1.1“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.“Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling.¹1.2Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī”ti.But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.”

1.3Idaṁ vatvā bhagavā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.When he had spoken, the Blessed One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.

1.4Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:Soon after the Buddha left, those mendicants considered,1.5“idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:“The Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail. …1.6‘“nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyan”ti vadāmi.1.7Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti.1.8Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā”ti?Who can explain in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha?”

2.1Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi:Then those mendicants thought,2.2“ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.“This Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.2.3Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.He is capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.2.4Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā”ti.Let’s go to him, and ask him about this matter.”

3.1PTS 4.94Atha kho te bhikkhū yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.Then those mendicants went to Ānanda and exchanged greetings with him.3.2Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavocuṁ:When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side. They told him what had happened, and said,4.1“Idaṁ kho no, āvuso ānanda, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:4.2‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.4.3Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti.4.4Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:4.5‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho—4.6nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.4.7Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmīti.4.8Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?4.9Tesaṁ no, āvuso, amhākaṁ etadahosi:4.10‘ayaṁ kho, āvuso, āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.4.11Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.4.12Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti.4.13Vibhajatāyasmā ānando”ti.“May Venerable Ānanda please explain this.”

5.1PTS 4.95“Seyyathāpi, āvuso, puriso sāratthiko sāragavesī sārapariyesanaṁ caramāno mahato rukkhassa tiṭṭhato sāravato atikkammeva, mūlaṁ atikkammeva, khandhaṁ sākhāpalāse sāraṁ pariyesitabbaṁ maññeyya;“Reverends, suppose there was a person in need of heartwood. And while wandering in search of heartwood he’d come across a large tree standing with heartwood. But he’d pass over the roots and trunk, imagining that the heartwood should be sought in the branches and leaves.

5.2evaṁ sampadamidaṁ āyasmantānaṁ satthari sammukhībhūte taṁ bhagavantaṁ atisitvā amhe etamatthaṁ paṭipucchitabbaṁ maññatha.Such is the consequence for the venerables. Though you were face to face with the Buddha, you bypassed him, imagining that you should ask me about this matter.5.3So hāvuso, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati—For he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.5.4cakkhubhūto, ñāṇabhūto, dhammabhūto, brahmabhūto, vattā, pavattā, atthassa ninnetā, amatassa dātā, dhammassāmī, tathāgato.5.5So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha.That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.5.6Yathā vo bhagavā byākareyya tathā vo dhāreyyāthā”ti.You should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

6.1“Addhāvuso ānanda, bhagavā jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passati—“Certainly he is the Buddha, the one who knows and sees. He is vision, he is knowledge, he is the manifestation of principle, he is the manifestation of divinity. He is the preacher, the proclaimer, the elucidator of meaning, the bestower of freedom from death, the lord of truth, the Realized One.6.2cakkhubhūto, ñāṇabhūto, dhammabhūto, brahmabhūto, vattā, pavattā, atthassa ninnetā, amatassa dātā, dhammassāmī, tathāgato.6.3So ceva panetassa kālo ahosi yaṁ bhagavantaṁyeva etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāma.That was the time to approach the Buddha and ask about this matter.6.4Yathā no bhagavā byākareyya tathā naṁ dhāreyyāma.We should have remembered it in line with the Buddha’s answer.

6.5Api cāyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.Still, Venerable Ānanda is praised by the Buddha and esteemed by his sensible spiritual companions.6.6Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.You are capable of explaining in detail the meaning of this brief summary recital given by the Buddha.6.7Vibhajatāyasmā ānando agaruṁ karitvā”ti.Please explain this, if it’s no trouble.”

7.1“Tenahāvuso, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.“Then listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

7.2“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paccassosuṁ.“Yes, reverend,” they replied.7.3Āyasmā ānando etadavoca:Ānanda said this:

8.1PTS 4.96“Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:“Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary recital, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

8.2‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.‘Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling.8.3Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti,But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.’

8.4imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.This is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary recital.

8.5Yena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī—Whatever in the world through which you perceive the world and conceive the world8.6ayaṁ vuccati ariyassa vinaye loko.is called the world in the training of the Noble One.8.7Kena cāvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī?And through what in the world do you perceive the world and conceive the world?

8.8Cakkhunā kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī.Through the eye in the world you perceive the world and conceive the world.8.9Sotena kho, āvuso …Through the ear …8.10ghānena kho, āvuso …nose …8.11jivhāya kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī.tongue …8.12Kāyena kho, āvuso …body …8.13manena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī.mind in the world you perceive the world and conceive the world.

8.14Yena kho, āvuso, lokasmiṁ lokasaññī hoti lokamānī—Whatever in the world through which you perceive the world and conceive the world8.15ayaṁ vuccati ariyassa vinaye loko.is called the world in the training of the Noble One.

8.16Yaṁ kho vo, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:Reverends, the Buddha gave this brief summary, then entered his dwelling without explaining the meaning in detail:

8.17‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.‘Mendicants, I say it’s not possible to know or see or reach the end of the world by traveling.8.18Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti,But I also say there’s no making an end of suffering without reaching the end of the world.’

8.19imassa khvāhaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa evaṁ vitthārena atthaṁ ājānāmi.That is how I understand the detailed meaning of this summary.

8.20Ākaṅkhamānā ca pana tumhe āyasmanto bhagavantaṁyeva upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha.If you wish, you may go to the Buddha and ask him about this.8.21Yathā vo bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.You should remember it in line with the Buddha’s answer.”

9.1“Evamāvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato ānandassa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:“Yes, reverend,” replied those mendicants. Then they rose from their seats and went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

10.1PTS 4.97“Yaṁ kho no, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho:10.2‘nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.10.3Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmī’ti.10.4Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ acirapakkantassa bhagavato etadahosi:10.5‘idaṁ kho no, āvuso, bhagavā saṅkhittena uddesaṁ uddisitvā vitthārena atthaṁ avibhajitvā uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ paviṭṭho—10.6nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, gamanena lokassa antaṁ ñāteyyaṁ, daṭṭheyyaṁ, patteyyanti vadāmi.10.7Na ca panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, appatvā lokassa antaṁ dukkhassa antakiriyaṁ vadāmīti.10.8Ko nu kho imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajeyyā’ti?10.9Tesaṁ no, bhante, amhākaṁ etadahosi:10.10‘ayaṁ kho āyasmā ānando satthu ceva saṁvaṇṇito, sambhāvito ca viññūnaṁ sabrahmacārīnaṁ.10.11Pahoti cāyasmā ānando imassa bhagavatā saṅkhittena uddesassa uddiṭṭhassa vitthārena atthaṁ avibhattassa vitthārena atthaṁ vibhajituṁ.10.12Yannūna mayaṁ yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkameyyāma; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyāmā’ti.10.13Atha kho mayaṁ, bhante, yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkamimha; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etamatthaṁ paṭipucchimha.10.14Tesaṁ no, bhante, āyasmatā ānandena imehi ākārehi imehi padehi imehi byañjanehi attho vibhatto”ti.Then they said, “And Ānanda explained the meaning to us in this manner, with these words and phrases.”

11.1“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, ānando; mahāpañño, bhikkhave, ānando.“Mendicants, Ānanda is astute, he has great wisdom.11.2Mañcepi tumhe, bhikkhave, etamatthaṁ paṭipuccheyyātha, ahampi taṁ evamevaṁ byākareyyaṁ yathā taṁ ānandena byākataṁ.If you came to me and asked this question, I would answer it in exactly the same way as Ānanda.11.3Eso cevetassa attho, evañca naṁ dhāreyyāthā”ti.That is what it means, and that’s how you should remember it.”

11.4Tatiyaṁ.