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Saṁyutta Nikāya 12.17 Linked Discourses 12.17

2. Āhāravagga 2. Fuel

Acelakassapasutta With Kassapa, the Naked Ascetic The Naked Ascetic KassapaThe Unclothed (Ascetic).

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard. The things that are “made by oneself” and “made by another” are here said to be “suffering” (as at SN 12.24, SN 12.26). Since suffering comes with its opposite, sometimes it is said to be “pleasure and pain” (AN 6.95, SN 12.18, SN 12.25). Since pleasure and pain characterize the world, to that is sometimes added “the self and the cosmos” (DN 29:34.13, Ud 6.5, Ud 6.6). To emphasize universality, it can also be all factors of dependent origination (SN 12.67). While these discourses reject the notion since it assumes a metaphysical self, from a conventional point of view it may still be said that good deeds “done by oneself” are a friend in the hereafter (SN 1.53:2.5), or that a thief is punished for what they themselves have done (Mil 5.3.11:3.7), “like a spider caught in the web she wove” (Dhp 347). Later canonical texts, on the other hand, deny that merit is “made by oneself or given by gods” (Ja 524:28.2, Vv 84:22.2, Pv 37:22.2).Thus have I heard.Thus have I heard:—

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrel Sanctuary.The Exalted One was once staying near Rajagaha, in the Bamboo Grove at the Squirrels' Feeding-Ground.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. Then, in the morning, the Blessed One dressed and, taking bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms.Now the Exalted One in the early morning dressed himself, and taking bowl and robe entered Rājagaha for alms.

Addasā kho acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. The naked ascetic Kassapa saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. Naked ascetics are still found in India today. Digambara Jains went naked, but if he were a Jain he would have been introduced as such. Kassapa is an ancient clan name of the brahmins, and we meet four naked ascetics named Kassapa in the canon (here, DN 8, SN 41.9, and MN 124). They cannot be the same person, for at the end of each account it is said they went forth and attained arahantship.The naked ascetic Kassapa saw the Blessed One coming in the distance.And Kassapa the Unclothed saw the Exalted One coming from afar,

Disvāna yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. He went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One and exchanged greetings with him.and seeing him he came up to the Exalted One and greeted him,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he stood to one side and said to the Buddha, When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he stood to one side and said to him:and when compliments of friendship and courtesy had been exchanged, he stood at one side. So standing Kassapa the Unclothed said:—

“puccheyyāma mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ kañcideva desaṁ, sace no bhavaṁ gotamo okāsaṁ karoti pañhassa veyyākaraṇāyā”ti. “I’d like to ask the worthy Gotama about a certain point, if you’d take the time to answer.” “We would like to ask Master Gotama about a certain point, if he would grant us the favour of answering our question.”“We will ask Master Gotama concerning one point, if he would give us opportunity of hearing him reply to our question.”

“Akālo kho tāva, kassapa, pañhassa; “Kassapa, it’s the wrong time for questions. “This is not the right time for a question, Kassapa.“It is untimely just now for questions, Kassapa.

antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhamhā”ti. We’ve entered an inhabited area.” We have entered among the houses.”We have entered the village.”

Dutiyampi kho acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: A second time, A second time

“puccheyyāma mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ kañcideva desaṁ, sace no bhavaṁ gotamo okāsaṁ karoti pañhassa veyyākaraṇāyā”ti.

“Akālo kho tāva, kassapa, pañhassa;

antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhamhā”ti.

Tatiyampi kho acelo kassapo …pe… and a third time, Kassapa spoke to the Buddha and the Buddha replied. and a third time the naked ascetic Kassapa said to the Blessed One:“We would like to ask Master Gotama about a certain point, if he would grant us the favour of answering our question.”But Kassapa made his request again. And again, and even a third time he received the same reply.

antaragharaṁ paviṭṭhamhāti. “This is not the right time for a question, Kassapa. We have entered among the houses.”

Evaṁ vutte, acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: When this was said, Kassapa said to the Buddha, Then the naked ascetic Kassapa said to the Blessed One:When the Exalted One had thus spoken, Kassapa the Unclothed said:—

“na kho pana mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ bahudeva pucchitukāmā”ti. “I don’t want to ask much.” When someone says to me, “Just a small question”, it’s usually followed by, “So, what is consciousness really? And how does it relate to Nibbāna?” “We do not wish to ask Master Gotama much.”“It is not many things we want to ask of Master Gotama.”

“Puccha, kassapa, yadākaṅkhasī”ti. “Ask what you wish, Kassapa.” The following set of questions appear several times as views held or debated among the non-Buddhists who believe in kamma. The popularity of such discussions shows kamma was a hot topic of the day, with many different ideas about what it was, how it worked, or if indeed it was real. And it also shows that dependent origination was the Buddha’s answer to the vexed question of kamma, personal identity, and responsibility.“Then ask what you want, Kassapa.”“Ask, Kassapa, what you will.”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, ‘sayaṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti? “Well, worthy Gotama, is suffering made by oneself?” This draws on the Vedic notion that the act of creation is a kind of self-emptying, as the creator deity forms the world by and of themselves. Thus the sacrificer offers to Prajāpati as the sun with the words, “You are self-made” (svāṁkṛta, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 4.1.1.22, 4.1.2.21). In another context, Atharva Veda 8.5.9c refers to magic spells performed by oneself or prepared by another.“How is it, Master Gotama: is suffering created by oneself?”“Now then, Master Gotama, is suffering wrought by one's self?”

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca. “Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha. “Not so, Kassapa,” the Blessed One said.“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Exalted One.

‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, paraṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti? “Then is suffering made by another?” For Pali paraṅkata we find Sanskrit anyakṛta: “Let me not suffer for what was done by another, o king” (Rig Veda 2.28, cf. 6.51.7). Malicious dealings, violence, curses, and maleficent spirits were potent sources of suffering.“Then, Master Gotama, is suffering created by another?”“What then, Master Gotama, is one's suffering wrought by another?”

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca. “Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha. “Not so, Kassapa,” the Blessed One said.“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Exalted One.

‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca dukkhan’ti? “Well, is suffering made by both oneself and another?” When suffering arises on a personal level, particular instances of suffering might be attributed solely to either oneself or the other. Sometimes it may be both, for example, when someone who acts in compliance with an evil regime is subsequently punished. But if we speak of suffering in general, then suffering that is purely one’s own fault might occur if all things are determined by one’s own past deeds. And suffering that is purely another’s fault might arise from the will of a malevolent deity. Suffering that is both might occur in a world where certain beings determine their own future and others do not.“How is it then, Master Gotama: is suffering created both by oneself and by another?”“What then, Master Gotama, is suffering wrought both by one's self and by another?'

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca. “Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha. “Not so, Kassapa,” the Blessed One said.“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Exalted One.

‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ dukkhan’ti? “Then does suffering arise anomalously, not made by oneself or another?” Adhicca is usually translated in this context as “chance”. The root meaning refers to something that has been “lifted out”, making it a “special exception” or “anomaly”. It isn’t used in Sanskrit for a philosophical theory of chance, for which we find instead yadṛcchā (“arbitrariness”, Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 1.2). The theory proposed here is not that the universe in general operates by chance, but that the happenstance of creation is an “anomaly” in the general scheme of things. At SN 12.24:3.4 and SN 12.25:2.4 we learn that some philosophers who believed in the doctrine of kamma nonetheless argued that suffering arose anomalously.“Then, Master Gotama, has suffering arisen fortuitously, being created neither by oneself nor by another?”“What then, Master Gotama, has [the] suffering [which is] wrought neither by myself nor by another, befallen me by chance?”

‘Mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti bhagavā avoca. “Not so, Kassapa,” said the Buddha. “Not so, Kassapa,” the Blessed One said.“Not so, Kassapa,” said the Exalted One.

‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, natthi dukkhan’ti? “Well, is there no such thing as suffering?” “How is it then, Master Gotama: is there no suffering?”“What then, Master Gotama, is suffering non-existent?”

‘Na kho, kassapa, natthi dukkhaṁ. “It’s not that there’s no such thing as suffering. “It is not that there is no suffering, Kassapa; “No, Kassapa, suffering is not non-existent;

Atthi kho, kassapa, dukkhan’ti. Suffering is real.” there is suffering.”suffering is.”

‘Tena hi bhavaṁ gotamo dukkhaṁ na jānāti, na passatī’ti. “Then does the worthy Gotama not know or see suffering?” The Pali is not explicitly phrased as a question, but SN 12.17:4.6 below confirms that that is the intent.“Then is it that Master Gotama does not know and see suffering?”“Then Master Gotama neither knows nor sees suffering.”

‘Na khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ na jānāmi, na passāmi. “It’s not that I don’t know or see suffering. “It is not that I do not know and see suffering, Kassapa.“No, Kassapa, I am not one who knows not suffering nor sees it.

Jānāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ; I do know suffering, I know suffering,I am one that knows suffering, Kassapa,

passāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhan’”ti. I do see suffering.” I see suffering.”I am one that sees suffering.”

“Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, ‘sayaṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi. “Worthy Gotama, when asked these questions, you say ‘not so’. “Whether you are asked: ‘How is it, Master Gotama: is suffering created by oneself?’ or ‘Is it created by another?’ or ‘Is it created by both?’ or ‘Is it created by neither?’ in each case you say:“How now, Master Gotama? To all my questions you have said 'not so verily.”

‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, paraṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi.

‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, sayaṅkatañca paraṅkatañca dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi.

‘Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, asayaṅkāraṁ aparaṅkāraṁ adhiccasamuppannaṁ dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘mā hevaṁ, kassapā’ti vadesi.

‘Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, natthi dukkhan’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘na kho, kassapa, natthi dukkhaṁ, atthi kho, kassapa, dukkhan’ti vadesi. Yet you say that there is such a thing as suffering. ‘Not so, Kassapa.’ When you are asked:You have both affirmed that suffering is,

‘Tena hi bhavaṁ gotamo dukkhaṁ na jānāti na passatī’ti iti puṭṭho samāno ‘na khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ na jānāmi na passāmi.

Jānāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhaṁ; And you say that you do know suffering, ‘How is it then, Master Gotama: is there no suffering?’and that you know

passāmi khvāhaṁ, kassapa, dukkhan’ti vadesi. and you do see suffering. you say: ‘It is not that there is no suffering, Kassapa; there is suffering.’ When asked: ‘Then is it that Master Gotama does not know and see suffering?’and see it.

Ācikkhatu ca me, bhante, bhagavā dukkhaṁ. Sir, let the Blessed One explain suffering to me! The change of address shows that he has acquired faith.you say: ‘It is not that I do not know and see suffering, Kassapa. I know suffering, I see suffering.’Declare then to me, Master, Exalted One, [the nature of] suffering.

Desetu ca me, bhante, bhagavā dukkhan”ti. Let the Blessed One teach me about suffering!” Venerable sir, let the Blessed One explain suffering to me. Let the Blessed One teach me about suffering.”Teach me, Master, Exalted One, the nature of suffering.”

“‘So karoti so paṭisaṁvedayatī’ti kho, kassapa, ādito sato ‘sayaṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti vadaṁ sassataṁ etaṁ pareti. “Suppose that he who does the deed and he who experiences the result are one and the same. Then for one who has existed since the beginning, suffering is made by oneself. In speaking like this, one implies this is eternal. The person who performs the deed in this life is identical to the person who experiences the result in future lives. The syntax employs repeated demonstrative pronouns (so … so) to assert emphatic identity, as in the phrases, “the self and the cosmos are one and the same” (SN 22.81:10.7) or “the soul and the body are one and the same” (SN 12.35:5.2). Hence this is identified as eternalism. | Pareti normally means “to depart”, literally “go to the other”, and its use here is apparently unique. I take it in the sense “convey the meaning”, “imply” (cf. Sanskrit pārayati, “convey”). | See Bodhi’s discussion of ādito sato in Connected Discourses, notes 39 and 40.“Kassapa, [if one thinks,] ‘The one who acts is the same as the one who experiences [the result],’ [then one asserts] with reference to one existing from the beginning: ‘Suffering is created by oneself.’ When one asserts thus, this amounts to eternalism.“One and the same person both acts and experiences [the results]':—this, Kassapa, which you called at first 'suffering self-wrought,' amounts to the Eternalist theory.

‘Añño karoti añño paṭisaṁvedayatī’ti kho, kassapa, vedanābhitunnassa sato ‘paraṅkataṁ dukkhan’ti iti vadaṁ ucchedaṁ etaṁ pareti. Suppose that he who does the deed is one, and he who experiences the result is another. Then for one stricken by feeling, suffering is made by another. In speaking like this, one implies this is annihilated. A person does a deed in this life, and a completely different person experiences the result in a future life. Thus the one who did the deed has been annihilated.But, Kassapa, [if one thinks,] ‘The one who acts is one, the one who experiences [the result] is another,’ [then one asserts] with reference to one stricken by feeling: ‘Suffering is created by another.’ When one asserts thus, this amounts to annihilationism.“One acts, another experiences [the result]':—this, Kassapa, which to one smitten by the feeling occurs as 'suffering caused by another,' amounts to the Annihilationist theory.

Ete te, kassapa, ubho ante anupagamma majjhena tathāgato dhammaṁ deseti: Avoiding these two extremes, the Realized One teaches by the middle way: The Buddha does not discuss the final two terms of the tetralemma. For the view that suffering is made by both oneself and another, compare the doctrines of “partial eternalism”, i.e. that some beings are eternal, others not (DN 1:2.1.1). For the view that suffering arose by chance, see the doctrines of origination by chance (DN 1:2.30.1).Without veering towards either of these extremes, the Tathāgata teaches the Dhamma by the middle:To you, Kassapa, the Tathagata, not approaching either extreme, teaches the Norm by a middle [way]:—

‘avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā; ‘Ignorance is a requirement for choices. ‘With ignorance as condition, volitional formations [come to be];conditioned by ignorance activities come to pass,

saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe… Choices are a requirement for consciousness. … with volitional formations as condition, consciousness….conditioned by activities consciousness;

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti. That is how this entire mass of suffering originates. Such is the origin of this whole mass of suffering.thus arise name-and-shape, sense, contact, feeling, craving, grasping, becoming, birth, decay-and-death, grief, suffering.

Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho; When ignorance fades away and ceases with no residue left behind, choices cease. But with the remainderless fading away and cessation of ignorance comes cessation of volitional formations;But from the utter fading away and ceasing of ignorance,

saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe… When choices cease, consciousness ceases. … with the cessation of volitional formations, cessation of consciousness….activities and the rest, comes the ceasing of activities, consciousness and the rest.

evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī’”ti. That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.’” Such is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.’”Even such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill.”

Evaṁ vutte, acelo kassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: When this was said, Kassapa said to the Buddha, When this was said, the naked ascetic Kassapa said to the Blessed One:When this had been said Kassapa the Unclothed said to the Exalted One:—

“abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante. “Excellent, sir! Excellent! “Magnificent, venerable sir! Magnificent, venerable sir!“Most excellent, lord! Most excellent!

Seyyathāpi, bhante, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya …pe… ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhagavatā anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, the Buddha has made the teaching clear in many ways. The Dhamma has been made clear in many ways by the Blessed One, as though he were turning upright what had been turned upside down, revealing what was hidden, showing the way to one who was lost, or holding up a lamp in the dark for those with eyesight to see forms.Just as if a man were to set up that which had been thrown down, or were to reveal that which was hidden away, or were to point out the right road to him who had gone astray, or were to bring a lamp into the darkness, so that those who had eyes could see shapes,—even so, lord, has the lord Gotama shown me his doctrine in various ways.

Esāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. I go for refuge to the Blessed One, and to the Dhamma, and to the Bhikkhu Saṅgha.I, even I, lord, betake myself to the Exalted One as my refuge, to the Norm and to the Order.

Labheyyāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, labheyyaṁ upasampadan”ti. Sir, may I receive the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence?” May I receive the going forth under the Blessed One, may I receive the higher ordination?”I would leave the world under the Rule of the Exalted One. I would be ordained.”

“Yo kho, kassapa, aññatitthiyapubbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ākaṅkhati pabbajjaṁ, ākaṅkhati upasampadaṁ, so cattāro māse parivasati. Catunnaṁ māsānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājenti upasampādenti bhikkhubhāvāya. “Kassapa, if someone formerly ordained in another sect wishes to take the going forth, the ordination in this teaching and training, they must spend four months on probation. When four months have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, they’ll give the going forth, the ordination into monkhood. In the early period, there was no distinction between “going forth” (pabbajjā) and “ordination” (upasampadā). They are two sides of the same coin: leaving the home life and entering the ascetic life. Ordination was originally granted by the Buddha with the simple call, “Come mendicant!” (Kd 1:6.32.1). As the community grew, the Buddha authorized the Saṅgha to perform the “going forth and ordination” (Kd 1:12.1.1). Later still, the novice (sāmaṇaera) platform was introduced for teenagers and became known as “going forth” (Kd 1:54.3.2). Finally, the novice ordination was standardized for all ordinands, even if it was merely preliminary to the “full ordination”.“Kassapa, one formerly belonging to another sect who desires the going forth and the higher ordination in this Dhamma and Discipline lives on probation for four months. At the end of the four months, if the bhikkhus are satisfied with him, they may if they wish give him the going forth and the higher ordination to the state of a bhikkhu.“He, Kassapa, who, being formerly a votary of another doctrine, desires to leave the world to obtain orders in this Doctrine and Rule, remains on probation for four months. At the end of four months spent in seclusion, the brethren, moved in heart and will, receive him from the world and ordain him to be a brother.

Api ca mayā puggalavemattatā viditā”ti. However, I have recognized individual differences.” In addition to individual exceptions, there are general exceptions for dreadlocked fire-worshipping ascetics, since they believe in kamma, and for the Buddha’s relatives (Kd 1:38.11.3).But individual differences are recognized by me.”Nevertheless, I acknowledge a difference in persons.”

“Sace, bhante, aññatitthiyapubbo imasmiṁ dhammavinaye ākaṅkhati pabbajjaṁ, ākaṅkhati upasampadaṁ, cattāro māse parivasati. Catunnaṁ māsānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājenti upasampādenti bhikkhubhāvāya. Ahaṁ cattāri vassāni parivasissāmi, catunnaṁ vassānaṁ accayena āraddhacittā bhikkhū pabbājentu upasampādentu bhikkhubhāvāyā”ti. “Sir, if four months probation are required in such a case, I’ll spend four years on probation. When four years have passed, if the mendicants are satisfied, let them give me the going forth, the ordination into monkhood.” “If, venerable sir, one formerly belonging to another sect who desires the going forth and the higher ordination in this Dhamma and Discipline lives on probation for four months, and if at the end of the four months the bhikkhus, being satisfied with him, may if they wish give him the going forth and the higher ordination to the state of a bhikkhu, then I will live on probation for four years. At the end of the four years, if the bhikkhus are satisfied with me, let them if they wish give me the going forth and the higher ordination to the state of a bhikkhu.”“If, lord, he who, formerly a votary of another doctrine, desires to leave the world, to obtain orders in this Doctrine and Rule, goes on probation for four months, and if at the end of four months spent in seclusion, the brethren, moved in heart and willing, receive him from the world and ordain him to be a brother, I will live on probation for four years. At the end of four years so living may the brethren, moved in heart and will, receive me and ordain me as a brother.”

Alattha kho acelo kassapo bhagavato santike pabbajjaṁ, alattha upasampadaṁ. And the naked ascetic Kassapa received the going forth, the ordination in the Buddha’s presence. Then the naked ascetic Kassapa received the going forth under the Blessed One, and he received the higher ordination.So Kassapa the Unclothed was received under the Exalted One and obtained ordination.

Acirūpasampanno ca panāyasmā kassapo eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto viharanto nacirasseva—yassatthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajanti tadanuttaraṁ—brahmacariyapariyosānaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja vihāsi. Not long after his ordination, Venerable Kassapa, living alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute, soon realized the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life. He lived having achieved with his own insight the goal for which gentlemen rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness. And soon, not long after his higher ordination, dwelling alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute, the Venerable Kassapa, by realizing it for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life entered and dwelt in that unsurpassed goal of the holy life for the sake of which clansmen rightly go forth from the household life into homelessness.And not long after his ordination the venerable Kassapa, remaining alone and separate, earnest, ardent and strenuous, attained ere long to that supreme goal of the divine life, for the sake of which the clansmen rightly go forth from home into the homeless: yea, that supreme goal did he, by himself, even in this present life, come to understand and realize,

“Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā”ti abbhaññāsi. He understood: “Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.” He directly knew: “Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of being.”namely, that birth was destroyed, that the divine life was lived, that the task was done, that for life in these conditions there was no hereafter.

Aññataro ca panāyasmā kassapo arahataṁ ahosīti. And Venerable Kassapa became one of the perfected. And the Venerable Kassapa became one of the arahants. And that venerable Kassapa became one of the Arahants.

Sattamaṁ.
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