THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
710
pairs of bullocks of right exertion of Mine) are able to lead Me to NibbÈna
that is free from the torment caused by the four bonds, namely, the bonds of
sensual pleasure (
kÈma-yoga
) and so on. Having gone to NibbÈna where a
farmer like Me would not grieve at all, to that NibbÈna, free from grief, did I
attain without returning through the power of Wisdom and Knowledge.
(Explanation: Just as the Brahmin's harrow-log drew by a pair of draught bullocks
harnessed at the front crushed earth-masses and destroyed big and small tree roots, even so
the Buddha's log of Wisdom, drew forcefully by the twin bullocks of physical and mental
energy, crushed the fourfold earth-mass, namely, the mass of continuity (
santati
), the mass
of composition (
sam|ha
), the mass of function (
kicca
) and the mass of sense object
(
ÈrammaÓa
), I also got rid of the big and small tree-roots of mental defilements.
(Alternatively, just as there were two pairs of bullocks (four bullocks in all,) for the
Brahmin's harrow, one pair attached to the first yoke and the other attached to the next,
even so there were at the Buddha's Dhamma-harrow fourfold right exertion corresponding
to the Brahmin's two pairs of bullocks (four bullocks in all); just as the Brahmin's two pairs
of bullocks attached to his harrow struggle energetically and accomplished two functions,
namely, the function of destroying the weeds that had grown as well as the weeds that
would grow, and the function of generating the paddy plants, even so the Buddha's fourfold
exertion corresponding to the Brahmin's two pairs of bullocks energetically struggled and
accomplished two functions, namely, the function of removing unwholesomeness that had
arisen as well as unwholesomeness that would arise, and the function of generating
wholesomeness.)
‚O Brahmin, just as your two pairs of draught bullocks move in the direction of
east, in the direction of west and so on as you drive them, even so the bullocks, i.e.
My two pairs of right exertion move straight to NibbÈna as I drive them in that
direction; the difference between your moving and Mine is this: when your two
pairs of bullocks reach the edge (the ridge) of the field they turn back. But My two
pairs of bullocks, i.e. My right exertion has been moving towards NibbÈna without
turning away since the lifetime of Buddha DÊpa~karÈ.
Your two pairs of bullocks could not manage to reach the place where a farmer
like you are free from sorrow As for My two pairs of bullocks, in the form of
right exertion, they have managed to reach the place of NibbÈna free from sorrow
of a farmer like me.‛
Conclusion in Verse
5) Evam esa kasi kattha,
sa hoti amatapphala
Etam kasim kasitvÈna
sabbadukkha pamuccati.
("O Brahmin of BhÈradvÈja clan!) I (the Teacher of the three classes of
beings) have done the Dhamma-ploughing in My person without interruption
for four
asa~khyeyyas
and a hundred thousand aeons. That Dhamma-
ploughing of Mine bears the fruit of NibbÈna with the rich taste of peace. (It
bears that tasty fruit of NibbÈna not only for Me, but for anyone be he a,
deva, a human, or a BrahmÈ) when the harnessing of the bullocks of right
exertion and the Dhamma-ploughing is done in one's person without
interruption one could absolutely be free from all suffering and have
NibbÈna for his possession.
In this way, the Buddha, in delivering the sermon to Brahmin KasibhÈradvÈja, concluded
it by fixing it with the pinnacle of arahatship and leading up to the height of NibbÈna.
Having listened to the profound teaching, KasibhÈradvÈja Brahmin came to a good
understanding: ‚Despite my eating of the crop obtained from my ploughing, I feel hungry
next day as usual. The Dhamma
-
ploughing of the Venerable Gotama, however, produces
the fruit of Deathlessness called NibbÈna
.
Having partaken of that fruit of Deathlessness
from the Dhamma-ploughing, one could liberate oneself from suffering once and for all.‛