Udāna
VIII.10: Dabba Suttaɱ
About Dabba Mallaputta (2)
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.
[VIII-10.1] I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. There he addressed the monks, "Monks!"
"Yes, lord," the monks replied.
The Blessed One said, "When Dabba Mallaputta rose up into the air and, sitting cross-legged in the sky, in space, entered the fire property and then emerged from it and was totally unbound, his body burned and was consumed so that neither ashes nor soot could be discerned. Just as when ghee or oil is burned and consumed, neither ashes nor soot can be discerned, in the same way, when Dabba Mallaputta rose up into the air and, sitting cross-legged in the sky, in space, entered the fire property and then emerged from it and was totally unbound, his body burned and was consumed so that neither ashes nor soot could be discerned."
Then, on realizing the significance of that, the Blessed One on that occasion exclaimed:
Just as the destination of a glowing fire
struck with a [blacksmith's] iron hammer,
gradually growing calm,
is not known:
Even so, there's no destination to describe
for those who are rightly released
-- having crossed over the flood
of sensuality's bond --
for those who have attained
unwavering bliss.
References:
See also: Ud VIII.9.
