The Questions of Hemaka

“Those who have previously answered me,” said Venerable Hemaka, “before Gotama’s teaching, said ‘thus it was’ or ‘so it shall be’. All that was just the testament of hearsay; all that just fostered speculation: I found no delight in that.

“Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu, (iccāyasmā hemako) Huraṁ gotamasāsanā; Iccāsi iti bhavissati, Sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ; Sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ, Nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ.

“Those who have previously answered me,” “Ye me pubbe viyākaṁsu, said Venerable Hemaka, (iccāyasmā hemako) “before Gotama’s teaching, Huraṁ gotamasāsanā; said ‘thus it was’ or ‘so it shall be’. Iccāsi iti bhavissati, All that was just the testament of hearsay; Sabbaṁ taṁ itihītihaṁ; all that just fostered speculation: Sabbaṁ taṁ takkavaḍḍhanaṁ, I found no delight in that. Nāhaṁ tattha abhiramiṁ.

But you, sage, explain to me the teaching that destroys craving. Having understood it, one who lives mindfully may cross over clinging in the world.”

Tvañca me dhammamakkhāhi, taṇhānigghātanaṁ muni; Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ, tare loke visattikaṁ”.

But you, sage, explain to me Tvañca me dhammamakkhāhi, the teaching that destroys craving. taṇhānigghātanaṁ muni; Having understood it, one who lives mindfully Yaṁ viditvā sato caraṁ, may cross over clinging in the world.” tare loke visattikaṁ”.

“The removal of desire and lust, Hemaka, for pleasant things seen, heard, thought, or cognized here is extinguishment, the state that does not pass.

“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu, Piyarūpesu hemaka; Chandarāgavinodanaṁ, Nibbānapadamaccutaṁ.

“The removal of desire and lust, Hemaka, “Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu, for pleasant things Piyarūpesu hemaka; seen, heard, thought, or cognized here Chandarāgavinodanaṁ, is extinguishment, the state that does not pass. Nibbānapadamaccutaṁ.

Those who have fully understood this, mindful, are quenched in this very life. Always at peace, they’ve crossed over clinging to the world.”

Etadaññāya ye satā, Diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā; Upasantā ca te sadā, Tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.

Those who have fully understood this, mindful, Etadaññāya ye satā, are quenched in this very life. Diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā; Always at peace, Upasantā ca te sadā, they’ve crossed over clinging to the world.” Tiṇṇā loke visattikan”ti.