ITI 24  Aṭṭhipuñja sutta - Heap Of Bones

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, so I have heard:

“Ekapuggalassa, bhikkhave, kappaṁ sandhāvato saṁsarato siyā evaṁ mahā aṭṭhikaṅkalo aṭṭhipuñjo aṭṭhirāsi yathāyaṁ vepullo pabbato, sace saṁhārako assa, sambhatañca na vinasseyyā”ti.

“One person, bhikkhus, who has wandered and |transmigrated::wandered on, moved on continuously [saṃsaranta]| for an |aeon::lifespan of a world system, a vast cosmic time span [kappa]| would have accumulated a heap of bones the size of this |Mount Vepulla::Known today as Vipula hill, it is one of the prominent peaks surrounding the historical city of Rājagaha, present-day Rajgir in Bihar, India [vepulla + pabbata]|, if they were gathered together and did not decay.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Ekassekena kappena,
puggalassaṭṭhisañcayo;
Siyā pabbatasamo rāsi,
iti vuttaṁ mahesinā.

“In just one aeon,
the accumulation of a single person’s bones;
Would form a heap as large as a mountain,
thus has been said by the great seer.

So kho panāyaṁ akkhāto,
vepullo pabbato mahā;
Uttaro gijjhakūṭassa,
magadhānaṁ giribbaje.

He described it as being,
as great as Mount Vepulla;
To the north of Vulture’s Peak,
in the |mountain stronghold::a reference to present-day Rajgir, former capital of Magadha [giribbaja]| of Magadha.

Yato ca ariyasaccāni,
sammappaññāya passati;
Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ,
dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ;
Ariyañcaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,
dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

When one sees the [four] noble truths,
|with perfect wisdom::with correct understanding [sammappaññāya]|;
Suffering, the arising of suffering,
and the overcoming of suffering;
And the noble eightfold path,
that leads to the overcoming of suffering.

Sa sattakkhattuṁ paramaṁ,
sandhāvitvāna puggalo;
Dukkhassantakaro hoti,
sabbasaṁyojanakkhayā”ti.

After wandering on for seven times at most,
that person;
Makes an end of suffering,
through the |wearing away of all the fetters::exhaustion of all the bonds [sabbasaṃyojanakkhaya]|.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.