SNP5.2 — Sutta Nipāta 5.2
The Questions of the Youth Ajita
By what is the world enveloped?
(said the venerable Ajita)
Because of what does it not shine?
What do you say is its smearing?
What is its great danger?
The world is enveloped by ignorance,
(said the Blessed One, Ajita)
Because of avarice and negligence it does not shine.
Craving is its smearing, I say.
Suffering is its great danger.
The streams flow everywhere,
(said the venerable Ajita)
What holds back the streams?
Tell me the restraint for the streams.
By what are the streams shut off?
Whatever streams there are in the world,
(said the Blessed One, Ajita)
Mindfulness is what holds them back.
I call it the restraint for the streams;
By wisdom they are shut off.
Wisdom and mindfulness,
(said the venerable Ajita)
And name-and-form, dear sir—
Asked by me, tell me this:
Where does this cease?
This question that you have asked,
Ajita, I will answer it for you.
Where name-and-form
Ceases without remainder:
With the cessation of consciousness,
Right here it ceases.
Those who have comprehended the Dhamma,
And the many trainees here—
Tell me of their conduct, O wise one,
When asked by me, dear sir.
One should not covet sensual pleasures;
Ones mind should be untroubled.
Skilled in all phenomena,
A disciple should wander mindfully.
The First: The Questions of the Youth Ajita.