Dhammapada Verses 44 and 45 - Pancasatabhikkhu Vatthu

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Source: Adapted from the original translation by Daw Mya Tin, M.A.

Dhammapada Verses 44 and 45 - Pancasatabhikkhu Vatthu
Ko imam pathavim vicessati

yamalokanca imam sadevakam

ko dhammapadam sudesitam(1)

kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.

Sekho(2) pathavim vicessati

yamalokanca imam sadevakam

sekho dhammapadam sudesitam

kusalo pupphamiva pacessati.

Verse 44: Who shall examine this earth (i.e., this body), the world of Yama (i.e., the four Apayas) and the world of man together with the world of devas? Who shall examine the well-taught Path of Virtue (Dhammapada) as an expert florist picks and chooses flowers?

Verse 45: The Ariya Sekha2 shall examine this earth (i.e., the body), the world of Yama (i.e., the four Apayas) and the world of man together with the world of devas. The Ariya Sekha shall examine the well-taught Path of Virtue (Dhammapada) as an expert florist picks and chooses flowers.

1. dhammapadam sudesitam: the well-taught Path of Virtue; here it means the thirty-seven Factors of Enlightenment (Bodhipakkhiya Dhamma).

2. sekho/sekhapuggala: Student or the one who is still learning/practising the Dhamma, and has entered the Path, but has not yet become an arahat. The term is applied to the first sevenariyapuggalas, the eighth or arahat being asekho.

The Story of Five Hundred Bhikkhus(Monks)

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (44) and (45) of this book, with reference to five hundred bhikkhus.

Five hundred bhikkhus, after accompanying the Buddha to a village, returned to the Jetavana monastery. In the evening, while the bhikkhus were talking about the trip, especially the condition of the land, whether it was level or hilly, or whether the soil was clayey or sandy, red or black, etc., the Buddha came to them. Knowing the subject of their talk, he said to them, "Bhikkhus, the earth you are talking about is external to the body; it is better, indeed, to examine your own body and make preparations (for meditation practice)."

The Buddha then spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 44: Who shall examine this earth (i.e., this body)' the world of Yama (i.e., the four Apayas) and the world of man together with the world of devas? Who shall examine the well-taught Path of Virtue (Dhammapada) as an expert florist picks and chooses flowers?

Verse 45: The Ariya Sekha(2) shall examine this earth (i.e., the body), the world of Yama (i.e., the four Apayas) and the world of man together with the world of devas. The Ariya Sekha shall examine the well-taught Path of Virtue (Dhammapada) as an expert florist picks and chooses flowers.

At the end of the discourse those five hundred bhikkhus attained arahatship.

Credits
Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A.

Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon, Burma, 1986

Courtesy of Nibbana.com

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