Visākhāsutta

Udāna 2.9

Heartfelt Sayings 2.9

Visākhāsutta

With Visākhā

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena visākhāya migāramātuyā kocideva attho raññe pasenadimhi kosale paṭibaddho hoti.

Now at that time Visākhā was caught up in some business with King Pasenadi.

Taṁ rājā pasenadi kosalo na yathādhippāyaṁ tīreti.

But the king’s settlement did not meet her expectations.

Atha kho visākhā migāramātā divā divassa yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then, in the middle of the day, she went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said to her:

“handa kuto nu tvaṁ, visākhe, āgacchasi divā divassā”ti?

“So, Visākhā, where are you coming from in the middle of the day?”

“Idha me, bhante, kocideva attho raññe pasenadimhi kosale paṭibaddho;

“Sir, I am caught up in some business with King Pasenadi.

taṁ rājā pasenadi kosalo na yathādhippāyaṁ tīretī”ti.

But the king’s settlement did not meet my expectations.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Sabbaṁ paravasaṁ dukkhaṁ,

“All under another’s control is suffering,

sabbaṁ issariyaṁ sukhaṁ;

all under one’s own authority is pleasing;

Sādhāraṇe vihaññanti,

what’s shared is stressful for both parties,

yogā hi duratikkamā”ti.

for yokes are hard to escape.”

Navamaṁ.