1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati maddakucchismiṁ migadāye.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park.

1.3Tena kho pana samayena bhagavato pādo sakalikāya khato hoti.Now at that time the Buddha’s foot had been cut by a wooden splinter.¹1.4Bhusā sudaṁ bhagavato vedanā vattanti sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā;The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable.1.5tā sudaṁ bhagavā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno.But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.1.6Atha kho bhagavā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpetvā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno.And then he spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware.

2.1Atha kho sattasatā satullapakāyikā devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ maddakucchiṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.Then, late at night, seven hundred glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Maddakucchi, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

2.2Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:2.3“nāgo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;“The ascetic Gotama is such an elephant, sir!2.4nāgavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.And as an elephant, he endures painful physical feelings that have come up—sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable—unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.”

3.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:3.2“sīho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;“The ascetic Gotama is such a lion, sir!3.3sīhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.And as a lion, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

4.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:4.2“ājānīyo vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;“The ascetic Gotama is such a thoroughbred, sir!4.3ājānīyavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.And as a thoroughbred, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

5.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:5.2“nisabho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;“The ascetic Gotama is such a boss bull, sir!5.3nisabhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.And as a boss bull, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

6.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:6.2“dhorayho vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;“The ascetic Gotama is such a behemoth, sir!²6.3dhorayhavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.And as a behemoth, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

7.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:7.2“danto vata, bho, samaṇo gotamo;“The ascetic Gotama is truly tamed, sir!7.3dantavatā ca samuppannā sārīrikā vedanā dukkhā tibbā kharā kaṭukā asātā amanāpā sato sampajāno adhivāseti avihaññamāno”ti.And as someone tamed, he endures painful physical feelings … unbothered.”

8.1Atha kho aparā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha’s presence:8.2“passa samādhiṁ subhāvitaṁ cittañca suvimuttaṁ, na cābhinataṁ na cāpanataṁ na ca sasaṅkhāraniggayhavāritagataṁ.“See, his immersion is so well developed, and his mind is so well freed—not leaning forward or pulling back, and not held in place by forceful suppression.8.3Yo evarūpaṁ purisanāgaṁ purisasīhaṁ purisaājānīyaṁ purisanisabhaṁ purisadhorayhaṁ purisadantaṁ atikkamitabbaṁ maññeyya kimaññatra adassanā”ti.If anyone imagines that they can overcome such an elephant of a man, a lion of a man, a thoroughbred of a man, a boss bull of a man, a behemoth of a man, a tamed man—what is that but a failure to see?”

9.1“Pañcavedā sataṁ samaṁ,“Learned in the five branches of Vedic lore,³9.2Tapassī brāhmaṇā caraṁ;brahmins practice fervent mortification <j>for a full century.9.3Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ,But their minds are not properly freed,⁴9.4Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.for those of base character don’t cross to the far shore.

10.1Taṇhādhipannā vatasīlabaddhā,Seized by craving, <j>attached to precept and observance,10.2Lūkhaṁ tapaṁ vassasataṁ carantā;they practice rough and fervent mortification <j>for a hundred years.10.3Cittañca nesaṁ na sammā vimuttaṁ,But their minds are not properly freed,10.4Hīnattharūpā na pāraṅgamā te.for those of base character don’t go to the far shore.

11.1Na mānakāmassa damo idhatthi,Someone who’s fond of conceit can’t be tamed,11.2Na monamatthi asamāhitassa;and someone without immersion can’t be a sage.11.3Eko araññe viharaṁ pamatto,Living negligent alone in the wilderness,11.4Na maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.they can’t cross beyond Death’s dominion.”

12.1“Mānaṁ pahāya susamāhitatto,“Having given up conceit, serene within oneself,12.2Sucetaso sabbadhi vippamutto;with a good heart, everywhere free;12.3Eko araññe viharamappamatto,living diligent alone in the wilderness,12.4Sa maccudheyyassa tareyya pāran”ti.they cross beyond Death’s dominion.”