The venerable Upasena reflects on his fortunate spiritual life and his teacher, the Buddha. The Buddha, perceiving Upasena's thoughts, expresses an inspired utterance.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Atha kho āyasmato upasenassa vaṅgantaputtassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, satthā ca me bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho; svākkhāte camhi dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito; sabrahmacārino ca me sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā; sīlesu camhi paripūrakārī; susamāhito camhi ekaggacitto; arahā camhi khīṇāsavo; mahiddhiko camhi mahānubhāvo. Bhaddakaṁ me jīvitaṁ, bhaddakaṁ maraṇan”ti.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo grove, the Squirrels’ feeding ground. Then, while the venerable Upasena, Vaṅganta‘s son, was alone in |seclusion::solitude, privacy [paṭisallāna]|, the following |reflection::contemplation, train of thought [parivitakka]| arose in his mind: “It is a blessing for me, it is most fortunate for me, for my teacher is the Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. I have gone forth from household life into homelessness in the well explained |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| and |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]|. My spiritual companions are |virtuous::ethical, moral [sīlavant]| and |endowed with wholesome qualities::one who has had a long association of wholesome mental qualities - of diligence, aroused energy, having few wishes, rational application of mind, having situational awareness, having good friends, pursuing good habits [kalyāṇadhamma]|. In moral conduct, I am fully accomplished. I am |well composed::completely calm, totally settled, attentive, completely collected [susamāhita]|, |with a unified mind::with a one-pointed mind; with an integrated, well-composed, concentrated mind [ekaggacitta]|. I am a worthy one |whose mental defilements have ended::who is awakened through the complete exhaustion of the mental effluents, taints [khīṇāsava]|. I possess great supernormal power and might. Blessed has been my life, and blessed will be my death.”
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmato upasenassa vaṅgantaputtassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
Then the Blessed One, perceiving venerable Upasena, Vaṅganta’s son’s reflection |with mind::with intention [cetasā]|, at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“Yaṁ jīvitaṁ na tapati,
maraṇante na socati;
Sa ve diṭṭhapado dhīro,
sokamajjhe na socati.
“That way of life which is without affliction,
culminating in a death which is free from |sorrow::grief [socati]|;
That |steadfast::firm, stable, wise [dhīra]| one, who has seen the way [to Nibbāna],
does not grieve even in the midst of sorrow.
Ucchinnabhavataṇhassa,
santacittassa bhikkhuno;
Vikkhīṇo jātisaṁsāro,
natthi tassa punabbhavo”ti.
Who has cut the |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]| for |existence::continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]|,
for that bhikkhu |with a calm mind::with a peaceful heart [santacitta]|;
Birth and wandering on has ended,
for him, there is no |renewed existence::renewal of being, reappearance, rebirth, future life [punabbhava]|.”
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Bamboo grove, the Squirrels’ feeding ground. Then, while the venerable Upasena, Vaṅganta‘s son, was alone in |seclusion::solitude, privacy [paṭisallāna]|, the following |reflection::contemplation, train of thought [parivitakka]| arose in his mind: “It is a blessing for me, it is most fortunate for me, for my teacher is the Blessed One, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One. I have gone forth from household life into homelessness in the well explained |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]| and |Vinaya::code of monastic discipline rules, training [vinaya]|. My spiritual companions are |virtuous::ethical, moral [sīlavant]| and |endowed with wholesome qualities::one who has had a long association of wholesome mental qualities - of diligence, aroused energy, having few wishes, rational application of mind, having situational awareness, having good friends, pursuing good habits [kalyāṇadhamma]|. In moral conduct, I am fully accomplished. I am |well composed::completely calm, totally settled, attentive, completely collected [susamāhita]|, |with a unified mind::with a one-pointed mind; with an integrated, well-composed, concentrated mind [ekaggacitta]|. I am a worthy one |whose mental defilements have ended::who is awakened through the complete exhaustion of the mental effluents, taints [khīṇāsava]|. I possess great supernormal power and might. Blessed has been my life, and blessed will be my death.”
Then the Blessed One, perceiving venerable Upasena, Vaṅganta’s son’s reflection |with mind::with intention [cetasā]|, at that time expressed this inspired utterance:
“That way of life which is without affliction,
culminating in a death which is free from |sorrow::grief [socati]|;
That |steadfast::firm, stable, wise [dhīra]| one, who has seen the way [to Nibbāna],
does not grieve even in the midst of sorrow.
Who has cut the |craving::wanting, yearning, longing, attachment, lit. thirst [taṇha]| for |existence::continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]|,
for that bhikkhu |with a calm mind::with a peaceful heart [santacitta]|;
Birth and wandering on has ended,
for him, there is no |renewed existence::renewal of being, reappearance, rebirth, future life [punabbhava]|.”
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. Atha kho āyasmato upasenassa vaṅgantaputtassa rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi: “lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, satthā ca me bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho; svākkhāte camhi dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito; sabrahmacārino ca me sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā; sīlesu camhi paripūrakārī; susamāhito camhi ekaggacitto; arahā camhi khīṇāsavo; mahiddhiko camhi mahānubhāvo. Bhaddakaṁ me jīvitaṁ, bhaddakaṁ maraṇan”ti.
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmato upasenassa vaṅgantaputtassa cetasā cetoparivitakkamaññāya tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:
“Yaṁ jīvitaṁ na tapati,
maraṇante na socati;
Sa ve diṭṭhapado dhīro,
sokamajjhe na socati.
Ucchinnabhavataṇhassa,
santacittassa bhikkhuno;
Vikkhīṇo jātisaṁsāro,
natthi tassa punabbhavo”ti.