“Hearing of the hero with no desire for sensual pleasures,” said Venerable Jatukaṇṇī, “who has passed over the flood, I’ve come with a question for that desireless one. Tell me the state of peace, O natural visionary. Tell me this, Blessed One, as it really is.
For, having mastered sensual desires, the Blessed One proceeds, as the blazing sun shines on the earth. May you of vast wisdom explain the teaching to me of little wisdom so that I may understand the giving up of rebirth and old age here.”
“With desire for sensual pleasures dispelled,” replied the Buddha, “seeing renunciation as sanctuary, don’t be taking up or putting down anything at all.
What came before, let wither away, and after, let there be nothing. If you don’t grasp at the middle, you will live at peace.
One rid of greed, brahmin, for the whole realm of name and form, has no defilements by which they might fall under the sway of Death.”
The Questions of Jatukaṇṇī
Snp 5.12 · Jatukaṇṇimāṇavapucchā
Connections
Collection & context
- Sutta NipātaThe collection containing this text
- The Pāli canonCanonical collection in which this edition is preserved
- Theravāda traditionsTransmission and study context
- The early Buddhist communityHistorical and traditional setting
Books
- On The Way To The Far Shore: Q&A with The Buddha on the Way to AwakeningLeigh Brasington · Commentary
- Handful of Leaves: an Anthology from the Sutta PiṭakaEarly Buddhist discourses; Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu (translator and compiler) · Included in anthology
- On the Path: An Anthology on the Noble Eightfold Path drawn from the Pāli CanonṬhānissaro Bhikkhu · Referenced in this book
About this edition
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0
This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.
Published source. Translation wording and order are preserved; source headings and notes are retained, with navigation and formatting adapted for this reader.
The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.