经集（Sujato 英译）第 28 阅读页 · SNP2.12 · Vaṅgīsa and His Mentor Nigrodhakappa

Anthology of Discourses 2.12Anthology of Discourses 2.12Vaṅgīsa and His Mentor NigrodhakappaVaṅgīsa and His Mentor Nigrodhakappa

So I have heard.So I have heard.At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine.At one time the Buddha was staying near Āḷavī, at Āḷavī’s premier shrine.Now at that time it was not long after Venerable Vaṅgīsa’s mentor, the senior monk named Nigrodhakappa, had become fully quenched.Now at that time it was not long after Venerable Vaṅgīsa’s mentor, the senior monk named Nigrodhakappa, had become fully quenched.

Then as Vaṅgīsa was in private retreat this thought came to his mind:Then as Vaṅgīsa was in private retreat this thought came to his mind:“Has my mentor become quenched or not?”“Has my mentor become quenched or not?”Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Vaṅgīsa came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Vaṅgīsa came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.‘Has my mentor become quenched or not?’”‘Has my mentor become quenched or not?’”Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and addressed him in verse:Then Venerable Vaṅgīsa rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha, and addressed him in verse:

“I ask the Teacher unrivaled in wisdom,“I ask the Teacher unrivaled in wisdom,who has cut off all doubts in this very life:who has cut off all doubts in this very life:a monk has died at Āḷavī’s premier shrine,a monk has died at Āḷavī’s premier shrine,

who was well-known, famous, and quenched.who was well-known, famous, and quenched.Nigrodhakappa was his name;Nigrodhakappa was his name;it was given to that brahmin by you, Blessed One.it was given to that brahmin by you, Blessed One.

He wandered in your honor, yearning for freedom,He wandered in your honor, yearning for freedom,energetic, a resolute Seer of Truth.energetic, a resolute Seer of Truth.O Sakyan, All-seer,O Sakyan, All-seer,

we all wish to know about that disciple.we all wish to know about that disciple.Our ears are eager to hear,Our ears are eager to hear,for you are the most excellent teacher.for you are the most excellent teacher.

Cut off our doubt, declare this to us;Cut off our doubt, declare this to us;your wisdom is vast, tell us of his quenching!your wisdom is vast, tell us of his quenching!All-seer, speak among us,All-seer, speak among us,

like the thousand-eyed Sakka in the midst of the gods!like the thousand-eyed Sakka in the midst of the gods!Whatever ties there are, or paths to delusion,Whatever ties there are, or paths to delusion,or things on the side of unknowing, or that are bases of doubtor things on the side of unknowing, or that are bases of doubt

vanish on reaching a Realized One,vanish on reaching a Realized One,for his eye is the best of all people’s.for his eye is the best of all people’s.If no man were ever to disperse corruptions,If no man were ever to disperse corruptions,

like the wind dispersing the stormclouds,like the wind dispersing the stormclouds,darkness would shroud the whole world;darkness would shroud the whole world;not even brilliant men would shine.not even brilliant men would shine.

The attentive are bringers of light;The attentive are bringers of light;my hero, that is what I think of you.my hero, that is what I think of you.We’ve come for your discernment and knowledge:We’ve come for your discernment and knowledge:

here in this assembly, declare to us about Kappāyana.here in this assembly, declare to us about Kappāyana.Swiftly send forth your sweet, sweet voice,Swiftly send forth your sweet, sweet voice,like a goose stretching its neck, gently honking,like a goose stretching its neck, gently honking,

lucid-flowing, with lovely tone:lucid-flowing, with lovely tone:alert, we all listen to you.alert, we all listen to you.You have entirely abandoned birth and death;You have entirely abandoned birth and death;

curbed and pure, I urge you, speak the Dhamma!curbed and pure, I urge you, speak the Dhamma!For ordinary people have no wish-granter,For ordinary people have no wish-granter,but Realized Ones have a comprehensibility-granter.but Realized Ones have a comprehensibility-granter.

Your answer is definitive, and we will adopt it,Your answer is definitive, and we will adopt it,for you have perfect understanding.for you have perfect understanding.We raise our cupped palms one last time,We raise our cupped palms one last time,

one of unrivaled wisdom, don’t deliberately confuse us.one of unrivaled wisdom, don’t deliberately confuse us.Knowing the teaching of the noble ones from top to bottom,Knowing the teaching of the noble ones from top to bottom,one of unrivaled energy, don’t deliberately confuse us.one of unrivaled energy, don’t deliberately confuse us.

As a man baking in the summer sun would long for water,As a man baking in the summer sun would long for water,I long for your voice, so let the sound rain forth.I long for your voice, so let the sound rain forth.Surely Kappāyana did not lead the spiritual life in vain?Surely Kappāyana did not lead the spiritual life in vain?

Did he realize quenching,Did he realize quenching,or did he still have a residue?or did he still have a residue?Let us hear what kind of liberation he had!”Let us hear what kind of liberation he had!”

“He cut off craving for name and form right here,”“He cut off craving for name and form right here,”said the Buddha,said the Buddha,“the river of darkness that had long lain within him.“the river of darkness that had long lain within him.

He has entirely crossed over birth and death.”He has entirely crossed over birth and death.”So declared the Blessed One, the leader of the five.So declared the Blessed One, the leader of the five.“Now that I have heard your words,“Now that I have heard your words,

seventh of seers, I am confident.seventh of seers, I am confident.My question, it seems, was not in vain,My question, it seems, was not in vain,the brahmin did not deceive me.the brahmin did not deceive me.

As he said, so he did—As he said, so he did—he was a disciple of the Buddha.he was a disciple of the Buddha.He cut the net of death the deceiver,He cut the net of death the deceiver,

so extended and strong.so extended and strong.Blessed One, Kappāyana sawBlessed One, Kappāyana sawthe starting point of grasping.the starting point of grasping.

He has indeed gone far beyondHe has indeed gone far beyondDeath’s dominion so hard to pass.”Death’s dominion so hard to pass.”