“Even when I saw the sirens <j>Craving, Malignancy, and Lust, “Disvāna taṇhaṁ aratiṁ ragañca, I had no desire for sex. Nāhosi chando api methunasmiṁ; What is this body full of piss and shit? Kimevidaṁ muttakarīsapuṇṇaṁ, I wouldn’t even want to touch it with my foot.” Pādāpi naṁ samphusituṁ na icche”.

“If you do not want a gem such as this, “Etādisañce ratanaṁ na icchasi, a lady desired by many rulers of men, Nāriṁ narindehi bahūhi patthitaṁ; then what manner of theory, <j>precepts and vows, livelihood, Diṭṭhigataṁ sīlavataṁ nu jīvitaṁ, and rebirth in a new life do you assert?” Bhavūpapattiñca vadesi kīdisaṁ”.

“After judging among the teachings,” “Idaṁ vadāmīti na tassa hoti, said the Buddha to Māgaṇḍiya, (māgaṇḍiyāti bhagavā) “none have been adopted thinking, ‘I assert this.’ Dhammesu niccheyya samuggahītaṁ; Seeing views without adopting any, Passañca diṭṭhīsu anuggahāya, searching, I saw inner peace.” Ajjhattasantiṁ pacinaṁ adassaṁ”.

“O sage, you speak of judgments you have formed,” “Vinicchayā yāni pakappitāni, said Māgaṇḍiya, (iti māgaṇḍiyo) “without having adopted any of those views. Te ve munī brūsi anuggahāya; As to that matter of ‘inner peace’—Ajjhattasantīti yametamatthaṁ, how is that described by the attentive?” Kathaṁ nu dhīrehi paveditaṁ taṁ”.

“Purity is spoken of not in terms of view,” “Na diṭṭhiyā na sutiyā na ñāṇena, said the Buddha to Māgaṇḍiya, (māgaṇḍiyāti bhagavā) “learning, knowledge, or precepts and vows; Sīlabbatenāpi na suddhimāha; nor in terms of that without view, learning, Adiṭṭhiyā assutiyā añāṇā, knowledge, or precepts and vows. Asīlatā abbatā nopi tena; Having relinquished these, not adopting them, Ete ca nissajja anuggahāya, peaceful, independent, one would not pray <j>for another life.” Santo anissāya bhavaṁ na jappe”.

“It seems purity is spoken of not in terms of view,” “No ce kira diṭṭhiyā na sutiyā na ñāṇena, said Māgaṇḍiya, (iti māgaṇḍiyo) “learning, knowledge, or precepts and vows; Sīlabbatenāpi na suddhimāha; nor in terms of that without view, learning, Adiṭṭhiyā assutiyā añāṇā, knowledge, or precepts and vows. Asīlatā abbatā nopi tena; If so, I think this teaching is sheer confusion; Maññāmahaṁ momuhameva dhammaṁ, for some believe in purity in terms of view.” Diṭṭhiyā eke paccenti suddhiṁ”.

“Continuing to question while relying on a view,” “Diṭṭhañca nissāya anupucchamāno, said the Buddha to Māgaṇḍiya, (māgaṇḍiyāti bhagavā) “you’ve become confused by all you’ve adopted. Samuggahītesu pamohamāgā; From this you’ve not glimpsed the slightest idea, Ito ca nāddakkhi aṇumpi saññaṁ, which is why you consider the teaching confused. Tasmā tuvaṁ momuhato dahāsi.

If you think that ‘I’m equal, Samo visesī uda vā nihīno, special, or worse’, you’ll dispute about that. Yo maññati so vivadetha tena; Not wavering due to the three discriminations, Tīsu vidhāsu avikampamāno, you’ll have no thought ‘I’m equal or special’. Samo visesīti na tassa hoti.

Why would that brahmin say, ‘It’s true’, Saccanti so brāhmaṇo kiṁ vadeyya, or with whom would they dispute, ‘It’s false’? Musāti vā so vivadetha kena; There is no equal or unequal in them, Yasmiṁ samaṁ visamaṁ vāpi natthi, so who would they take on in debate? Sa kena vādaṁ paṭisaṁyujeyya.

After leaving their bastion to migrate without abode, Okaṁ pahāya aniketasārī, a sage doesn’t get close to anyone in town. Gāme akubbaṁ muni santhavāni; Rid of sensual pleasures, not expecting, Kāmehi ritto apurakkharāno, they wouldn’t get in arguments with people. Kathaṁ na viggayha janena kayirā.

A spiritual giant would not take up for debate Yehi vivitto vicareyya loke, the things in the world from which they live secluded. Na tāni uggayha vadeyya nāgo; As a prickly lotus born in the water Jalambujaṁ kaṇḍakavārijaṁ yathā, is unsullied by water and mud, Jalena paṅkena canūpalittaṁ; so the greedless sage, proponent of peace, Evaṁ munī santivādo agiddho, is unsmeared by sensuality and the world. Kāme ca loke ca anūpalitto.

A knowledge master does not become conceited Na vedagū diṭṭhiyāyako na mutiyā, due to view or thought, <j>for they are not determined by that. Sa mānameti na hi tammayo so; They’ve no need for deeds or learning, Na kammunā nopi sutena neyyo, they’re not indoctrinated in dogmas. Anūpanīto sa nivesanesu.

There are no ties for one detached from ideas; Saññāvirattassa na santi ganthā, there are no delusions for one freed by wisdom. Paññāvimuttassa na santi mohā; But those who have adopted ideas and views Saññañca diṭṭhiñca ye aggahesuṁ, wander the world causing conflict.” Te ghaṭṭayantā vicaranti loke”ti.

Māgaṇḍiyasuttaṁ navamaṁ.