MĀ 24 siṃhanādasūtram

[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 siṃhanādasūtraṃ caturtham.

evaṃ mayā śrutam. ekasminsamaye bhagavāñchrāvastyāṃ viharati sma jetavane'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāme.

tena khalu samayena bhagavānmahatā bhikṣusaṅghena sārdhaṃ śrāvastyāṃ vārṣikīṃ varṣāmupagacchati sma. āyuṣmānapi śāriputraḥ śrāvastyāṃ varṣāmupagacchati sma. athāyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ śrāvastyāṃ vārṣikīṃ varṣāmuṣitaḥ, trayāṇāṃ māsānāmatyayāt kṛtacīvaraḥ, pātracīvaramādāya yena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya ca bhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvaikānte nyaṣīdat. ekāntaniṣaṇṇa āyuṣmāñchāriputro bhagavantametadavocat—uṣitā me, bhagavan, śrāvastyāṃ varṣā, icchāmyahaṃ, bhagavan, janapade cārikāṃ caritumiti.

bhagavānavocat—gaccha tvaṃ śāriputra yathākāmam, atīrṇāṃstārayāmuktānmocayāparinirvṛtānparinirvāpaya. gaccha śāriputra yathākāmamiti.

athāyuṣmāñchāriputro bhagavato bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā sūpagṛhya sūpadhāryotthāyāsanādbhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvā bhagavantaṃ triḥpradakṣiṇīkṛtya prakrāntaḥ. svakaṃ vihāramupagamya śayanāsanaṃ saṃśāmya pātracīvaramādāya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāntaḥ.

aciraprakrānte tvāyuṣmati śāriputre, anyataraḥ sabrahmacārī bhagavataḥ sammukhaṃ virodhadharmamāpadyaivamavocat—adyāyuṣmāñchāriputro māmavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrānta iti.

bhagavānetacchrutvānyataraṃ bhikṣumāmantrayata—ehi tvaṃ bhikṣo, madvacanācchāriputramāmantrayasva—bhagavāṃstvāmāhvayatīti. aciraprakrānte tvayi, kaścit sabrahmacārī mama sammukhaṃ virodhadharmamāpadyaivamavocat—adyāyuṣmāñchāriputro māmavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrānta iti.

sa bhikṣurbhagavataḥ pratiśrutyotthāyāsanādbhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvā prakrāntaḥ. tasminsamaya āyuṣmānānando bhagavataḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ sthito vyajanamādāya bhagavantamupavījayate sma.

aciraprakrānte tasminbhikṣau, āyuṣmānānandaḥ kuñcikāmādāya vihāreṇa vihāraṃ sañcaran bhikṣūnevamāmantrayata—sādhu bhovantaḥ, śīghramupasthānaśālāmāgacchata. adyāyuṣmāñchāriputro bhagavataḥ sammukhaṃ siṃhanādaṃ nadiṣyati. yadyāyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasya bhāṣitaṃ gambhīraṃ śānte śāntaṃ praṇīte praṇītaṃ bhavet, evaṃ bhāṣitaṃ vayaṃ śrutvā sādhu svādhyāsyāmaḥ sādhu dhārayiṣyāma iti. tasminsamaye te bhikṣava āyuṣmato'nandasya bhāṣitaṃ śrutvā sarve yenopasthānaśālā tenopajagmuḥ.

tasminsamaye sa bhikṣuryenāyuṣmāñchāriputrastenopajagāma. upetyāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputrametadavocat—bhagavānāyuṣmantamāhvayati. aciraprakrānte tvayi, kaścit sabrahmacārī bhagavataḥ sammukhaṃ virodhadharmamāpadyaivamavocat—adyāyuṣmāñchāriputro māmavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrānta iti.

athāyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ śrutvotthāyāsanādyena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya bhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvaikānte nyaṣīdat. bhagavānavocat—aciraprakrānte tvayi, śāriputra, kaścit sabrahmacārī mama sammukhaṃ virodhadharmamāpadyaivamavocat—adyāyuṣmāñchāriputro māmavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrānta iti. kaccittvaṃ, śāriputra, satyato'vamānya kañcitsabrahmacāriṇaṃ janapade cārikāṃ prakrānto'si?

āyuṣmāñchāriputro bhagavantametadavocat—yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, chinnaśṛṅgo vṛṣabhaḥ kṣāntaḥ śānto dānto vinīto grāmādgrāmaṃ rathyayā rathyāṃ paryaṭanna kañcidāsādayati. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, chinnaśṛṅgavṛṣabhasamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, cāṇḍālakumāro'pacchinnahasto nīcacitto grāmādgrāmaṃ nigamānnigamaṃ paryaṭanna kañcidāsādayati. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, apacchinnahastacāṇḍālakumārasamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, pṛthivī śucyapy aśucyapi gūthamapi mūtramapi kheṭamapi siṅghāṇakamapi pratigṛhṇāti, na ca tena pṛthivī rāgaṃ vā dveṣaṃ votpādayati, nāṭṭīyate na hrīyate na jugupsate. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, pṛthivīsamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, āpaḥ śucyapy aśucyapi gūthamapi mūtramapi kheṭamapi siṅghāṇakamapi prakṣālayanti, na ca tenāpo rāgaṃ vā dveṣaṃ votpādayanti, nāṭṭīyante na hrīyante na jugupsante. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, apsamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, agniḥ śucyapy aśucyapi gūthamapi mūtramapi kheṭamapi siṅghāṇakamapi dahati, na ca tenāgnirrāgaṃ vā dveṣaṃ votpādayati, nāṭṭīyate na hrīyate na jugupsate. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, agnisamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, vāyuḥ śucyapy aśucyapi gūthamapi mūtramapi kheṭamapi siṅghāṇakamapi pravāti, na ca tena vāyurrāgaṃ vā dveṣaṃ votpādayati, nāṭṭīyate na hrīyate na jugupsate. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, vāyusamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, sammārjanī śucyapy aśucyapi gūthamapi mūtramapi kheṭamapi siṅghāṇakamapi sammārṣṭi, na ca tena sammārjanī rāgaṃ vā dveṣaṃ votpādayati, nāṭṭīyate na hrīyate na jugupsate. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, sammārjanīsamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, proñchanī śucyapy aśucyapi gūthamapi mūtramapi kheṭamapi siṅghāṇakamapi proñchati, na ca tena proñchanī rāgaṃ vā dveṣaṃ votpādayati, nāṭṭīyate na hrīyate na jugupsate. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, proñchanīsamena cetasāvaireṇāsapatnenāvyāpādenāraṇena vipulena mahadgatenāpramāṇena subhāvitena sarvāvantaṃ lokaṃ spharitvādhimucya viharāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, vasābhājanaṃ sarvataśchidraṃ vasayā pūrṇamādityasaṃtāpe niṣkṣiptaṃ samantātsravati samantātpraskandati. yadi kaściccakṣuṣmānpuruṣa upetyaikānte sthitvā taṃ paśyedidaṃ vasābhājanaṃ sarvataśchidraṃ vasayā pūrṇamādityasaṃtāpe niṣkṣiptaṃ samantātsravati samantātpraskandatīti. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, sadā imameva kāyaṃ navabhiḥ srotobhiraśuciṃ sravantaṃ praskandantaṃ samanupaśyāmi. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

tadyathā, bhagavan, strī vā puruṣo vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātīyaḥ snātaḥ suvilipto'vadātaśuklavastradhārī alaṅkṛtaḥ śmaśrūṇi kalpayitvā keśānprasādhya śirasi mālyadāmabaddhaḥ syāt, yadi tasya kaṇṭhe trīṇi śavāni, yadutāhiśavaṃ vā śvaśavaṃ vā manuṣyaśavaṃ vā vinīlakaṃ vyādhmātakaṃ vipūyakam atipūtikamaśuci praskandantaṃ baddhaṃ syāt, sa tena hrīyetāṭṭīyeta jugupseta. evamevāhaṃ, bhagavan, sadā imameva kāyaṃ pūtikamaśuciṃ samanupaśyan hrīye'ṭṭīye jugupse. yasya khalu, bhagavan, kāyagatā smṛtirapratyupasthitā sa kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakrāmet. mama tu, bhagavan, sūpasthitā kāyagatā smṛtiḥ, kathamahaṃ kañcitsabrahmacāriṇamavamānya janapade cārikāṃ prakramiṣyāmi.

atha sa bhikṣustasyāṃ velāyāmutthāyāsanādbhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvā bhagavantametadavocat—atyayo māṃ, bhagavan, atyagāt, atyayo māṃ, sugata, atyagādyathābālo yathāmūḍho yathānavasthitacitto yathākuśalaḥ, yattvahamabhūtena mṛṣāvādenāsatā pariśuddhacāriṇaṃ sabrahmacāriṇamāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputramabhyācakṣi. tasya me, bhagavan, bhagavānatyayamatyayato deśayataḥ pratigṛhṇātvāyatyāṃ saṃvarāyeti.

bhagavānavocat—taggha tvāṃ, bhikṣo, atyayo'tyagādyathābālo yathāmūḍho yathānavasthitacitto yathākuśalaḥ, yastvamabhūtena mṛṣāvādenāsatā pariśuddhacāriṇaṃ sabrahmacāriṇamāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputramabhyācakṣi. yacca tvaṃ, bhikṣo, atyayamatyayato dṛṣṭvā dharmato deśayasyāyatyāṃ ca saṃvaraṃ prapadyase, tatte'haṃ pratigṛhṇāmi. vṛddhireṣā, bhikṣo, āryasya dharmavinaye yo'tyayamatyayato dṛṣṭvā dharmato deśayatyāyatyāṃ ca saṃvaraṃ prapadyate na parihīyate.

atha bhagavānāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputramāmantrayata—kṣipramāyuṣmañśāriputra, asya mohapuruṣasyātyayaṃ pratigṛhṇīṣva, māsyehaiva tava purataḥ saptadhā mūrdhā phalediti.

athāyuṣmāñchāriputrastasya bhikṣoranukampāmupādāyātyayaṃ pratigṛhītavān.

idamavocadbhagavān. āttamanā āyuṣmāñchāriputraste ca bhikṣavo bhagavato bhāṣitamabhyanandan.

siṃhanādasūtraṃ caturthaṃ samāptam.