Piṅgiyamāṇavapucchā

Sutta Nipāta 5.17

Anthology of Discourses 5.17

Piṅgiyamāṇavapucchā

The Questions of Piṅgiya

“Jiṇṇohamasmi abalo vītavaṇṇo,

“I am old, feeble, and pallid,”

(iccāyasmā piṅgiyo)

said Venerable Piṅgiya,

Nettā na suddhā savanaṁ na phāsu;

“my eyes unclear, my hearing faint—

Māhaṁ nassaṁ momuho antarāva,

don’t let me perish while still confused.

Ācikkha dhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ;

Explain the teaching so that I may understand

Jātijarāya idha vippahānaṁ”.

the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“Disvāna rūpesu vihaññamāne,

“Seeing them being harmed
on account of forms,”

(piṅgiyāti bhagavā)

replied the Buddha,

Ruppanti rūpesu janā pamattā;

“those negligent folk are inflicted
on account of forms—

Tasmā tuvaṁ piṅgiya appamatto,

therefore, Piṅgiya, being diligent,

Jahassu rūpaṁ apunabbhavāya”.

give up form so as not to be reborn.”

“Disā catasso vidisā catasso,

“The four quarters, the intermediate directions,

Uddhaṁ adho dasa disā imāyo;

below, and above: in these ten directions

Na tuyhaṁ adiṭṭhaṁ asutaṁ amutaṁ,

there’s nothing at all in the world

Atho aviññātaṁ kiñcanamatthi loke;

that you’ve not seen, heard, thought, or cognized.

Ācikkha dhammaṁ yamahaṁ vijaññaṁ,

Explain the teaching so that I may understand

Jātijarāya idha vippahānaṁ”.

the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”

“Taṇhādhipanne manuje pekkhamāno,

“Observing mankind sunk in craving,”

(piṅgiyāti bhagavā)

replied the Buddha,

Santāpajāte jarasā parete;

“tormented, mired in old age;

Tasmā tuvaṁ piṅgiya appamatto,

therefore, Piṅgiya, being diligent,

Jahassu taṇhaṁ apunabbhavāyā”ti.

give up craving so as not to be reborn.”

Piṅgiyamāṇavapucchā soḷasamā.