1.1PTS 3.345Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

1.2Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.1.3Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda,1.4“āyāmānanda, yena pubbārāmo migāramātupāsādo tenupasaṅkamissāma divāvihārāyā”ti.“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.”

1.5“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

2.1Atha kho bhagavā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ yena pubbārāmo migāramātupāsādo tenupasaṅkami.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the Eastern Monastery.2.2Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi:In the late afternoon the Buddha came out of retreat and addressed Ānanda,2.3“āyāmānanda, yena pubbakoṭṭhako tenupasaṅkamissāma gattāni parisiñcitun”ti.“Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the eastern gate to bathe.”

2.4“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi.“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.2.5Atha kho bhagavā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ yena pubbakoṭṭhako tenupasaṅkami gattāni parisiñcituṁ.So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the eastern gate to bathe.2.6Pubbakoṭṭhake gattāni parisiñcitvā paccuttaritvā ekacīvaro aṭṭhāsi gattāni pubbāpayamāno.When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs.

3.1PTS 3.346Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa seto nāma nāgo mahātūriyatāḷitavāditena pubbakoṭṭhakā paccuttarati.Now, at that time King Pasenadi had a giant bull elephant called “White”. It emerged from the eastern gate to the beating and playing of musical instruments.

3.2Apissu taṁ jano disvā evamāha:When people saw it they said,3.3“abhirūpo vata bho rañño nāgo; dassanīyo vata bho rañño nāgo; pāsādiko vata, bho, rañño nāgo, kāyupapanno vata bho rañño nāgo”ti.“The royal giant is so handsome! The royal giant is so good-looking! The royal giant is so lovely! The royal giant has such a big body!”

3.4Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā udāyī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:When they said this, Venerable Udāyī said to the Buddha,3.5“hatthimeva nu kho, bhante, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ kāyupapannaṁ jano disvā evamāha:“Sir, is it only when they see elephants with such a big, formidable body that people say:3.6‘nāgo vata bho nāgo’ti, udāhu aññampi kañci mahantaṁ brahantaṁ kāyupapannaṁ jano disvā evamāha: ‘nāgo vata bho nāgo’”ti?‘A giant, such a giant’? Or do they say it when they see any other creatures with big, formidable bodies?”

3.7“Hatthimpi kho, udāyi, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ kāyupapannaṁ jano disvā evamāha:“Udāyī, when they see elephants with such a big, formidable body people say:3.8‘nāgo vata bho nāgo’ti.‘A giant, such a giant!’

3.9Assampi kho, udāyi, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ …pe…And also when they see a horse with a big, formidable body …

3.10goṇampi kho, udāyi, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ …pe…When they see a bull with a big, formidable body …

3.11uragampi kho, udāyi, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ …pe…When they see a serpent with a big, formidable body …

3.12rukkhampi kho, udāyi, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ …pe…When they see a tree with a big, formidable body …

3.13manussampi kho, udāyi, mahantaṁ brahantaṁ kāyupapannaṁ jano disvā evamāha:And when they see a human being with such a big, formidable body people say:3.14‘nāgo vata, bho, nāgo’ti.‘A giant, such a giant!’

3.15Api ca, udāyi, yo sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya āguṁ na karoti kāyena vācāya manasā, tamahaṁ ‘nāgo’ti brūmī”ti.But Udāyī, one who does nothing monstrous by way of body, speech, and mind is who I call a ‘giant’ in this world with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.”

4.1“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante.“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!4.2Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā—How well said this was by the Buddha:4.3api ca, udāyi, yo sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya āguṁ na karoti kāyena vācāya manasā, tamahaṁ ‘nāgo’ti brūmīti.‘But Udāyī, one who does nothing monstrous by way of body, speech, and mind is who I call a “giant” in this world with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.’4.4Idañca panāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā subhāsitaṁ imāhi gāthāhi anumodāmi—And I celebrate the well-spoken words of the Buddha with these verses:

5.1Manussabhūtaṁ sambuddhaṁ,Awakened as a human being,5.2attadantaṁ samāhitaṁ;self-tamed and immersed in samādhi,5.3Iriyamānaṁ brahmapathe,following the spiritual path,5.4cittassūpasame rataṁ.he loves peace of mind.

6.1Yaṁ manussā namassanti,Revered by people,6.2sabbadhammāna pāraguṁ;gone beyond all things,6.3Devāpi taṁ namassanti,even the gods revere him;6.4iti me arahato sutaṁ.so I’ve heard from the perfected one.

7.1Sabbasaṁyojanātītaṁ,He has transcended all fetters7.2vanā nibbanamāgataṁ;and escaped from entanglements.7.3Kāmehi nekkhammarataṁ,Delighting to renounce sensual pleasures,7.4muttaṁ selāva kañcanaṁ.he’s freed like lustrous gold from stone.

8.1Sabbe accarucī nāgo,That giant outshines all,8.2himavāññe siluccaye;like the Himalaya beside other mountains.8.3Sabbesaṁ nāganāmānaṁ,Of all those named ‘giant’,8.4saccanāmo anuttaro.he is truly named, supreme.

9.1Nāgaṁ vo kittayissāmi,I shall extol the giant for you,9.2na hi āguṁ karoti so;for he does nothing monstrous.9.3Soraccaṁ avihiṁsā ca,Gentleness and harmlessness9.4pādā nāgassa te duve.are two feet of the giant.

10.1Tapo ca brahmacariyaṁ,Fervor and chastity10.2caraṇā nāgassa tyāpare;are his two other feet.10.3Saddhāhattho mahānāgo,Faith is the giant’s trunk,10.4upekkhāsetadantavā.and equanimity his white tusks.

11.1Sati gīvā siro paññā,Mindfulness is his neck, his head is wisdom—11.2vīmaṁsā dhammacintanā;inquiry and thinking about principles.11.3Dhammakucchisamātapo,His belly is the sacred hearth of the Dhamma,11.4viveko tassa vāladhi.and his tail is seclusion.

12.1So jhāyī assāsarato,Practicing absorption, enjoying the breath,12.2ajjhattaṁ susamāhito;he is serene within.12.3Gacchaṁ samāhito nāgo,The giant is serene when walking,12.4ṭhito nāgo samāhito.the giant is serene when standing,

13.1PTS 3.347Seyyaṁ samāhito nāgo,the giant is serene when lying down,13.2nisinnopi samāhito;and when sitting, the giant is serene.13.3Sabbattha saṁvuto nāgo,The giant is restrained everywhere:13.4esā nāgassa sampadā.this is the accomplishment of the giant.

14.1Bhuñjati anavajjāni,He eats blameless things,14.2sāvajjāni na bhuñjati;he doesn’t eat blameworthy things.14.3Ghāsamacchādanaṁ laddhā,When he gets food and clothes,14.4sannidhiṁ parivajjayaṁ.he avoids storing them up.

15.1Saṁyojanaṁ aṇuṁ thūlaṁ,Having severed all bonds,15.2sabbaṁ chetvāna bandhanaṁ;fetters large and small,15.3Yena yeneva gacchati,wherever he goes,15.4anapekkhova gacchati.he goes without concern.

16.1Yathāpi udake jātaṁ,A white lotus,16.2puṇḍarīkaṁ pavaḍḍhati;fragrant and delightful,16.3Nupalippati toyena,sprouts in water and grows there,16.4sucigandhaṁ manoramaṁ.but water does not stick to it.

17.1Tatheva loke sujāto,Just so the Buddha is born in the world,17.2buddho loke viharati;and lives in the world,17.3Nupalippati lokena,but the world does not stick to him,17.4toyena padumaṁ yathā.as water does not stick to the lotus.

18.1Mahāginīva jalito,A great blazing fire18.2anāhārūpasammati;dies down when the fuel runs out.18.3Saṅkhāresūpasantesu,When the coals have gone out18.4nibbutoti pavuccati.it’s said to be ‘quenched’.

19.1Atthassāyaṁ viññāpanī,This simile is taught by the discerning19.2upamā viññūhi desitā;to express the meaning clearly.19.3Viññassanti mahānāgā,Great giants will understand19.4nāgaṁ nāgena desitaṁ.what the giant taught the giant.

20.1Vītarāgo vītadoso,Free of greed, free of hate,20.2Vītamoho anāsavo;free of delusion, undefiled;20.3Sarīraṁ vijahaṁ nāgo,the giant, giving up his body,20.4Parinibbissati anāsavo”ti.being undefiled, will be fully quenched.”

20.5Paṭhamaṁ.