Rohitassa (b)

Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.

[57]

[1] Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī
at Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Now when that night was spent
the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

[58] 'Monks, this night Rohitassa of the devas,
when night was waning,
came to visit me,
lighting up the whole Jeta Grove with surpassing brilliance,
and on coming to me
stood at one side.

So standing
Rohitassa of the devas said this to me:

"Pray, lord, is it possible for us,
by going,
to know,
to see,
to reach world's end,
where there is no more being born
or growing old,
no more dying,
no more falling (from one existence)
and rising up (in another)"?

At these words, monks, I said this
to Rohitassa of the devas:

"Your reverence, where there is no more being born
or growing old,
no more dying,
no more falling from one existence
and rising up in another, -
I declare that that end of the world
is not by going to be known,
seen,
or reached."

Whereupon, monks, Rohitassa of the devas
said this to me:

"It is wonderful, lord!

It is marvellous, lord,
how well it is said by the Exalted One:

'Where there is no more being born
or growing old,
no more dying,
no more falling from one existence
and rising up in another, -
I declare that that end of the world
is not by going to be known,
seen,
or reached.'!

Formerly, lord, I was the hermit called Rohitassa,
Bhoja's son,
one of psychic power,
a sky-walker.

Such, lord, was my speed, -
just as if a stout bowman,
for instance,
a skilled archer,
a practised hand,
a trained man
could with a light shaft
shoot easily across a palm-tree's shadow, -
such was my speed.

The extent of my stride
was as the distance between the eastern
and the western ocean.

To me, lord, possessed of such speed
and of such a stride,
there came a longing thus:

I will reach world's end
by going.

But, lord, not to speak of (the time spent over)
food and drink,
eating,
tasting
and calls of nature,
not to speak of struggles
to banish sleep and weariness,
though my life-span was a hundred years,
though I lived a hundred years,
though I travelled a hundred years,
yet I reached not world's end
but died ere that.

Wonderful indeed, lord!

Marvellous it is, lord,
how well it has been said by the Exalted One:

'Your reverence, where there is no more being born
or growing old,
no more dying,
no more falling from one existence
and rising up in another, -
I declare that that end of the world
is not by going to be known,
seen,
or reached.'!

At these words, monks,
I said this to Rohitassa of the devas:

"But, your reverence,
I declare not
that there is any making an end of Ill
without reaching world's end.

Nay, your reverence,
in this very fathom-long body,
along with its perceptions and thoughts,
I proclaim the world to be,
likewise the origin of the world
and the making of the world to end,
likewise the practice going to the ending of the world.

Not to be reached by going is world's end.
Yet there is no release for man from Ill
Unless he reach world's end. Then let a man
Become world-knower, wise, world-ender,
Let him be one who liveth the God-life.
Knowing the world's end by becoming calmed
He longeth not for this world or another.'

Aṇguttara Nikāya 4. Catukka Nipāta V. Rohitassa Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings The Book of the Fours V. Rohitassa

Sutta 46

Paṭhama Rohitassa Suttaṃ

Rohitassa (b)

Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
V. Rohitassa Vagga

The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
V. Rohitassa