Cundasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā mallesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena pāvā tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā pāvāyaṁ viharati cundassa kammāraputtassa ambavane.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Mallas together with a large Saṅgha when he arrived at Pāvā. There he stayed in Cunda the smith’s mango grove.

Assosi kho cundo kammāraputto: “bhagavā kira mallesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pāvaṁ anuppatto pāvāyaṁ viharati mayhaṁ ambavane”ti. Atha kho cundo kammāraputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho cundaṁ kammāraputtaṁ bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi. Atha kho cundo kammāraputto bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

Cunda heard that the Buddha had arrived and was staying in his mango grove. Then he went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk. Then Cunda said to the Buddha, “Sir, would the Buddha, together with the mendicant Saṅgha, please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?” The Buddha consented with silence.

Atha kho cundo kammāraputto bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi. Atha kho cundo kammāraputto tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā pahūtañca sūkaramaddavaṁ bhagavato kālaṁ ārocāpesi: “kālo, bhante, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Cunda rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. And when the night had passed Cunda had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home, and plenty of pork on the turn. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, “Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.”

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena yena cundassa kammāraputtassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā cundaṁ kammāraputtaṁ āmantesi: “yaṁ te, cunda, sūkaramaddavaṁ paṭiyattaṁ tena maṁ parivisa, yaṁ panaññaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyattaṁ tena bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisā”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho cundo kammāraputto bhagavato paṭissutvā yaṁ ahosi sūkaramaddavaṁ paṭiyattaṁ tena bhagavantaṁ parivisi; yaṁ panaññaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyattaṁ tena bhikkhusaṅghaṁ parivisi.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Cunda together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat down on the seat spread out and addressed Cunda, “Cunda, please serve me with the pork on the turn that you’ve prepared. And serve the mendicant Saṅgha with the other foods.” “Yes, sir,” replied Cunda, and did as he was asked.

Atha kho bhagavā cundaṁ kammāraputtaṁ āmantesi: “yaṁ te, cunda, sūkaramaddavaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ taṁ sobbhe nikhaṇāhi. Nāhaṁ taṁ, cunda, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yassa taṁ paribhuttaṁ sammā pariṇāmaṁ gaccheyya aññatra tathāgatassā”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho cundo kammāraputto bhagavato paṭissutvā yaṁ ahosi sūkaramaddavaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ taṁ sobbhe nikhaṇitvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho cundaṁ kammāraputtaṁ bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.

Then the Buddha addressed Cunda, “Cunda, any pork on the turn that’s left over, you should bury it in a pit. I don’t see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who could properly digest it except the Realized One.” “Yes, sir,” replied Cunda. He did as he was asked, then came back to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.

Atha kho bhagavato cundassa kammāraputtassa bhattaṁ bhuttāvissa kharo ābādho uppajji. Lohitapakkhandikā pabāḷhā vedanā vattanti māraṇantikā. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā sato sampajāno adhivāsesi avihaññamāno.

After the Buddha had eaten Cunda’s meal, he fell severely ill with bloody dysentery, struck by dreadful pains, close to death. But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “āyāmānanda, yena kusinārā tenupasaṅkamissāmā”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paccassosi.

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, “Come, Ānanda, let’s go to Kusinārā.” “Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

Cundassa bhattaṁ bhuñjitvā, kammārassāti me sutaṁ; Ābādhaṁ samphusī dhīro, pabāḷhaṁ māraṇantikaṁ.

I’ve heard that after eating the meal of Cunda the smith, the attentive one fell severely ill, with pains, close to death.

Bhuttassa ca sūkaramaddavena, Byādhippabāḷho udapādi satthuno; Viriccamāno bhagavā avoca, “Gacchāmahaṁ kusināraṁ nagaran”ti.

A severe sickness struck the Teacher who had eaten the pork on the turn. While still purging the Buddha said: “I’ll go to the citadel of Kusinārā.”

Atha kho bhagavā maggā okkamma yena aññataraṁ rukkhamūlaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “iṅgha me tvaṁ, ānanda, catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpehi; kilantosmi, ānanda, nisīdissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpesi. Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nisajja kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “iṅgha me tvaṁ, ānanda, pānīyaṁ āhara; pipāsitosmi, ānanda, pivissāmī”ti.

Then the Buddha left the road and went to the root of a certain tree, where he addressed Ānanda, “Go on then, Ānanda, fold my outer robe in four and spread it out for me. I am tired and will sit down.” “Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda, and did as he was asked. The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out, and said to Venerable Ānanda, “Go on then, Ānanda, fetch me some water. I am thirsty and will drink.”

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idāni, bhante, pañcamattāni sakaṭasatāni atikkantāni. Taṁ cakkacchinnaṁ udakaṁ parittaṁ luḷitaṁ āvilaṁ sandati. Ayaṁ, bhante, kukudhā nadī avidūre acchodakā sātodakā sītodakā setodakā supatitthā ramaṇīyā. Ettha bhagavā pānīyañca pivissati gattāni ca sītīkarissatī”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, just now around five hundred carts have passed by. The shallow water has been churned up by their wheels, and it flows cloudy and murky. The Kakutthā River is not far away, with clear, sweet, cool water, clean, with smooth banks, delightful. There the Buddha can drink and cool his limbs.”

Dutiyampi kho …pe… tatiyampi kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “iṅgha me tvaṁ, ānanda, pānīyaṁ āhara; pipāsitosmi, ānanda, pivissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā pattaṁ gahetvā yena sā nadī tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho sā nadī cakkacchinnā parittā luḷitā āvilā sandamānā āyasmante ānande upasaṅkamante acchā vippasannā anāvilā sandati.

For a second time … For a third time, the Buddha said to Ānanda, “Go on then, Ānanda, fetch me some water. I am thirsty and will drink.” “Yes, sir,” replied Ānanda. Taking his bowl he went to the river. Now, though the shallow water in that river had been churned up by wheels, and flowed cloudy and murky, when Ānanda approached it flowed transparent, clear, and unclouded.

Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: “acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho, tathāgatassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā. Ayañhi sā nadī cakkacchinnā parittā luḷitā āvilā sandamānā mayi upasaṅkamante acchā vippasannā anāvilā sandatī”ti. Pattena pānīyaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ, bhante, tathāgatassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā. Ayañhi sā, bhante, nadī cakkacchinnā parittā luḷitā āvilā sandamānā mayi upasaṅkamante acchā vippasannā anāvilā sandati. Pivatu bhagavā pānīyaṁ, pivatu sugato pānīyan”ti.

Then Venerable Ānanda thought, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For though the shallow water in that river had been churned up by wheels, and flowed cloudy and murky, when I approached it flowed transparent, clear, and unclouded.” Gathering a bowl of drinking water he went back to the Buddha, and said to him, “It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! The Realized One has such psychic power and might! For though the shallow water in that river had been churned up by wheels, and flowed cloudy and murky, when I approached it flowed transparent, clear, and unclouded. Drink the water, Blessed One! Drink the water, Holy One!”

Atha kho bhagavā pānīyaṁ apāyi. Atha kho bhagavā mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena kukudhā nadī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā kukudhaṁ nadiṁ ajjhogāhetvā nhatvā ca pivitvā ca paccuttaritvā yena ambavanaṁ tenupasaṅkami. Upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ cundakaṁ āmantesi: “iṅgha me tvaṁ, cundaka, catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpehi; kilantosmi, cundaka, nipajjissāmī”ti.

So the Buddha drank the water. Then the Buddha together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants went to the Kakutthā River. He plunged into the river and bathed and drank. And when he had emerged, he went to the mango grove, where he addressed Venerable Cundaka, “Go on then, Cundaka, fold my outer robe in four and spread it out for me. I am tired and will lie down.”

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā cundako bhagavato paṭissutvā catugguṇaṁ saṅghāṭiṁ paññāpesi. Atha kho bhagavā dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappesi pāde pādaṁ accādhāya sato sampajāno uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā. Āyasmā pana cundako tattheva bhagavato purato nisīdi.

“Yes, sir,” replied Cundaka, and did as he was asked. And then the Buddha laid down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up. But Cundaka sat down right there in front of the Buddha.

Gantvāna buddho nadikaṁ kukudhaṁ, Acchodakaṁ sātudakaṁ vippasannaṁ; Ogāhi satthā sukilantarūpo, Tathāgato appaṭimodha loke.

Having gone to Kakutthā Creek, whose water was transparent, sweet, and clear, the Teacher, being tired, plunged in, the Realized One, without compare in the world.

Nhatvā ca pivitvā cudatāri satthā, Purakkhato bhikkhugaṇassa majjhe; Satthā pavattā bhagavā idha dhamme, Upāgami ambavanaṁ mahesi; Āmantayi cundakaṁ nāma bhikkhuṁ, “Catugguṇaṁ santhara me nipajjaṁ”.

And after bathing and drinking the Teacher emerged. Before the group of mendicants, in the middle, <j>the Buddha, the Teacher who rolled forth <j>the present dispensation, the great seer went to the mango grove. He addressed the mendicant named Cundaka: “Spread out my folded robe so I can lie down.”

So codito bhāvitattena cundo, Catugguṇaṁ santhari khippameva; Nipajji satthā sukilantarūpo, Cundopi tattha pamukhe nisīdīti.

The evolved one urged Cunda, who quickly spread the folded robe. The Teacher lay down so tired, while Cunda sat there before him.

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi: “siyā kho panānanda, cundassa kammāraputtassa koci vippaṭisāraṁ upadaheyya: ‘tassa te, āvuso cunda, alābhā, tassa te dulladdhaṁ yassa te tathāgato pacchimaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjitvā parinibbuto’ti. Cundassānanda, kammāraputtassa evaṁ vippaṭisāro paṭivinodetabbo—

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, “Now it may happen, Ānanda, that others may give rise to some regret for Cunda the smith: ‘It’s your loss, respectable Cunda, it’s your misfortune, in that the Realized One was fully quenched after eating his last almsmeal from you.’ You should dispel remorse in Cunda the smith like this:

Tassa te, āvuso cunda, lābhā, tassa te suladdhaṁ yassa te tathāgato pacchimaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ paribhuñjitvā parinibbuto. Sammukhā metaṁ, āvuso cunda, bhagavato sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ— dveme piṇḍapātā samasamaphalā samasamavipākā ativiya aññehi piṇḍapātehi mahapphalatarā ca mahānisaṁsatarā ca. Katame dve? Yañca piṇḍapātaṁ paribhuñjitvā tathāgato anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambujjhati, yañca piṇḍapātaṁ paribhuñjitvā anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyati. Ime dve piṇḍapātā samasamaphalā samasamavipākā ativiya aññehi piṇḍapātehi mahapphalatarā ca mahānisaṁsatarā ca.

‘You’re fortunate, respectable Cunda, you’re so very fortunate, in that the Realized One was fully quenched after eating his last almsmeal from you. I have heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha. There are two almsmeal offerings that have identical fruit and result, and are more fruitful and beneficial than other almsmeal offerings. What two? The almsmeal after eating which a Realized One awakens to the supreme perfect awakening; and the almsmeal after eating which he becomes fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue. These two almsmeal offerings have identical fruit and result, and are more fruitful and beneficial than other almsmeal offerings.

‘Āyusaṁvattanikaṁ āyasmatā cundena kammāraputtena kammaṁ upacitaṁ, vaṇṇasaṁvattanikaṁ āyasmatā cundena kammāraputtena kammaṁ upacitaṁ, sukhasaṁvattanikaṁ āyasmatā cundena kammāraputtena kammaṁ upacitaṁ, saggasaṁvattanikaṁ āyasmatā cundena kammāraputtena kammaṁ upacitaṁ, yasasaṁvattanikaṁ āyasmatā cundena kammāraputtena kammaṁ upacitaṁ, ādhipateyyasaṁvattanikaṁ āyasmatā cundena kammāraputtena kammaṁ upacitan’ti. Cundassānanda, kammāraputtassa evaṁ vippaṭisāro paṭivinodetabbo”ti.

You’ve accumulated a deed that leads to long life, beauty, happiness, glory, heaven, and sovereignty.’ You should dispel remorse in Cunda the smith like this.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Dadato puññaṁ pavaḍḍhati, Saṁyamato veraṁ na cīyati; Kusalo ca jahāti pāpakaṁ, Rāgadosamohakkhayā sanibbuto”ti. Pañcamaṁ.

“A giver’s merit grows; enmity doesn’t build up when you have self-control. A skillful person gives up bad things— with the end of greed, hate, and delusion, <j>they’re quenched.”