MĀ 23 jñānasūtram
[Translated originally from the Sanskrit Sarvāstivāda Madhyamāgama to Classical Chinese by a team led by Sarvāstivāda scholar Gautama Saṃghadeva of Kāśmīra in 398CE.
Translated from the Chinese Taisho Tripiṭaka back to Sanskrit by Ramakrishnan Suryanarayanan in 2024-26.]
madhyamāgame śāriputrasaṃyuktavarge jñānasūtraṃ tṛtīyam.
evaṃ mayā śrutam. ekasminsamaye bhagavāñchrāvastyāṃ viharati sma jetavane'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāme.
tasminsamaye maulikaphālguno bhikṣuḥ śikṣāṃ pratyākhyāya hīnāyāvṛttaḥ. atha karālo bhikṣuḥ śrutvā yaduta maulikaphālguno bhikṣuḥ śikṣāṃ pratyākhyāya hīnāyāvṛtta iti, yenāyuṣmāñchāriputrastenopajagāma. upetyāyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasya pādau śirasā vanditvaikānte nyaṣīdat. ekāntaniṣaṇṇaḥ karālo bhikṣurāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputrametadavocat—jānīyādāyuṣmāñchāriputro maulikaphālguno bhikṣuḥ śikṣāṃ pratyākhyāya hīnāyāvṛtta iti.
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—kaccidāyuṣman, maulikaphālguno bhikṣurasmindharmavinaye'bhiramate smeti?
karālo bhikṣurapṛcchat—kaccitpunarāyuṣmāñchāriputro'smindharmavinaye'bhiramateti?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—āyuṣmankarāla, nāsti me'smindharmavinaye kāṅkṣā vā vicikitsā veti.
karālo bhikṣurapṛcchat—āyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasyāyatyāṃ kathamiti?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—āyuṣmankarāla, āyatyāmapi me nāsti kāṅkṣeti.
karālo bhikṣuretacchrutvotthāyāsanādyena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya bhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvaikānte nyaṣīdat. ekāntaniṣaṇṇaḥ karālo bhikṣurbhagavantametadavocat—bhagavan, āyuṣmāñchāriputro'dya svayamājñāṃ vyākaroti—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti.
bhagavānetacchrutvānyataraṃ bhikṣumāmantrayata—ehi tvaṃ bhikṣo, madvacanācchāriputramāmantrayasva—bhagavāṃstvāmāhvayatīti.
sa bhikṣurbhagavataḥ pratiśrutyotthāyāsanādbhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvā yenāyuṣmāñchāriputrastenopajagāma. upetyāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputrametadavocat—bhagavānāyuṣmantamāhvayatīti. āyuṣmāñchāriputrastacchrutvā yena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya bhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvaikānte nyaṣīdat.
bhagavānavocat—kaccittvayā śāriputra satyamevājñā vyākṛtā—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—bhagavan, na mayānena padenānena vyañjanenājñā vyākṛtā, api tvahamarthamevāvocamiti. bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, kulaputrā yathāparyāyaṃ svayamājñāṃ vyākurvanti. ya ājñāṃ labhate sa ājñāṃ vyākarotīti. āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—bhagavan, mayā pūrvamevoktam, na mayānena padenānena vyañjanenājñā vyākṛtā, api tvahamarthamevāvocamiti.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—kathaṃ jānānkathaṃ paśyannāyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ svayamājñāṃ vyākaroti, kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—kathaṃ jānānkathaṃ paśyannāyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ svayamājñāṃ vyākaroti, kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmantaḥ, sanidānā jātiḥ. tasyā jāternidānaṃ kṣīṇam. jātinidānakṣayaṃ jñātvāhaṃ svayamājñāṃ vyākaromi—kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām.
bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, jātiḥ kiṃnidānā kiṃpratyayā kiṃsamudayā kimmūliketi? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, jātiḥ kiṃnidānā kiṃpratyayā kiṃsamudayā kimmūliketi? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmantaḥ, jātirbhavanidānā bhavapratyayā bhavasamudayā bhavamūliketi. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām.
bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, bhavaḥ kiṃnidānaḥ kiṃpratyayaḥ kiṃsamudayaḥ kimmūlaka iti? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, bhavaḥ kiṃnidānaḥ kiṃpratyayaḥ kiṃsamudayaḥ kimmūlaka iti? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmantaḥ, bhava upādānanidāna upādānapratyaya upādānasamudaya upādānamūlaka iti. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām. bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, upādānaṃ kiṃnidānaṃ kiṃpratyayaṃ kiṃsamudayaṃ kimmūlakamiti? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, upādānaṃ kiṃnidānaṃ kiṃpratyayaṃ kiṃsamudayaṃ kimmūlakamiti? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmantaḥ, upādānaṃ tṛṣṇānidānaṃ tṛṣṇāpratyayaṃ tṛṣṇāsamudayaṃ tṛṣṇāmūlakamiti. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām. bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, kā sā tṛṣṇeti? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—āyuṣmañchāriputra, kā sā tṛṣṇeti? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmantaḥ, tisra imā vedanāḥ, sukhā vedanā duḥkhā vedanā aduḥkhāsukhā vedanā ca. tāsu yo rāgo yaddhyavasānaṃ seyaṃ tṛṣṇetyucyata iti. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām. bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—kathaṃ jānānkathaṃ paśyannāyuṣmāñchāriputrastisṛṣu vedanāsu vigatarāgo vigatādhyavasāno bhavatīti? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—kathaṃ jānānkathaṃ paśyannāyuṣmāñchāriputrastisṛṣu vedanāsu vigatarāgo vigatādhyavasāno bhavatīti? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmantaḥ, imāstisro vedanā anityadharmāṇo duḥkhadharmāṇo nirodhadharmāṇaḥ. yadanityaṃ tadduḥkham. evaṃ duḥkhamanupaśyaṃstisṛṣu vedanāsu vigatarāgo vigatādhyavasāno bhavatīti. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām.
bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
tasminsamaye bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, astyapyanyo'rtho yenātra saṅkṣepeṇa vyākartumutsahet. śāriputra, katamaḥ punaranyo'rtho yenātra saṅkṣepeṇa vyākartumutsahet? yatkiñcidvedayitaṃ tatsarvaṃ duḥkhamiti. śāriputra, ayamapyanyo'rtho yenātra saṅkṣepeṇa vyākartumutsahet.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa upetya tvāṃ pṛccheyuḥ—kathaṃ parāṅmukho'nābhimukha āyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ svayamājñāṃ vyākaroti, kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti? śāriputra, etacchrutvā tvaṃ kathaṃ vyākuryāḥ?
āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—yadi bhagavansabrahmacāriṇa upetya māṃ pṛccheyuḥ—kathaṃ parāṅmukho'nābhimukha āyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ svayamājñāṃ vyākaroti, kṣīṇā me jātiruṣitaṃ brahmacaryaṃ kṛtaṃ karaṇīyaṃ nāparamasmādbhavaparyāyaṃ yathābhūtaṃ prajānāmīti? bhagavan, etacchrutvāhamevaṃ vyākuryām—āyuṣmanto'hamadhyātmaṃ parāṅmukho'nābhimukho viharāmi, tasmānme sarvāstṛṣṇāḥ kṣīṇāḥ, nāsti me tatrāso nāsti bhayaṃ nāsti kāṅkṣā nāsti vicikitsā, evamahaṃ rakṣitacāro viharāmi, tasya me tathā rakṣataḥ pāpakā akuśalā āsravā notpadyanta iti. bhagavan, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ māṃ pṛccheyurahamevaṃ vyākuryām.
bhagavānavocat—sādhu sādhu śāriputra, yadi sabrahmacāriṇa evaṃ tvāṃ pṛccheyustvayaivaṃ vyākartavyam. tatkasya hetoḥ? evaṃvādinā hyayamartho veditavyaḥ.
bhagavānavocat—śāriputra, astyapyanyo'rtho yenātra saṅkṣepeṇa vyākartumutsahet. yāni saṃyojanāni śramaṇairbhāṣitāni tāni saṃyojanāni me na santi, evamahaṃ rakṣitacāro viharāmi, tasya me tathā rakṣataḥ pāpakā akuśalā āsravā notpadyanta iti. śāriputra, ayamapyanyo'rtho yenātra saṅkṣepeṇa vyākartumutsahet.
idamuktvā bhagavānutthāyāsanādvihāraṃ prāviśatpratisaṃlayanāya.
aciraprakrānte bhagavati vihāraṃ praviṣṭe āyuṣmāñchāriputro bhikṣūnāmantrayata—āyuṣmanto, mayāprathamamanasikṛte bhagavatā sahasāyamarthaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ. tasya me'bhūt—kiṃ nu nāhaṃ śakṣyāmi vyākartumiti. yato me prathamokto'rtho bhagavatā sādhukāreṇānumoditaḥ, tato me punarevamabhavat—yadi bhagavān māmimamarthamekamahorātramanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanaiḥ pṛcchet, ahamapi bhagavata imamarthamekamahorātramanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanairvyākuryām. āyuṣmanto, yadi māṃ bhagavān dvau trīṃścaturān yāvatsaptāhorātrānimamarthamanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanaiḥ pṛcchet, ahamapi bhagavato dvau trīṃścaturān yāvatsaptāhorātrānimamarthamanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanairvyākuryāmiti.
karālo bhikṣurāyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasyaitadbhāṣitaṃ śrutvotthāyāsanāttvaritaṃ yena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya bhagavantametadavocat—aciraprakrānte bhagavati vihāraṃ praviṣṭe āyuṣmatā śāriputreṇodāra ekaṃśikaḥ siṃhanādo naditaḥ—āyuṣmanto, mayāprathamamanasikṛte bhagavatā sahasāyamarthaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ. tasya me'bhūt—kiṃ nu nāhaṃ śakṣyāmi vyākartumiti. yato me prathamokto'rtho bhagavatā sādhukāreṇānumoditaḥ, tato me punarevamabhavat—yadi bhagavān māmimamarthamekamahorātramanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanaiḥ pṛcchet, ahamapi bhagavata imamarthamekamahorātramanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanairvyākuryām. āyuṣmanto, yadi māṃ bhagavān dvau trīṃścaturān yāvatsaptāhorātrānimamarthamanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanaiḥ pṛcchet, ahamapi bhagavato dvau trīṃścaturān yāvatsaptāhorātrānimamarthamanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanairvyākuryāmiti.
bhagavānavocat—evametatkarāla, evametat. yadyahamekamahorātramimamarthaṃ śāriputraṃ bhikṣumanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanaiḥ pṛccheyam, sa śāriputro bhikṣurmamemamarthamekamahorātramanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanairavaśyaṃ vyākuryāt. karāla, yadyahaṃ dvau trīṃścaturān yāvatsaptāhorātrānimamarthaṃ śāriputraṃ bhikṣumanyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanaiḥ pṛccheyam, sa śāriputro bhikṣurmamemamarthaṃ dvau trīṃścaturān yāvatsaptāhorātrān anyaiḥ padairanyairvyañjanairavaśyaṃ vyākuryāt. tatkasya hetoḥ? karāla, śāriputreṇa bhikṣuṇā gambhīro dharmadhātuḥ supratividdha iti.
idamavocadbhagavān. āttamanā āyuṣmāñchāriputraste ca bhikṣavo bhagavato bhāṣitamabhyanandan.
jñānasūtraṃ tṛtīyaṃ samāptam.
