful enough.

2 Cf. Vol. I, pp. 190-2.

,l8 XXI. SAKKA-PANHA SUTTANTA. D. ii. 284.

' Do you admit to us, ruler of gods, that you have ever before experienced such satisfaction and such happiness as you now feel ? '

[285] ' Yes, lord, I do admit it.'

' And what do you admit, ruler of gods, with regard to that previous occasion ? '