Khemasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 6.49

Numbered Discourses 6.49

5. Dhammikavagga

5. About Dhammika

Khemasutta

With Khema

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā ca khemo āyasmā ca sumano sāvatthiyaṁ viharanti andhavanasmiṁ.

Now at that time Venerable Khema and Venerable Sumana were staying near Sāvatthī in the Dark Forest.

Atha kho āyasmā ca khemo āyasmā ca sumano yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā khemo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then they went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Venerable Khema said to the Buddha:

“Yo so, bhante, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto tassa na evaṁ hoti:

“Sir, a mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—does not think:

‘atthi me seyyoti vā atthi me sadisoti vā atthi me hīnoti vā’”ti.

‘There is someone better than me, or equal to me, or worse than me.’”

Idamavocāyasmā khemo.

That is what Khema said,

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

and the Teacher concurred.

Atha kho āyasmā khemo “samanuñño me satthā”ti uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then Khema, knowing that the Teacher concurred, got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho āyasmā sumano acirapakkante āyasmante kheme bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

And then, not long after Khema had left, Sumana said to the Buddha:

“yo so, bhante, bhikkhu arahaṁ khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto tassa na evaṁ hoti:

“Sir, a mendicant who is perfected—with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment—does not think:

‘natthi me seyyoti vā natthi me sadisoti vā natthi me hīnoti vā’”ti.

‘There is no one better than me, or equal to me, or worse than me.’”

Idamavocāyasmā sumano.

That is what Sumana said,

Samanuñño satthā ahosi.

and the Teacher concurred.

Atha kho āyasmā sumano “samanuñño me satthā”ti uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

Then Sumana, knowing that the Teacher concurred, got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho bhagavā acirapakkantesu āyasmante ca kheme āyasmante ca sumane bhikkhū āmantesi:

Then, not long after Khema and Sumana had left, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

“evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, kulaputtā aññaṁ byākaronti.

“Mendicants, this is how gentlemen declare enlightenment.

Attho ca vutto attā ca anupanīto.

The goal is spoken of, but the self is not involved.

Atha ca pana idhekacce moghapurisā hasamānakā maññe aññaṁ byākaronti.

But it seems that there are some futile men here who declare enlightenment as a joke.

Te pacchā vighātaṁ āpajjantīti.

Later they will fall into distress.

Na ussesu na omesu,

They don’t represent themselves

Samatte nopanīyare;

as being among superiors, inferiors, or equals.

Khīṇā jāti vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ,

Rebirth is ended,
the spiritual journey has been completed.

Caranti saṁyojanavippamuttā”ti.

They live freed from fetters.”

Sattamaṁ.