So It Was Said 24 The Book of the Ones Chapter Three A Heap of Bones (ITI24)

1.1

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

2.1

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

“Mendicants, one individual roaming and transmigrating for an eon would amass a heap of bones the size of this Mount Vepulla, if they were gathered together and not lost.”

2.2

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

2.3

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

3.1

“Ekassekena kappena,

“If the bones of a single individual

3.2

puggalassaṭṭhisañcayo;

for a single eon were gathered up,

3.3

Siyā pabbatasamo rāsi,

they’d make a pile the size of a mountain:

3.4

iti vuttaṁ mahesinā.

so said the great seer.

4.1

So kho panāyaṁ akkhāto,

And this is declared to be

4.2

vepullo pabbato mahā;

as big as Mount Vepulla,

4.3

Uttaro gijjhakūṭassa,

higher than the Vulture’s Peak

4.4

magadhānaṁ giribbaje.

in the Mountainfold of the Magadhans.

5.1

Yato ca ariyasaccāni,

But then, with right understanding,

5.2

sammappaññāya passati;

one sees the noble truths—

5.3

Dukkhaṁ dukkhasamuppādaṁ,

suffering, suffering’s origin,

5.4

dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ;

suffering’s transcendence,

5.5

Ariyañcaṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,

and the noble eightfold path

5.6

dukkhūpasamagāminaṁ.

that leads to the stilling of suffering.

6.1

Sa sattakkhattuṁ paramaṁ,

After roaming on seven times at most,

6.2

sandhāvitvāna puggalo;

that individual

6.3

Dukkhassantakaro hoti,

makes an end of suffering,

6.4

sabbasaṁyojanakkhayā”ti.

with the ending of all fetters.”

7.1

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

7.2

Catutthaṁ.