Hemakamāṇavapucchā

“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,” 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.

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

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.”

“Idha diṭṭhasutamutaviññātesu, Piyarūpesu hemaka; Chandarāgavinodanaṁ, Nibbānapadamaccutaṁ.

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

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

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