Piyatarasutta

Udāna 5.1

Heartfelt Sayings 5.1

Piyatarasutta

Who is More Dear?

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

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 rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ uparipāsādavaragato hoti.

Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala was upstairs in the royal longhouse together with Queen Mallikā.

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavoca:

Then King Pasenadi addressed Queen Mallikā,

“atthi nu kho te, mallike, kocañño attanā piyataro”ti?

“Mallikā, is there anyone more dear to you than yourself?”

“Natthi kho me, mahārāja, kocañño attanā piyataro.

“No, Great King, there isn’t.

Tuyhaṁ pana, mahārāja, atthañño koci attanā piyataro”ti?

But is there anyone more dear to you than yourself?”

“Mayhampi kho, mallike, natthañño koci attanā piyataro”ti.

“For me also, Mallikā, there’s no one.”

Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo pāsādā orohitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then King Pasenadi of Kosala came downstairs from the stilt longhouse, went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“Idhāhaṁ, bhante, mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ uparipāsādavaragato mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavocaṁ:

‘atthi nu kho te, mallike, kocañño attanā piyataro’ti?

Evaṁ vutte, mallikā devī maṁ etadavoca:

‘natthi kho me, mahārāja, kocañño attanā piyataro.

Tuyhaṁ pana, mahārāja, atthañño koci attanā piyataro’ti?

Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, mallikaṁ deviṁ etadavocaṁ:

‘mayhampi kho, mallike, natthañño koci attanā piyataro’”ti.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

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

“Sabbā disā anuparigamma cetasā,

“Having explored every quarter with the mind,

Nevajjhagā piyataramattanā kvaci;

one finds no one dearer than oneself.

Evaṁ piyo puthu attā paresaṁ,

Likewise for others, each holds themselves dear;

Tasmā na hiṁse paramattakāmo”ti.

so one who desires self-knowledge
would harm no other.”

Paṭhamaṁ.