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KN Snp 5.14 famous verse on using four jhanas to realize nirvana

This sutta contains a famous verse on using four jhanas to realize nirvana.

But you wouldn't know that if you read most translations. For example, here is B. Bodhi's, followed by mine:

13 THE QUESTIONS OF UDAYA (UDAYAMĀį¹†AVAPUCCHĀ)

1105. “I have come in need with a question,”

(said the Venerable Udaya),

“to the seated meditator, dust-free,

who has completed the task, without influxes,

who has gone beyond all phenomena.

Speak of emancipation by final knowledge,

the breaking up of ignorance.” (1)

1106. “The abandoning of both,

(Udaya,” said the Blessed One),

“sensual desires and dejection;

the dispelling of mental dullness,

the warding off of regrets: (2)

1107. “purified by equanimity and mindfulness,

preceded by thought on the Dhamma —

I call this emancipation by final knowledge,

the breaking up of ignorance.” (3) [215]

1108. “By what is the world fettered?

What is its means of traveling about?

By the abandoning of what

is ‘nibbāna’ spoken of?” (4)

1109. “The world is fettered by delight;

thought is its means of traveling about.

It is by the abandoning of craving

that ‘nibbāna’ is spoken of.” (5)

1110. “How does one live mindfully

for consciousness to cease?

Having come to ask the Blessed One,

let us hear that word of yours.” (6)

1111. “For one not seeking delight in feeling

internally and externally,

for one living mindfully thus,

consciousness ceases.” (7)


KN Snp 5.14, SP-FLUENT translation by frankk‍


♦ 13. udayamāį¹‡avapucchā (KN 5.68) n
5:13  Udaya’s Questions
♦ 1111. (iccāyasmā udayo)
♦ “jhāyiį¹ƒ viraja-m-āsÄ«naį¹ƒ,
To the one sitting in jhāna— without dust,
kata-kiccaį¹ƒ an-āsavaį¹ƒ.
Done the task, [an arahant with] no more asinine-inclinations.
♦ pāraguį¹ƒ sabba-dhammānaį¹ƒ,
Gone beyond all dharmas—
atthi paƱhena āgamaį¹ƒ.
I’ve come here with a question.
♦ aƱƱā-vimokkhaį¹ƒ pa-brÅ«hi,
Please speak about the emancipation of final knowledge,
avijjāya pa-bhedanaį¹ƒ”.
ignorance breaking up.
♦ 1112. (udayāti bhagavā)
The Buddha:
♦ “pahānaį¹ƒ kāma-c-chandānaį¹ƒ,
the abandoning of both sensual-desires
domanassāna cÅ«bhayaį¹ƒ.
and distressed mental states,
♦ thinassa ca panÅ«danaį¹ƒ,
Dispelling of Sloth,
kukkuccānaį¹ƒ nivāraį¹‡aį¹ƒ.
regrets being warded off. [These are referencing the five hindrances]
♦ 1113.
♦ “upekkhā-sati-saį¹ƒ-suddhaį¹ƒ,
[fourth jhāna is] equanimous observation & [Dharma] remembrance purified,
Dhamma-takka-purejavaį¹ƒ.
with ☸Dharma-thoughts [of first jhāna] preceding that.
♦ aƱƱā-vimokkhaį¹ƒ pa-brÅ«mi,
this is the final knowledge emancipation that I speak of,
avijjāya pa-bhedanaį¹ƒ”.
ignorance breaking-up..
♦ 1114.
Udaya:
♦ “kiį¹ƒsu saį¹ƒ-yojano loko,
what fetters the world?
kiį¹ƒsu tassa vicāraį¹‡aį¹ƒ.
With what is it examined?
♦ kissassa vip-pahānena,
with what being abandoned
nibbānaį¹ƒ iti vuccati”.
is nirvana spoken of?
♦ 1115.
The Buddha:
♦ “nandi-saį¹ƒ-yojano loko,
delight fetters the world.
vitakkassa vicāraį¹‡aį¹ƒ.
with [wrong] thoughts [delight] is explored, with directed-thought [of first jhāna, the nature of wrong thought] is examined.
♦ taį¹‡hāya vip-pahānena,
Through craving’s abandoning
nibbānaį¹ƒ iti vuccati”.
nirvana is spoken of.
♦ 1116.
Udaya:
♦ “kathaį¹ƒ satassa carato,
how is [☸Dharma]-remembrance conducted,
viƱƱāį¹‡aį¹ƒ uparujjhati.
for consciousness to halt?
♦ bhagavantaį¹ƒ puį¹­į¹­hum-āgamma,
We’ve come to the Blessed One with a question.
taį¹ƒ suį¹‡oma vaco tava”.
Let us hear your words.
♦ 1117.
The Buddha:
♦ “ajjhattaƱca bahiddhā ca,
internally [in this body and mind], and externally,
vedanaį¹ƒ n-ābhi-nandato.
not delighting in feelings [using jhāna through progressive cessation of feelings (see SN 36.11)]
♦ evaį¹ƒ satassa carato,
Conducting [Dharma]-remembrance in this way,
viƱƱāį¹‡aį¹ƒ uparujjhatÄ«”ti.
consciousness is halted.
♦ udayamāį¹‡avapucchā terasamā niį¹­į¹­hitā.
(end of sutta)


I'll write a commentary later to explain and justify my interpretation.

What is contained in [] square brackets above, is implied and not actually stated in the pali source.


Here is a link to another translation for those trying to memorize the pali, and also commentary from KN Nidd confirming that this sutta is definitely referring to fourth and first jhana:

KN Snp 5.14 Udaya­māį¹‡ava­pucchā
Buddha explains how to use fourth jhana and the thinking of first jhana to realize nirvana.
AN 3.33 contains a discussion of this verse.




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