1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.

1.2Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā vakkali kumbhakāranivesane viharati ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.Now at that time Venerable Vakkali was staying in a potter’s shed, and he was sick, suffering, gravely ill.¹

1.3Atha kho āyasmā vakkali upaṭṭhāke āmantesi:Then he addressed his carers,1.4“etha tumhe, āvuso, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha:“Please, reverends, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Say to him:1.5‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno, so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti.‘Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is sick, suffering, gravely ill. He bows with his head to your feet.’1.6Evañca vadetha:And then say:1.7‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.‘Sir, please go to the mendicant Vakkali out of sympathy.’”

1.8“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied. They did as he asked.1.9“vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno, so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati;1.10evañca pana vadeti:1.11‘sādhu kira, bhante, bhagavā yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā’”ti.1.12Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.The Buddha consented with silence.

2.1PTS 3.120Atha kho bhagavā nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yenāyasmā vakkali tenupasaṅkami.Then the Buddha robed up and, taking his bowl and robes, went to Venerable Vakkali.2.2Addasā kho āyasmā vakkali bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna mañcake samadhosi.Venerable Vakkali saw the Buddha coming off in the distance and stirred in his cot.

2.3Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavoca:But the Buddha said to him,2.4“alaṁ, vakkali, mā tvaṁ mañcake samadhosi.“It’s all right, Vakkali, don’t get up.2.5Santimāni āsanāni paññattāni; tatthāhaṁ nisīdissāmī”ti.There are some seats spread out, I will sit there.”

2.6Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavoca:He sat down on the seat spread out and said to Vakkali,2.7“kacci te, vakkali, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyaṁ, kacci dukkhā vedanā paṭikkamanti, no abhikkamanti; paṭikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no abhikkamo”ti?“I hope you’re keeping well, Vakkali; I hope you’re all right. I hope your pain is fading, not growing; that its fading is evident, not its growing.”

2.8“Na me, bhante, khamanīyaṁ, na yāpanīyaṁ; bāḷhā me dukkhā vedanā abhikkamanti, no paṭikkamanti; abhikkamosānaṁ paññāyati, no paṭikkamo”ti.“Sir, I’m not keeping well, I’m not getting by. My pain is terrible and growing, not fading; its growing is evident, not its fading.”

2.9“Kacci te, vakkali, na kiñci kukkuccaṁ, na koci vippaṭisāro”ti?“I hope you don’t have any remorse or regret?”

2.10“Taggha me, bhante, anappakaṁ kukkuccaṁ, anappako vippaṭisāro”ti.“Indeed, sir, I have no little remorse and regret.”

2.11“Kacci pana taṁ, vakkali, attā sīlato na upavadatī”ti?“I hope you have no reason to blame yourself when it comes to ethical conduct?”²

2.12“Na kho maṁ, bhante, attā sīlato upavadatī”ti.“No sir, I have no reason to blame myself when it comes to ethical conduct.”

2.13“No ce kira taṁ, vakkali, attā sīlato upavadati; atha kiñca te kukkuccaṁ ko ca vippaṭisāro”ti?“In that case, Vakkali, why do you have remorse and regret?”

2.14“Cirapaṭikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitukāmo, natthi ca me kāyasmiṁ tāvatikā balamattā, yāvatāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyan”ti.“For a long time I’ve wanted to go and see the Buddha, but I was physically too weak.”

3.1“Alaṁ, vakkali, kiṁ te iminā pūtikāyena diṭṭhena?“Enough, Vakkali! Why would you want to see this rotting body?³3.2Yo kho, vakkali, dhammaṁ passati so maṁ passati;One who sees the teaching sees me.⁴3.3yo maṁ passati so dhammaṁ passati.One who sees me sees the teaching.3.4Dhammañhi, vakkali, passanto maṁ passati;Seeing the teaching, you see me.3.5maṁ passanto dhammaṁ passati.Seeing me, you see the teaching.

4.1PTS 3.121Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vakkali,What do you think, Vakkali?4.2rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?Is form permanent or impermanent?”

4.3“Aniccaṁ, bhante”.“Impermanent, sir.”

4.4“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vā taṁ sukhaṁ vā”ti?“But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?”

4.5“Dukkhaṁ, bhante”.“Suffering, sir.”

4.6“Yaṁ panāniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, kallaṁ nu taṁ samanupassituṁ:“But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus:4.7‘etaṁ mama, esohamasmi, eso me attā’”ti?‘This is mine, I am this, this is my self’?”

4.8“No hetaṁ, bhante”.“No, sir.”

4.9“Vedanā …“Is feeling …4.10saññā …perception …4.11saṅkhārā …choices …4.12viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti?consciousness permanent or impermanent?”

4.13“Aniccaṁ, bhante” …pe…“Impermanent, sir.” …4.14eso me attāti?4.15“No hetaṁ, bhante”.

4.16“Tasmātiha …pe…“So you should truly see …4.17evaṁ passaṁ …pe…Seeing this …4.18nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti.They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”

5.1Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ iminā ovādena ovaditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena gijjhakūṭo pabbato tena pakkāmi.And then, after giving Venerable Vakkali this advice, the Buddha rose from his seat and went to the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

5.2Atha kho āyasmā vakkali acirapakkantassa bhagavato upaṭṭhāke āmantesi:Then Venerable Vakkali addressed his carers,5.3“etha maṁ, āvuso, mañcakaṁ āropetvā yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamatha.“Come on, reverends, lift my cot and take me to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.5.4Kathañhi nāma mādiso antaraghare kālaṁ kattabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti?For how on earth could one such as I imagine dying in an inhabited area!”⁵

5.5“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ mañcakaṁ āropetvā yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu.“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants, and did as he asked.5.6Atha kho bhagavā tañca rattiṁ tañca divāvasesaṁ gijjhakūṭe pabbate vihāsi.Meanwhile, the Buddha spent the rest of that night and day on Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

5.7Atha kho dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu …pe… ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.Then, late at night, two glorious deities, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

5.8Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:One deity said to him,5.9“vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetī”ti.“Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is intent on liberation!”

5.10Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:And another deity said to him,5.11“so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatī”ti.“He’ll definitely be well freed!”

5.12Idamavocuṁ tā devatāyo.This is what those deities said.5.13Idaṁ vatvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā tatthevantaradhāyiṁsu.Then they bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on their right side, before vanishing right there.

6.1Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:Then, when the night had passed, the Buddha addressed the mendicants:

6.2“etha tumhe, bhikkhave, yena vakkali bhikkhu tenupasaṅkamatha; upasaṅkamitvā vakkaliṁ bhikkhuṁ evaṁ vadetha:“Come, mendicants, go to the mendicant Vakkali and tell him:

7.1PTS 3.122‘Suṇāvuso tvaṁ, vakkali, bhagavato vacanaṁ dvinnañca devatānaṁ.‘Vakkali, hear the word of the Buddha and two deities.

7.2Imaṁ, āvuso, rattiṁ dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ gijjhakūṭaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.Late last night, two glorious deities, lighting up the entire Vulture’s Peak, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.

7.3Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, āvuso, ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca—One deity said to him,7.4vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetīti.“Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is intent on liberation!”

7.5Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca—The other deity said to him,7.6so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatīti.“He’ll definitely be well freed!”

7.7Bhagavā ca taṁ, āvuso vakkali, evamāha—And the Buddha said,7.8mā bhāyi, vakkali;“Do not fear, Vakkali,7.9mā bhāyi, vakkali.do not fear!7.10Apāpakaṁ te maraṇaṁ bhavissati, apāpikā kālakiriyā’”ti.Your death will not be a bad one; your passing will not be a bad one.”’”

7.11“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā vakkali tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ etadavocuṁ:“Yes, sir,” those monks replied. They went to Vakkali and said to him:

7.12“suṇāvuso vakkali, bhagavato vacanaṁ dvinnañca devatānan”ti.“Vakkali, hear the word of the Buddha and two deities.”

8.1PTS 3.123Atha kho āyasmā vakkali upaṭṭhāke āmantesi:Then Vakkali addressed his carers,8.2“etha maṁ, āvuso, mañcakā oropetha.“Please, reverends, help me off my cot.8.3Kathañhi nāma mādiso ucce āsane nisīditvā tassa bhagavato sāsanaṁ sotabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti.For how on earth could one such as I presume to listen to the Buddha’s instructions sitting on a high seat?”

8.4“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ mañcakā oropesuṁ.“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants, and helped him off his cot.8.5“Imaṁ, āvuso, rattiṁ dve devatāyo abhikkantāya rattiyā …pe… ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.They repeated what the Buddha had said.8.6Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, āvuso, ekā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:8.7‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu vimokkhāya cetetī’ti.8.8Aparā devatā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:8.9‘so hi nūna, bhante, suvimutto vimuccissatī’ti.8.10Bhagavā ca taṁ, āvuso vakkali, evamāha:8.11‘mā bhāyi, vakkali;8.12mā bhāyi, vakkali.8.13Apāpakaṁ te maraṇaṁ bhavissati, apāpikā kālakiriyā’”ti.

8.14“Tena hāvuso, mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatha:Vakkali said, “Well then, reverends, in my name bow with your head to the Buddha’s feet. Say to him:8.15‘vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno.‘Sir, the mendicant Vakkali is sick, suffering, gravely ill.8.16So bhagavato pāde sirasā vandatī’ti.He bows with his head to your feet.’8.17Evañca vadetha:And then say:8.18‘rūpaṁ aniccaṁ.‘Form is impermanent.8.19Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi.I have no doubt of that.8.20Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi.I’m certain that what is impermanent is suffering.8.21Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.And I’m certain that I have no desire or greed or fondness for what is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.

8.22Vedanā aniccā.Feeling is impermanent …8.23Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi.8.24Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi.8.25Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.

8.26Saññā …Perception is impermanent …

8.27saṅkhārā aniccā.Choices are impermanent …8.28Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi.8.29Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi.8.30Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.

8.31Viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ.Consciousness is impermanent.8.32Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi.I have no doubt of that.8.33Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi.I’m certain that what is impermanent is suffering.8.34Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmī’”ti.And I’m certain that I have no desire or greed or fondness for what is impermanent, suffering, and perishable.’”

8.35“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato vakkalissa paṭissutvā pakkamiṁsu.“Yes, reverend,” those monks replied, and left.8.36Atha kho āyasmā vakkali acirapakkantesu tesu bhikkhūsu satthaṁ āharesi.And then, not long after those mendicants had left, Venerable Vakkali committed suicide.⁶

9.1Atha kho te bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:Then those mendicants went up to the Buddha and told him Vakkali’s message.9.2“vakkali, bhante, bhikkhu ābādhiko dukkhito bāḷhagilāno;9.3so bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati;9.4evañca vadeti:9.5‘rūpaṁ aniccaṁ.9.6Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi.9.7Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi.9.8Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmi.9.9Vedanā …9.10saññā …9.11saṅkhārā …9.12viññāṇaṁ aniccaṁ.9.13Tāhaṁ, bhante, na kaṅkhāmi.9.14Yadaniccaṁ taṁ dukkhanti na vicikicchāmi.9.15Yadaniccaṁ dukkhaṁ vipariṇāmadhammaṁ, natthi me tattha chando vā rāgo vā pemaṁ vāti na vicikicchāmī’”ti.

10.1Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:Then the Buddha said to the mendicants,10.2“āyāma, bhikkhave, yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkamissāma;“Come, mendicants, let’s go to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili,10.3yattha vakkalinā kulaputtena satthamāharitan”ti.where Vakkali, the gentleman, committed suicide.”

10.4“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.“Yes, sir,” they replied.

10.5Atha kho bhagavā sambahulehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ yena isigilipassaṁ kāḷasilā tenupasaṅkami.Then the Buddha together with several mendicants went to the Black Rock on the slopes of Isigili.10.6Addasā kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ vakkaliṁ dūratova mañcake vivattakkhandhaṁ semānaṁ.The Buddha saw Vakkali off in the distance on his cot, lying with aggregates cast off.⁷

11.1PTS 3.124Tena kho pana samayena dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati pacchimaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uttaraṁ disaṁ, gacchati dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ, gacchati uddhaṁ disaṁ, gacchati adho disaṁ, gacchati anudisaṁ.Now at that time a cloud of black smoke was moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between.

11.2Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:The Buddha said to the mendicants,11.3“passatha no tumhe, bhikkhave, etaṁ dhūmāyitattaṁ timirāyitattaṁ gacchateva purimaṁ disaṁ …pe… gacchati anudisan”ti.“Mendicants, do you see that cloud of black smoke moving east, west, north, south, above, below, and in-between?”

11.4“Evaṁ, bhante”.“Yes, sir.”

11.5“Eso kho, bhikkhave, māro pāpimā vakkalissa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ samanvesati:“That’s Māra the Wicked searching for Vakkali’s consciousness, wondering:11.6‘kattha vakkalissa kulaputtassa viññāṇaṁ patiṭṭhitan’ti?‘Where is Vakkali’s consciousness established?’11.7Appatiṭṭhitena ca, bhikkhave, viññāṇena vakkali kulaputto parinibbuto”ti.But since his consciousness is not established, Vakkali is quenched.”

11.8Pañcamaṁ.