Gotamī Sutta The Discourse to Gotamī

 [Evam-me sutaṃ,] Ekaṃ samayaṃ Bhagavā,

Vesāliyaṃ viharati, Mahā-vane kūṭāgārasālāyaṃ,

I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying at Vesāli, in the Peaked Roof Hall in the Great Forest.

Atha kho Mahāpajāpati Gotamī,

Yena Bhagavā ten'upasaṅkami,

Upasaṅkamitvā Bhagavantaṃ abhivādetvā ekam-antaṃ aṭṭhāsi.

Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī approached the Blessed One and, on approaching, having bowed down to the Blessed One, stood to one side.

Ekam-antaṃ ṭhitā kho Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī

Bhagavantaṃ etad-avoca:

"Sādhu me bhante Bhagavā saṅkhittena dhammaṃ desetu,

Yam-ahaṃ Bhagavato dhammaṃ sutvā,

Ekā vūpakaṭṭhā appamattā ātāpinī pahitattā vihareyyanti."

As she was standing to one side, she said to the Blessed One: "It would be good, Venerable Sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief such that, having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, secluded, heedful, earnest, & resolute."

"Ye kho tvaṃ Gotami dhamme jāneyyāsi,

Ime dhammā sarāgāya saṃvattanti no virāgāya.

"Gotami, the qualities of which you may know, 'These qualities lead to passion, not to dispassion;

Saṃyogāya saṃvattanti no visaṃyogāya.

to being fettered, not to being unfettered;

Ācayāya saṃvattanti no apacayāya.

to self-aggrandizement, not to self-effacement;

Mahicchatāya saṃvattanti no appicchatāya.

to overweaning ambition, not to modesty;

Asantuṭṭhiyā saṃvattanti no santuṭṭhiyā.

to discontent, not to contentment;

Saṅgaṇikāya saṃvattanti no pavivekāya.

to entanglement, not to seclusion;

Kosajjāya saṃvattanti no viriyārambhāya.

to laziness, not to activated persistence;,

Dubbharatāya saṃvattanti no subharatāyāti.

to being burdensome, not to being unburdensome':

Ekaṃsena Gotami dhāreyyāsi,

N'eso dhammo n'eso vinayo n'etaṃ satthu-sāsananti.

You may definitely hold, 'This is not the Dhamma, this is not the Vinaya, this is not the Teacher's instruction.'

Ye ca kho tvaṃ Gotami dhamme jāneyyāsi,

Ime dhammā virāgāya saṃvattanti no sarāgāya.

As for the qualities of which you may know, 'These qualities lead to dispassion, not to passion;

Visaṃyogāya saṃvattanti no saṃyogāya.

to being unfettered, not to being fettered;

Apacayāya saṃvattanti no ācayāya.

to self-effacement, not to self-aggrandizement;,

Appicchatāya saṃvattanti no mahicchatāya.

to modesty, not to overweaning ambition;

Santuṭṭhiyā saṃvattanti no asantuṭṭhiyā.

to contentment, not to discontent;

Pavivekāya saṃvattanti no saṅgaṇikāya.

to seclusion, not to entanglement;

Viriyārambhāya saṃvattanti no kosajjāya.

to activated persistence, not to laziness;

Subharatāya saṃvattanti no dubbharatāyāti.

to being unburdensome, not to being burdensome':

Ekaṃsena Gotami dhāreyyāsi,

Eso dhammo eso vinayo etaṃ satthu-sāsananti.

You may definitely hold, 'This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher's instruction.'"

Idam-avoca Bhagavā.

Attamanā Mahāpajāpati Gotamī Bhagavato bhāsitaṃ, abhinandīti.

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī delighted at his words.