KN Snp 5.15 a new English fluent translation

 

For comparison, I show B. Bodhi's translation first. There are several code phrases and cryptic words that don't make any sense on their own without explanation. In my SP-Fluent translation, I "spell out" some of those code phrases so the sutta is more comprehensible. See link to my site, for B. Bodhi's KN Nidd commentary section explaining the sutta, which I mostly agree with. 

(Bhikkhu Bodhi‍ trans.)

14 THE QUESTIONS OF POSĀLA

(POSĀLAMĀṆAVAPUCCHĀ)

1112. “I have come in need with a question,”

(said the Venerable Posāla),

“to the one who points out the past,

who is without impulse, who has cut off doubt,

who has gone beyond all phenomena. (1)

1113. “I ask, Sakya, about the knowledge

of one for whom perception of form has vanished,

who has entirely abandoned the body,

who sees ‘there is nothing’

internally and externally:

how is such a one to be led?” (2) [216]

1114. “Directly knowing all stations of consciousness,

(Posāla,” said the Blessed One),

“the Tathāgata knows this one

remaining, who is liberated,

who has that as support. (3)

1115. “Having known the origin of nothingness

thus, ‘delight is the fetter,’

having directly known it in such a way,241

one then sees into it with insight.

This is the real knowledge of the brahmin,

one who has lived the spiritual life.” (4)

KN Snp 5.15, SP-FLUENT by frankk‍

♦ 14. posālamāṇavapucchā (KN 5.69)	5:14  Posāla’s Question
♦ 1118. (iccāyasmā posālo)	(brahman posālo:)
♦ “yo atītaṃ ādisati,	To one who reveals the past [, recollections of many past lives of any being, up to many aeons,]
An-ejo chinna-saṃsayo.	[To one who is] Unperturbed, having cut through doubts,
♦ pāraguṃ sabba-dhammānaṃ,	[to one who has] gone beyond all dharmas,
atthi pañhena āgamaṃ.	I’ve come to ask a question.
♦ 1119.
♦ “vi-bhūta—rūpa-saññissa,	regarding one who is devoid of form perceptions,
Sabba-kāya-p-pahāyino.	who has abandoned their entire body,
♦ ajjhattañ-ca bahiddhā ca,	[both the] Internal [consisting of their own anatomical body] and external [forms and bodies],
natthi kiñcīti passato.	[for one who abides in the formless dimension of nothingness and] sees: “There (is) nothing”:
♦ ñāṇaṃ sakk-ānu-pucchāmi,	I ask [Buddha], the Sakyan, for Knowledge of this.
kathaṃ neyyo tathā-vidho”.	How should [the meditator] be led further?
♦ 1120. (posālāti bhagavā)	(The Buddha:)
♦ “viññāṇaṭ-ṭhitiyo sabbā,	Regarding all stations of Consciousness, [7 types of living beings (see DN 15) ]
Abhi-jānaṃ tathāgato.	[The Buddha], the-Tathagata, has direct-knowing of them. [He directly sees with the divine eye where liviing beings are reborn and how karma affects them.]
♦ tiṭṭhantamenaṃ jānāti,	One stationed there knows,
vimuttaṃ tapparāyaṇaṃ.	release and the steps leading there.
♦ 1121.
♦ “ākiñcañña-sambhavaṃ ñatvā,	Knowing directly Nothingness’s origin
nandī saṃyojanaṃ iti.	[knows] thus: delight is the fetter.
♦ evametaṃ abhiññāya,	With that direct knowledge,
tato tattha vi-passati.	right there he clearly sees.
♦ etaṃ VAR ñāṇaṃ tathaṃ tassa,	that knowledge, genuine, is his,
brāhmaṇassa vusīmato”ti.	the brahman who has lived to fulfillment [the brahmacariya spiritual life].
♦ posālamāṇavapucchā cuddasamā niṭṭhitā.	vv. 1112–1115

KN Nidd commentary to this sutta here:

• KN Snp 5.15 posālamāṇava-pucchā (p's-questions)