• Anthology of Discourses 4.4 Sutta Nipāta 4.4

Eight on the Pure Suddhaṭṭhakasutta

“I see someone pure, perfectly healthy; Passāmi suddhaṁ paramaṁ arogaṁ, it is vision that grants a person purity.” Diṭṭhena saṁsuddhi narassa hoti; Recalling this notion of the ultimate, Evābhijānaṁ paramanti ñatvā, they believe in the notion <j>that there is one who observes purity. Suddhānupassīti pacceti ñāṇaṁ.

If a person were granted purity through what is seen, Diṭṭhena ce suddhi narassa hoti, or if by a notion they could give up suffering, Ñāṇena vā so pajahāti dukkhaṁ; then one with attachments is purified by another: Aññena so sujjhati sopadhīko, their view betrays them as one who asserts thus. Diṭṭhī hi naṁ pāva tathā vadānaṁ.

The brahmin speaks not of purity from another Na brāhmaṇo aññato suddhimāha, in terms of what has been seen, heard, or thought; <j>or by precepts or vows. Diṭṭhe sute sīlavate mute vā; They are unsullied in the midst of good and evil, Puññe ca pāpe ca anūpalitto, letting go what was picked up, <j>without creating anything new here. Attañjaho nayidha pakubbamāno.

Having let go the last they lay hold of the next; Purimaṁ pahāya aparaṁ sitāse, following impulse, they don’t pass the chain. Ejānugā te na taranti saṅgaṁ; They grab on and let loose like a monkey Te uggahāyanti nirassajanti, grabbing and releasing a branch. Kapīva sākhaṁ pamuñcaṁ gahāyaṁ.

Having undertaken their own vows, a personage Sayaṁ samādāya vatāni jantu, visits various teachers, <j>being attached to perception. Uccāvacaṁ gacchati saññasatto; One who knows, having comprehended the truth <j>through the knowledges, Vidvā ca vedehi samecca dhammaṁ, does not visit various teachers, being of vast wisdom. Na uccāvacaṁ gacchati bhūripañño.

They are remote from all things Sa sabbadhammesu visenibhūto, seen, heard, or thought. Yaṁ kiñci diṭṭhaṁ va sutaṁ mutaṁ vā; Seeing them living openly, Tameva dassiṁ vivaṭaṁ carantaṁ, how could anyone in this world judge them? Kenīdha lokasmi vikappayeyya.

They don’t make things up or promote them, Na kappayanti na purekkharonti, or speak of the uttermost purity. Accantasuddhīti na te vadanti; After untying the tight knot of grasping Ādānaganthaṁ gathitaṁ visajja, they long for nothing in the world. Āsaṁ na kubbanti kuhiñci loke.

The brahmin has stepped over the perimeter; Sīmātigo brāhmaṇo tassa natthi, knowing and seeing, they adopt nothing. Ñatvā va disvā va samuggahītaṁ; Neither in love with passion <j>nor besotted by dispassion, Na rāgarāgī na virāgaratto, there is nothing here they adopt as the ultimate. Tassīdha natthi paramuggahītanti.

Suddhaṭṭhakasuttaṁ catutthaṁ.