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[1] Maccurja.
[2] Reading nisdanti for visdanti ("are immersed").
[3] Hams adicca-pathe yanti. In Hinduism the paramahamsa, "the swan," is the mystic name for the liberated being (Cf. Bhagavad Gt) who goes to the sun (ditya Skt.), and is reborn no more; also in Chndogya Upanishad, VIII, 7-5, we read: "When mind ceases to act, he attains the sun. That is the way to the region above. It is open to the learned, but closed to the ignorant." Those who are reborn are said to go on the path of the moon. In Buddhism, the Arahants, Saints, have the power (iddhi) of flying through the air even physically, by self-levitation. Cf. V. 91.
[4] Cf. N.T.: "For whosoever shall keep the whole Norm, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
[5] One who has "entered on the stream" is an Initiate, Solpanno, and is saved, i.e., after seven more births, he reaches the state of Arahat and Nibbna and is free from birth.
179.
The Awakened One, unconquered Conqueror,
Whose conquest naught in this world can undo.
Who ranges o'er His boundless sphere untraced.
By what tracks can ye lead Him to rebirth?[1]
180.
Free from the snares of passion's outspread net,
The Awakened One, whom longing cannot draw,
Who ranges o'er His boundless sphere untraced.
By what tracks can ye lead Him to rebirth?
181.
Those sages who, to meditation given,
Delight in freedom's bliss, with mind controlled,
Gods envy Them, Those All-Awakened Ones.[2]
182.
To gain a birth as man is hard indeed;
'Tis hard to get one's living in the world;
Hard is the hearing of the doctrine true;[3]
Hardest to be an All-Awakened One.
183.
"Refrain thyself from every evil deed;
Stablish thyself in good; cleanse thine own thoughts"—
This is the message of the Awakened Ones.
184.
Long-sufferance is the best austerity;
Nibbna, say the Awakened Ones, is best.
185.
"Revile not, harm not, live by rule restrained;
Of food take little; sleep and sit alone;
In meditation keep thy thoughts controlled"—
This is the message of the Awakened Ones.
186.
"Lust is not sated, tho' it rain gold coins;
Brief is the pleasure, great the pains of lust"—
Whoso saith this and knows it, he is wise.
187.
He finds no pleasure e'en in heaven's delights;
He finds his joy in slaying all desire,
That follower of the All-Awakened Ones.
188.
To many a refuge frightened mortals flee,
Mountains and forests, groves and sacred trees;
189.
These are no refuge safe, no sure retreat,
By these we are not from all woe released.
190.
He who takes refuge in the Awakened One,
The Doctrine and the Brotherhood, beholds
By right insight the Fourfold Noble Truths,
191.
Sorrow and sorrow's cause and sorrow's ceasing,
The Noble Eightfold Path that leads thereto—
192.
This is the refuge safe, the sure retreat;
This only from our woes can us release.
193.
Hard is that one of noble birth to find;
Not born in every land is He; the race
Wherein that Sage is born is prosperous.[4]
194.
Blest is the rising of the Awakened Ones;
Blest is Their teaching of the Doctrine True;
Blest is the union of the Brotherhood;
And blest to dwell together in unity.
195.
The Awakened Ones and they that follow Them,
Worthy to be adored, have conquered all
The hosts of evil, crossed the flood of sorrow.
196.
Whoso shall worship Them, the worthy Ones,
In whom desires are quenched and fear allayed,
None can declare the merits of that man.
[1] Padam, "track, footstep," may here refer to the khandhs, basis, or occasions of rebirth, destroyed by Arahants, cf. vv. 92-3.
