Kappamāṇavapucchā

“Majjhe sarasmiṁ tiṭṭhataṁ, (iccāyasmā kappo) Oghe jāte mahabbhaye; Jarāmaccuparetānaṁ, Dīpaṁ pabrūhi mārisa; Tvañca me dīpamakkhāhi, Yathāyidaṁ nāparaṁ siyā”.

“For those overwhelmed by old age and death,” said Venerable Kappa, “stuck mid-stream as the terrifying flood arises, tell me an island, good fellow. Explain to me an island so this may occur no further.”

“Majjhe sarasmiṁ tiṭṭhataṁ, (kappāti bhagavā) Oghe jāte mahabbhaye; Jarāmaccuparetānaṁ, Dīpaṁ pabrūmi kappa te.

“For those overwhelmed by old age and death,” replied the Buddha, “stuck mid-stream as the terrifying flood arises, I shall tell you an island, Kappa.

Akiñcanaṁ anādānaṁ, etaṁ dīpaṁ anāparaṁ; Nibbānaṁ iti naṁ brūmi, jarāmaccuparikkhayaṁ.

Having nothing, taking nothing: this is the island with nothing further. I call it extinguishment, the ending of old age and death.

Etadaññāya ye satā, Diṭṭhadhammābhinibbutā; Na te māravasānugā, Na te mārassa paddhagū”ti. Kappamāṇavapucchā dasamā.

Those who have fully understood this, mindful, are quenched in this very life. They don’t fall under Māra’s sway, nor are they his footmen.”