Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard. ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā kumārakassapo andhavane viharati. Now at that time Venerable Kassapa the Prince was staying in the Dark Forest.

Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ andhavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāyasmā kumārakassapo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā āyasmantaṁ kumārakassapaṁ etadavoca: Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Dark Forest, went up to Kassapa the Prince, stood to one side, and said:

“Bhikkhu bhikkhu, ayaṁ vammiko rattiṁ dhūmāyati, divā pajjalati. “Bhikkhu, bhikkhu! This ant-hill fumes by night and flames by day. Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. ‘Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa laṅgiṁ Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a crossbar: ‘laṅgī, bhadante’ti. ‘A crossbar, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa laṅgiṁ; ‘Throw out the crossbar! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa uddhumāyikaṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a bullfrog: ‘Uddhumāyikā, bhadante’ti. ‘A bullfrog, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa uddhumāyikaṁ; ‘Throw out the bullfrog! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa dvidhāpathaṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a forked path: ‘Dvidhāpatho, bhadante’ti. ‘A forked path, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa dvidhāpathaṁ; ‘Throw out the forked path! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa caṅgavāraṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a sieve: ‘Caṅgavāro, bhadante’ti. ‘A sieve, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa caṅgavāraṁ; ‘Throw out the sieve! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa kummaṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a tortoise: ‘Kummo, bhadante’ti. ‘A tortoise, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa kummaṁ; ‘Throw out the tortoise! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa asisūnaṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a butcher’s knife and chopping block: ‘Asisūnā, bhadante’ti. ‘A butcher’s knife and chopping block, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa asisūnaṁ; ‘Throw out the butcher’s knife and chopping block! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa maṁsapesiṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a scrap of meat: ‘Maṁsapesi, bhadante’ti. ‘A scrap of meat, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘ukkhipa maṁsapesiṁ; ‘Throw out the scrap of meat! abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’

Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa nāgaṁ. Having taken the scalpel, digging deeper, the wise one saw a mighty serpent: ‘Nāgo, bhadante’ti. ‘A mighty serpent, sir!’ Brāhmaṇo evamāha: The brahmin said, ‘tiṭṭhatu nāgo, mā nāgaṁ ghaṭṭesi; namo karohi nāgassā’ti. ‘Leave the mighty serpent! Do not disturb the mighty serpent! Worship the mighty serpent!’

Ime kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, pañhe bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyāsi, yathā ca te bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāsi. Bhikkhu, go to the Buddha and ask him about this riddle. You should remember it in line with his answer. Nāhaṁ taṁ, bhikkhu, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya, yo imesaṁ pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya aññatra tathāgatena vā, tathāgatasāvakena vā, ito vā pana sutvā”ti—I do not see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—who could provide a satisfying answer to this riddle except for the Realized One or his disciple or someone who has heard it from them.”

Idamavoca sā devatā. That is what that deity said Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi. before vanishing right there.

Atha kho āyasmā kumārakassapo tassā rattiyā accayena yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā kumārakassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: Then, when the night had passed, Kassapa the Prince went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and informed him of the matter. Then he asked: “imaṁ, bhante, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ andhavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhante, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca: ‘bhikkhu bhikkhu, ayaṁ vammiko rattiṁ dhūmāyati, divā pajjalati. Brāhmaṇo evamāha: “abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā”ti. Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya …pe… ito vā pana sutvā’ti.

Idamavoca, bhante, sā devatā. Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi. … Ko nu kho, bhante, vammiko, kā rattiṁ dhūmāyanā, kā divā pajjalanā, ko brāhmaṇo, ko sumedho, kiṁ satthaṁ, kiṁ abhikkhaṇaṁ, kā laṅgī, kā uddhumāyikā, ko dvidhāpatho, kiṁ caṅgavāraṁ, ko kummo, kā asisūnā, kā maṁsapesi, ko nāgo”ti? “Venerable sir, what is the ant-hill? What is the fuming by night and flaming by day? Who is the brahmin, and who the wise one? What are the scalpel, the digging deeper, the crossbar, the bullfrog, the forked path, the sieve, the tortoise, the butcher’s knife and chopping block, and the scrap of meat? And what is the mighty serpent?”

“‘Vammiko’ti kho, bhikkhu, imassetaṁ cātumahābhūtikassa kāyassa adhivacanaṁ, mātāpettikasambhavassa odanakummāsūpacayassa aniccucchādanaparimaddanabhedanaviddhaṁsanadhammassa. “Bhikkhu, ‘ant-hill’ is a term for this body made up of the four great elements, produced by mother and father, built up from rice and porridge, liable to impermanence, to wearing away and erosion, to breaking up and destruction.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, divā kammante ārabbha rattiṁ anuvitakketi anuvicāreti—Thinking and pondering all night about what you did during the day— ayaṁ rattiṁ dhūmāyanā. this is the fuming at night. Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, rattiṁ anuvitakketvā anuvicāretvā divā kammante payojeti kāyena vācāya manasā—The work you apply yourself to during the day by body, speech, and thought after thinking about it all night— ayaṁ divā pajjalanā. this is the flaming by day.

‘Brāhmaṇo’ti kho, bhikkhu, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa. ‘Brahmin’ is a term for the Realized One, the Arahant, the fully awakened Buddha. ‘Sumedho’ti kho, bhikkhu, sekkhassetaṁ bhikkhuno adhivacanaṁ. ‘Wise one’ is a term for the trainee bhikkhu.

‘Satthan’ti kho, bhikkhu, ariyāyetaṁ paññāya adhivacanaṁ. ‘Scalpel’ is a term for noble understanding. ‘Abhikkhaṇan’ti kho, bhikkhu, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ. ‘Digging deeper’ is a term for rousing effort.

‘Laṅgī’ti kho, bhikkhu, avijjāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ. ‘Crossbar’ is a term for ignorance. Ukkhipa laṅgiṁ, pajaha avijjaṁ; ‘Throw out the crossbar’ means ‘give up ignorance, abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho. Take the scalpel and dig deeper, wise one!’.

‘Uddhumāyikā’ti kho, bhikkhu, kodhūpāyāsassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ. ‘Bullfrog’ is a term for anger and distress. Ukkhipa uddhumāyikaṁ, pajaha kodhūpāyāsaṁ; ‘Throw out the bullfrog’ means ‘give up anger and distress’ … abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

‘Dvidhāpatho’ti kho, bhikkhu, vicikicchāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ. ‘A forked path’ is a term for doubt. Ukkhipa dvidhāpathaṁ, pajaha vicikicchaṁ; ‘Throw out the forked path’ means ‘give up doubt’ … abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

‘Caṅgavāran’ti kho, bhikkhu, pañcannetaṁ nīvaraṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—‘A sieve’ is a term for the five hindrances, that is: kāmacchandanīvaraṇassa, byāpādanīvaraṇassa, thinamiddhanīvaraṇassa, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇassa, vicikicchānīvaraṇassa. the hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, indolence-and-lethargy, restlessness-and-anxiety, and doubt. Ukkhipa caṅgavāraṁ, pajaha pañca nīvaraṇe; ‘Throw out the sieve’ means ‘give up the five hindrances’ … abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

‘Kummo’ti kho, bhikkhu, pañcannetaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ adhivacanaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—‘Tortoise’ is a term for the five assumption-aggregates, that is: rūpupādānakkhandhassa, vedanupādānakkhandhassa, saññupādānakkhandhassa, saṅkhārupādānakkhandhassa, viññāṇupādānakkhandhassa. form, feeling, perception, activities, and consciousness. Ukkhipa kummaṁ, pajaha pañcupādānakkhandhe; ‘Throw out the tortoise’ means ‘give up the five grasping aggregates’ … abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

‘Asisūnā’ti kho, bhikkhu, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ—‘Butcher’s knife and chopping block’ is a term for the five strands of sensuality— cakkhuviññeyyānaṁ rūpānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ, sights cognizable by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and enticing. sotaviññeyyānaṁ saddānaṁ …pe… Sounds cognizable by the ear … ghānaviññeyyānaṁ gandhānaṁ …pe… Smells cognizable by the nose … jivhāviññeyyānaṁ rasānaṁ …pe… Tastes cognizable by the tongue … kāyaviññeyyānaṁ phoṭṭhabbānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ. Touches cognizable by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and enticing. Ukkhipa asisūnaṁ, pajaha pañca kāmaguṇe; ‘Throw out the butcher’s knife and chopping block’ means ‘give up the five strands of sensuality’ … abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

‘Maṁsapesī’ti kho, bhikkhu, nandīrāgassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ. ‘Scrap of meat’ is a term for delight-and-passion. Ukkhipa maṁsapesiṁ, pajaha nandīrāgaṁ; ‘Throw out the scrap of meat’ means ‘give up delight-and-passion’ … abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

‘Nāgo’ti kho, bhikkhu, khīṇāsavassetaṁ bhikkhuno adhivacanaṁ. ‘Mighty serpent’ is a term for the bhikkhu who has destroyed the influxes. Tiṭṭhatu nāgo, mā nāgaṁ ghaṭṭesi; namo karohi nāgassāti ayametassa attho”ti. This is the meaning of: ‘Leave the mighty serpent! Do not disturb the mighty serpent! Worship the mighty serpent.’”

Idamavoca bhagavā. That is what the Buddha said. Attamano āyasmā kumārakassapo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti. Pleased, Venerable Kassapa the Prince delighted in what the Buddha said.

Vammikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.

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