MĀ 9 saptarathasūtram

[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 saptadharmavarge prathame saptarathasūtraṃ navamam

evaṃ mayā śrutam. ekasminsamaye bhagavānrājagṛhe viharati sma veṇuvane. tatra bhagavānmahatā bhikṣusaṅghena sārdhaṃ varṣāmupagacchati sma. āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputro'pi jātibhūmau varṣāmupagacchati sma. tasminsamaye jātibhūmakā bhikṣavo varṣāmupagatāstrayāṇāṃ māsānāmatyayāt kṛtacīvarāḥ pātracīvaramādāya jātibhūmerniṣkramya yena rājagṛhaṃ tena cārikāṃ caranto'nupūrveṇa rājagṛhaṃ prāpya rājagṛhe viharanti sma veṇuvane. tasminsamaye jātibhūmakā bhikṣavo yena bhagavāṃstenopajagmuḥ. upetya ca bhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvaikānte nyaṣīdan.

bhagavānavocat—kuto yūyaṃ bhikṣava āgatāḥ, kutra ca varṣāmupagatā iti.

jātibhūmakā bhikṣavo'vocan—jātibhūmervayaṃ bhagavannāgatāḥ, jātibhūmau ca varṣāmupagatā iti.

bhagavānavocat—tatra jātibhūmau bhikṣūṇāṃ madhye ko bhikṣurbhikṣubhiḥ sammataśca varṇitaśca, yo'sāvātmanālpecchaḥ santuṣṭo'lpecchatāsantuṣṭeśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca praviviktaḥ prāvivekyasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā cārabdhavīryo vīryārambhasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā copasthitasmṛtiḥ smṛtyupasthānasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca samāhitaḥ samādheśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca prajñāvānprajñāyāśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca kṣīṇāsrava āsravakṣayasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca samādāpakaḥ samuttejakaḥ sampraharṣakaḥ samādāpanasamuttejanasampraharṣaṇasya ca varṇavādīti.

jātibhūmakā bhikṣavo'vocan—āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputro bhagavaṃstatra jātibhūmau bhikṣūṇāṃ madhye bhikṣubhiḥ sammataśca varṇitaśca, yo'sāvātmanālpecchaḥ santuṣṭo'lpecchatāsantuṣṭeśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca praviviktaḥ prāvivekyasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā cārabdhavīryo vīryārambhasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā copasthitasmṛtiḥ smṛtyupasthānasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca samāhitaḥ samādheśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca prajñāvānprajñāyāśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca kṣīṇāsrava āsravakṣayasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca samādāpakaḥ samuttejakaḥ sampraharṣakaḥ samādāpanasamuttejanasampraharṣaṇasya ca varṇavādīti.

tasminsamaya āyuṣmāñchāriputrastasyāṃ pariṣadi sanniṣaṇṇo'bhūt. āyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasyaitadabhavat—bhagavatā yathārthaṃ jātibhūmakā bhikṣavaḥ pṛṣṭāḥ, jātibhūmakairbhikṣubhirāyuṣmataḥ pūrṇasya maitrāyaṇīputrasya mahānvarṇo bhāṣitaḥ—ātmanālpecchaḥ santuṣṭo'lpecchatāsantuṣṭeśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca praviviktaḥ prāvivekyasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā cārabdhavīryo vīryārambhasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā copasthitasmṛtiḥ smṛtyupasthānasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca samāhitaḥ samādheśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca prajñāvānprajñāyāśca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca kṣīṇāsrava āsravakṣayasya ca varṇavādī, ātmanā ca samādāpakaḥ samuttejakaḥ sampraharṣakaḥ samādāpanasamuttejanasampraharṣaṇasya ca varṇavādīti.

āyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasya punaretadabhavat—kadā nu khalvahamāyuṣmatā pūrṇena maitrāyaṇīputreṇa sārdhaṃ samāgaccheyam, kañcidenamarthaṃ pṛccheyam, sa vā me praśnaṃ vyākuryāditi.

athāpareṇa samayena bhagavānrājagṛhe varṣāmuṣitaḥ, trayāṇāṃ māsānāmatyayāt kṛtacīvaraḥ, pātracīvaramādāya rājagṛhānniṣkramya yena śrāvastī tena cārikāṃ carannanupūrveṇa śrāvastīṃ prāpya śrāvastyāṃ viharati sma jetavane'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāme.

āyuṣmāñchāriputro jātibhūmakairbhikṣubhiḥ sārdhaṃ rājagṛhe katicidahāni vihṛtya, kṛtacīvaraḥ, pātracīvaramādāya yena śrāvastī tena cārikāṃ carannanupūrveṇa śrāvastīṃ prāpya śrāvastyāṃ viharati sma jetavane'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāme. tasminsamaya āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputro jātibhūmau varṣāmuṣitaḥ, trayāṇāṃ māsānāmatyayāt, kṛtacīvaraḥ, pātracīvaramādāya jātibhūmerniṣkramya yena śrāvastī tena cārikāṃ carannanupūrveṇa śrāvastīṃ prāpyāpi jetavane'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāme viharati sma.

athāyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputro yena bhagavāṃstenopajagāma. upetya ca bhagavataḥ pādau śirasā vanditvā tathāgatasya purato niṣīdanaṃ prajñāpya paryaṅkamābhujya nyaṣīdat. athāyuṣmāñchāriputro'nyānbhikṣūnapṛcchat—ko nu bho āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputra iti. bhikṣavo'vocan—āyuṣmañchāriputra, yo'yaṃ tathāgatasya purato niṣaṇṇaḥ, gauraḥ, tuṅganāsaḥ śukacañcunāsikaḥ, sa evāyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputra iti. athāyuṣmāñchāriputra āyuṣmataḥ pūrṇasya maitrāyaṇīputrasya varṇarūpamupalabhya suṣṭhu smṛtyādhārayat.

athāyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputrastasyā rātreratyayāt pūrvāhṇe nivasya pātracīvaramādāya śrāvastīṃ piṇḍāya prāviśat. śrāvastyāṃ piṇḍāya caritvā paścādbhaktapiṇḍapātapratikrāntaḥ pātracīvaraṃ pratiśāmya pādau prakṣālya niṣīdanaṃ skandhe kṛtvā yenāndhavanaṃ tenopajagāma caṅkramaṇasthānāya. āyuṣmāñchāriputro'pi tasyā rātreratyayāt pūrvāhṇe nivasya pātracīvaramādāya śrāvastīṃ piṇḍāya prāviśat. śrāvastyāṃ piṇḍāya caritvā paścādbhaktapiṇḍapātapratikrāntaḥ pātracīvaraṃ pratiśāmya pādau prakṣālya niṣīdanaṃ skandhe kṛtvā yenāndhavanaṃ tenopajagāma caṅkramaṇasthānāya.

athāyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputro'ndhavanamupagamyānyatamasya vṛkṣasya mūle niṣīdanaṃ prajñāpya paryaṅkamābhujya nyaṣīdat. āyuṣmāñchāriputro'pyandhavanamupagamyāyuṣmataḥ pūrṇasya maitrāyaṇīputrasyāvidūre'nyatamasya vṛkṣasya mūle niṣīdanaṃ prajñāpya paryaṅkamābhujya nyaṣīdat.

athāyuṣmāñchāriputraḥ sāyāhne pratisaṃlayanādvyutthāyāyuṣmantaṃ pūrṇaṃ maitrāyaṇīputramupajagāma. upetya tena sārdhaṃ sammodanīṃ saṃrañjanīṃ kathāṃ vyatisāryaikānte nyaṣīdat. ekāntaniṣaṇṇa āyuṣmāñchāriputra āyuṣmantaṃ pūrṇaṃ maitrāyaṇīputramidamavocat—kiṃ nvāyuṣman, śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti. sa āha—evamāyuṣman. kiṃ nvāyuṣmañchīlaviśuddhyarthaṃ śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti. sa āha—no hīdamāyuṣman. kiṃ nvāyuṣmaṃścittaviśuddhyarthaṃ, dṛṣṭiviśuddhyarthaṃ, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhyarthaṃ, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhyarthaṃ, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhyarthaṃ, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhyarthaṃ śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti. sa āha—no hīdamāyuṣman.

āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—ahamāyuṣmantamapṛccham, kiṃ nvāyuṣman, śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti, tatra bhavānevamāheti. tvāṃ punarapṛccham, kiṃ nvāyuṣmañchīlaviśuddhyarthaṃ śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti, tatra bhavānno hīdamāheti. kiṃ nvāyuṣmaṃścittaviśuddhyarthaṃ, dṛṣṭiviśuddhyarthaṃ, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhyarthaṃ, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhyarthaṃ, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhyarthaṃ, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhyarthaṃ śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti, tatra bhavānno hīdamāheti. tarhi kimarthamāyuṣman, śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti.

sa āha—anupadhiśeṣanirvāṇārthamāyuṣman, śramaṇe gautame brahmacaryaṃ caryata iti.

āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—kiṃ nvāyuṣmañchīlaviśuddhimanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayati śramaṇo gautamaḥ. sa āha—no hīdamāyuṣman. kiṃ nvāyuṣmaṃścittaviśuddhiṃ, dṛṣṭiviśuddhiṃ, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhiṃ, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhiṃ, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhiṃ, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhimanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayati śramaṇo gautamaḥ. sa āha—no hīdamāyuṣman.

āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—ahamāyuṣmantamapṛccham, kiṃ nvāyuṣmañchīlaviśuddhimanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayati śramaṇo gautameti, tatra bhavānno hīdamāheti. kiṃ nvāyuṣmaṃścittaviśuddhiṃ, dṛṣṭiviśuddhiṃ, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhiṃ, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhiṃ, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhiṃ, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhimanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayati śramaṇo gautameti, tatra bhavānno hīdamāheti. āyuṣmatā bhāṣitasyāsya ko'rtho draṣṭavyaḥ, kathametadveditavyam.

sa āha—yadyāyuṣmañchīlaviśuddhimanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayedbhagavāñchramaṇo gautamaḥ, tarhi sopadhiśeṣamevānupadhiśeṣamiti prajñāpayet. yadi cittaviśuddhiṃ, dṛṣṭiviśuddhiṃ, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhiṃ, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhiṃ, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhiṃ, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhimanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayedbhagavāñchramaṇo gautamaḥ, tarhi sopadhiśeṣamevānupadhiśeṣamiti prajñāpayet. yadyāyuṣman, ebhirdharmairvinā bhagavānanupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñāpayet, tarhi bālapṛthagjano'pi parinirvāyāt, yasmādbālapṛthagjano'pyebhirdharmairvirahitaḥ. api tvāyuṣman, śīlaviśuddhyā cittaviśuddhiradhigamyate, cittaviśuddhyā dṛṣṭiviśuddhiradhigamyate, dṛṣṭiviśuddhyā vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhiradhigamyate, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhyā mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhiradhigamyate, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhyā pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhiradhigamyate, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhyā pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhiradhigamyate, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhyā bhagavatā śramaṇena gautamenānupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñaptam.

śṛṇvāyuṣman. bhūtapūrvaṃ rājā prasenajitkauśalaḥ śrāvastyāṃ viharansākete kenacitkārye samutpanne'cintayat—kenopāyenaikāhikena mārgeṇa śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ gaccheyamiti. tasya matirabhavat—yannvahaṃ śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ yāvadantarā saptarathānupasthāpayeyamiti. sa śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ yāvadantarā saptarathānupasthāpya, śrāvastyā niṣkramya prathamaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena dvitīyo rathastena prāyāt, prathamaṃ rathaṃ vihāya dvitīyaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena tṛtīyo rathastena prāyāt, dvitīyaṃ rathaṃ vihāya tṛtīyaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena caturtho rathastena prāyāt, tṛtīyaṃ rathaṃ vihāya caturthaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena pañcamo rathastena prāyāt, caturthaṃ rathaṃ vihāya pañcamaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena ṣaṣṭho rathastena prāyāt, pañcamaṃ rathaṃ vihāya ṣaṣṭhaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena saptamo rathastena prāyāt, ṣaṣṭhaṃ rathaṃ vihāya saptamaṃ rathamabhiruhya saptamena rathenaikenaivāhnā sāketaṃ prāptavān.

sa sākete tatkāryaṃ niṣpādyāmātyaparivṛto rājasabhāyāṃ niṣaṇṇo'bhūt. tatrāmātyā evamāhuḥ—kiṃ nu mahārājaikenaivāhnā śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ prāpto'sīti. rājāha—evamiti. kiṃ nu mahārāja prathamena rathenaikenaivāhnā śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ prāpto'sīti. rājāha—no hīdam. kiṃ nu dvitīyena tṛtīyena yāvatsaptamena rathena śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ prāpto'sīti. rājāha—no hīdam.

yadyāyuṣman, rājā prasenajitkauśalo'mātyaiḥ punarevaṃ pṛṣṭo bhūtvā kathaṃ vyākuryāt. rājāmātyānāmevaṃ vyākurvanvyākuryāt—ahaṃ śrāvastyāṃ viharansākete kenacitkārye samutpanne'cintayam—kenopāyenaikāhikena mārgeṇa śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ gaccheyamiti. tasya mamaitadabhavat—yannvahaṃ śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ yāvadantarā saptarathānupasthāpayeyamiti. so'haṃ śrāvastyāḥ sāketaṃ yāvadantarā saptarathānupasthāpya, śrāvastyā niṣkramya prathamaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena dvitīyo rathastena prāyām, prathamaṃ rathaṃ vihāya dvitīyaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena tṛtīyo rathastena prāyām, dvitīyaṃ rathaṃ vihāya tṛtīyaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena caturtho rathastena prāyām, tṛtīyaṃ rathaṃ vihāya caturthaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena pañcamo rathastena prāyām, caturthaṃ rathaṃ vihāya pañcamaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena ṣaṣṭho rathastena prāyām, pañcamaṃ rathaṃ vihāya ṣaṣṭhaṃ rathamabhiruhya yena saptamo rathastena prāyām, ṣaṣṭhaṃ rathaṃ vihāya saptamaṃ rathamabhiruhya saptamena rathenaikenaivāhnā sāketaṃ prāptavāniti.

evamāyuṣman, rājā prasenajitkauśalo'mātyānāṃ pṛcchatāṃ vyākurvansamyagvyākuryāt. evamevāyuṣman, śīlaviśuddhyā cittaviśuddhiradhigamyate, cittaviśuddhyā dṛṣṭiviśuddhiradhigamyate, dṛṣṭiviśuddhyā vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhiradhigamyate, vicikitsānīvaraṇaviśuddhyā mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhiradhigamyate, mārgāmārgajñānadarśanaviśuddhyā pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhiradhigamyate, pratipajjñānadarśanaviśuddhyā pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhiradhigamyate, pratipatprahāṇajñānaviśuddhyā bhagavatā śramaṇena gautamenānupadhiśeṣanirvāṇaṃ prajñaptam.

athāyuṣmāñchāriputra āyuṣmantaṃ pūrṇaṃ maitrāyaṇīputramapṛcchat—ko nāmāyuṣmān, kathaṃ cāyuṣmantaṃ sabrahmacāriṇo jānanti. āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputro'vocat—pūrṇa ityāyuṣmanme nāmadheyam, māturme maitrāyaṇīti nāma, tena mamāyuṣman, sabrahmacāriṇaḥ pūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputra iti jānanti.

āyuṣmāñchāriputrastuṣṭāva—sādhu sādhvāyuṣman pūrṇa maitrāyaṇīputra, yathāpi tattathāgataśrāvakeṇa kṛtakṛtyena prajñāpratibhānavatā medhāvinā niścitena yogakṣemiṇā vaiśāradyasampannena dāntena mahāpratibhānaṃ prāptenāmṛtadhvajaṃ labdhvāmṛtadhātau svayaṃ sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya viharatā, yadidamāyuṣmāngambhīramarthaṃ pṛṣṭaḥ sarvaṃ tatsamyagvyākaroti. āyuṣmanpūrṇa maitrāyaṇīputra, sabrahmacāriṇāṃ mahālābhaḥ sulabdhasteṣāṃ sabrahmacāriṇāṃ yairāyuṣmataḥ pūrṇasya maitrāyaṇīputrasya kālena kālaṃ darśanaṃ labdhamabhivādanaṃ ca. ahamapyadya mahālābhaṃ labdhavānsulabdho mayāpyadya, yatkālena kālamāyuṣmataḥ pūrṇasya maitrāyaṇīputrasya darśanaṃ labdhamabhivādanaṃ ca. sabrahmacāribhirāyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputraścīvaraṃ cumbaṭakaṃ kṛtvā mūrdhnā dhārayitavyaste ca mahālābhaṃ prāpsyanti. ahamapyadya mahālābhaṃ labdhavānsulabdho mayāpyadya, yatkālena kālamāyuṣmataḥ pūrṇasya maitrāyaṇīputrasya darśanaṃ labdhamabhivādanaṃ ceti.

āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputra āyuṣmantaṃ śāriputramapṛcchat—ko nāmāyuṣmān, kathaṃ cāyuṣmantaṃ sabrahmacāriṇo jānanti. āyuṣmāñchāriputro'vocat—upatiṣya ityāyuṣmanme nāmadheyam, māturme śārīti nāma, tena mamāyuṣman, sabrahmacāriṇaḥ śāriputra iti jānanti.

āyuṣmānpūrṇo maitrāyaṇīputrastuṣṭāva—aho'smi bhagavacchrāvakena sārdhaṃ saṃkathāṃ kurvāṇo nājñāsiṣam, dvitīyena śāstrā sārdhaṃ saṃkathāṃ kurvāṇo nājñāsiṣam, dharmasenāpatinā sārdhaṃ saṃkathāṃ kurvāṇo nājñāsiṣam, dharmacakraṃ pravartyānuvartayatā bhagavacchrāvakena sārdhaṃ saṃkathāṃ kurvāṇo nājñāsiṣam. yadyahamajñāsyamāyuṣmantaṃ śāriputram, na mayaikamapi padaṃ prativyākṛtaṃ syāt, kiṃ punaretāvanto gambhīrā arthāḥ. sādhu sādhvāyuṣmañchāriputra, yathāpi tattathāgataśrāvakeṇa kṛtakṛtyena prajñāpratibhānavatā medhāvinā niścitena yogakṣemiṇā vaiśāradyasampannena dāntena mahāpratibhānaṃ prāptenāmṛtadhvajaṃ labdhvāmṛtadhātau svayaṃ sākṣātkṛtyopasampadya viharatā, yadidamāyuṣmatā gambhīraṃ gambhīramarthaṃ pṛṣṭam. āyuṣmañchāriputra, sabrahmacāriṇāṃ mahālābhaḥ sulabdhasteṣāṃ sabrahmacāriṇāṃ yairāyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasya kālena kālaṃ darśanaṃ labdhamabhivādanaṃ ca. ahamapyadya mahālābhaṃ labdhavānsulabdho mayāpyadya, yatkālena kālamāyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasya darśanaṃ labdhamabhivādanaṃ ca. sabrahmacāribhirāyuṣmāñchāriputraścīvaraṃ cumbaṭakaṃ kṛtvā mūrdhnā dhārayitavyaste ca mahālābhaṃ prāpsyanti. ahamapyadya mahālābhaṃ labdhavānsulabdho mayāpyadya, yatkālena kālamāyuṣmataḥ śāriputrasya darśanaṃ labdhamabhivādanaṃ ceti.

ityetāvubhau satpuruṣāvanyonyaṃ samabhinandya, anyonyaṃ sādhukāraṃ dattvā, anyonyabhāṣitamabhinandyotthāyāsanātsvasvakaṃ nilayaṃ jagmatuḥ.

saptarathasūtraṃ navamaṃ samāptam