1.1“Pucchāmi taṁ bhagavā brūhi me taṁ,“I ask you, Blessed One; please tell me this,”1.2(iccāyasmā mettagū)said Venerable Mettagū,1.3Maññāmi taṁ vedaguṁ bhāvitattaṁ;“for I think you are a knowledge master, evolved.1.4Kuto nu dukkhā samudāgatā ime,Where do all these sufferings come from,1.5Ye keci lokasmimanekarūpā”.in all their countless forms in the world?”

2.1“Dukkhassa ve maṁ pabhavaṁ apucchasi,“You have rightly asked me of the origin of suffering,”2.2(mettagūti bhagavā)replied the Buddha,2.3Taṁ te pavakkhāmi yathā pajānaṁ;“I shall tell you as I understand it.2.4Upadhinidānā pabhavanti dukkhā,Attachment is the source of suffering2.5Ye keci lokasmimanekarūpā.in all its countless forms in the world.

3.1Yo ve avidvā upadhiṁ karoti,When an ignorant person builds up attachments,3.2Punappunaṁ dukkhamupeti mando;that dullard returns to suffering again and again.3.3Tasmā pajānaṁ upadhiṁ na kayirā,So let one who understands <j>not build up attachments,3.4Dukkhassa jātippabhavānupassī”.contemplating the inception of suffering and rebirth.”¹

4.1“Yaṁ taṁ apucchimha akittayī no,“Whatever I asked you have explained to me.4.2Aññaṁ taṁ pucchāma tadiṅgha brūhi;I ask you once more, please tell me this:4.3Kathaṁ nu dhīrā vitaranti oghaṁ,How do the attentive cross the flood4.4Jātiṁ jaraṁ sokapariddavañca;of rebirth, old age, sorrow, and lamenting?4.5Taṁ me muni sādhu viyākarohi,Please, sage, answer me clearly,4.6Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo”.for truly you understand this matter.”

5.1“Kittayissāmi te dhammaṁ,“I shall extol a teaching to you,”5.2(mettagūti bhagavā)replied the Buddha,5.3Diṭṭhe dhamme anītihaṁ;“that is apparent in the present, not relying on legends.5.4Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,Having understood it, one who lives mindfully5.5Tare loke visattikaṁ”.may cross over clinging in the world.”

6.1“Tañcāhaṁ abhinandāmi,“And I rejoice, great seer,6.2mahesi dhammamuttamaṁ;in that supreme teaching,6.3Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ,having understood which, one who lives mindfully6.4tare loke visattikaṁ”.may cross over clinging in the world.”

7.1“Yaṁ kiñci sampajānāsi,“Once you’ve expelled relishing and dogmatism,”7.2(mettagūti bhagavā)replied the Buddha,7.3Uddhaṁ adho tiriyañcāpi majjhe;“regarding everything you are aware of—7.4Etesu nandiñca nivesanañca,above, below, all round, between—²7.5Panujja viññāṇaṁ bhave na tiṭṭhe.having cast aside consciousness, <j>don’t continue in existence.

8.1Evaṁvihārī sato appamatto,A mendicant who wanders meditating like this,8.2Bhikkhu caraṁ hitvā mamāyitāni;diligent and mindful, calling nothing their own,8.3Jātiṁ jaraṁ sokapariddavañca,would, being wise, give up the suffering8.4Idheva vidvā pajaheyya dukkhaṁ”.of rebirth, old age, sorrow and lamenting right here.”

9.1“Etābhinandāmi vaco mahesino,“I rejoice in the words of the great seer!9.2Sukittitaṁ gotamanūpadhīkaṁ;You have expounded non-attachment well, Gotama.9.3Addhā hi bhagavā pahāsi dukkhaṁ,Clearly the Buddha has given up suffering,9.4Tathā hi te vidito esa dhammo.for truly you understand this matter.

10.1Te cāpi nūnappajaheyyu dukkhaṁ,Surely, sage, those you’d regularly instruct10.2Ye tvaṁ muni aṭṭhitaṁ ovadeyya;would also give up suffering.10.3Taṁ taṁ namassāmi samecca nāga,Having met, I bow especially to you, <j>O spiritual giant;³10.4Appeva maṁ bhagavā aṭṭhitaṁ ovadeyya”.hopefully the Buddha may regularly instruct me.”

11.1“Yaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ vedagumābhijaññā,“Any brahmin recognized as a knowledge master,11.2Akiñcanaṁ kāmabhave asattaṁ;who has nothing, unattached to sensual life,11.3Addhā hi so oghamimaṁ atāri,clearly has crossed this flood,11.4Tiṇṇo ca pāraṁ akhilo akaṅkho.crossed to the far shore, kind, wishless.

12.1Vidvā ca yo vedagū naro idha,And a wise person here, a knowledge master,12.2Bhavābhave saṅgamimaṁ visajja;having untied the bond to life after life,12.3So vītataṇho anīgho nirāso,free of craving, untroubled, with no need for hope,12.4Atāri so jātijaranti brūmī”ti.has crossed over rebirth and old age, I declare.”

12.5Mettagūmāṇavapucchā catutthī.