The Questions of DhotakaDhotakamāṇavapucchā

“I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this,”“Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi metaṁ, said Venerable Dhotaka,(iccāyasmā dhotako) “I long for your voice, great seer.Vācābhikaṅkhāmi mahesi tuyhaṁ; After hearing your message,Tava sutvāna nigghosaṁ, I shall train myself for extinguishment.”Sikkhe nibbānamattano”.

“Well then, be keen, alert,”“Tenahātappaṁ karohi, replied the Buddha,(dhotakāti bhagavā) “and mindful right here.Idheva nipako sato; After hearing this message, go onIto sutvāna nigghosaṁ, and train yourself for extinguishment.”Sikkhe nibbānamattano”.

“I see in the world of gods and humans“Passāmahaṁ devamanussaloke, a brahmin traveling with nothing.Akiñcanaṁ brāhmaṇamiriyamānaṁ; I bow especially to you, All-seer:Taṁ taṁ namassāmi samantacakkhu, release me, Sakyan, from my indecisions.”Pamuñca maṁ sakka kathaṅkathāhi”.

“I am not able to release anyone“Nāhaṁ sahissāmi pamocanāya, in the world who is indecisive, Dhotaka.Kathaṅkathiṁ dhotaka kañci loke; But when you understand the best of teachings,Dhammañca seṭṭhaṁ abhijānamāno, you shall cross this flood.”Evaṁ tuvaṁ oghamimaṁ taresi”.

“Teach me, brahmin, out of compassion,“Anusāsa brahme karuṇāyamāno, the principle of seclusion so that I may understand.Vivekadhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ; I wish to practice right here, peaceful, independent,Yathāhaṁ ākāsova abyāpajjamāno, unobstructed as space itself.”Idheva santo asito careyyaṁ”.

“I shall extol that peace for you,”“Kittayissāmi te santiṁ, replied the Buddha,(dhotakāti bhagavā) “that is apparent in the present, not relying on legends.Diṭṭhe dhamme anītihaṁ; Having understood it, one who lives mindfullyYaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ, may cross over clinging in the world.”Tare loke visattikaṁ”.

“And I rejoice, great seer,“Tañcāhaṁ abhinandāmi, in that supreme peace,mahesi santimuttamaṁ; having understood which, one who lives mindfullyYaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ, may cross over clinging in the world.”tare loke visattikaṁ”.

“Once you have understood that everything,”“Yaṁ kiñci sampajānāsi, replied the Buddha,(dhotakāti bhagavā) “you are aware of in the world—Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe; above, below, all round, between—Etaṁ viditvā saṅgoti loke, is a chain, don’t crave for life after life.”Bhavābhavāya mākāsi taṇhan”ti.