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### Sutta Nipata III.1

# Pabbaja Sutta

# The Going Forth

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

> I will describe the Going Forth,
> how he, the One-with-Vision, went forth,
> how he reasoned and chose the Going Forth.
> "Household life is crowded,
> a realm of dust,
> while going forth
> is the open air."
> Seeing this, he went forth.

> On going forth,
> he avoided evil deeds in body.
> Abandoning verbal misconduct,
> he purified his livelihood.
> Then he, the Buddha, went to Rajagaha,
> the mountain fortress of the Magadhans,
> and wandered for alms,
> endowed with all the foremost marks.
> King Bimbisara, standing in his palace, saw him,
> and on seeing him, consummate in marks,
> said: "Look at this one, sirs.
> How handsome, stately, pure!
> How consummate his demeanor!
> Mindful, his eyes downcast,
> looking only a plow-length before him,
> as one who's not from a lowly lineage:
> Send the royal messengers at once
> to see where this monk will go."

> They -- the messengers dispatched --
> followed behind him.
> "Where will this monk go?
> Where will his dwelling place be?"
> As he went from house to house --
> well-restrained, his sense-doors guarded,
> mindful, alert --
> his bowl filled quickly.
> Then he, the sage, completing his alms round,
> left the city, headed for Mount Pandava.
> "That's where his dwelling will be."
> Seeing him go to his dwelling place,
> three messengers sat down,
> while one returned to tell the king.
> "That monk, your majesty,
> on the flank of Pandava,
> sits like a tiger, a bull,
> a lion in a mountain cleft."

> Hearing the messenger's words,
> the noble warrior king
> straight away went by royal coach,
> out to Mount Pandava.
> Going as far as the coach would go,
> he got down, went up on foot,
> and on arrival sat down.
> Sitting there,
> he exchanged courteous greetings,
> then said:
> "You are young, youthful,
> in the first stage of youth,
> endowed with the stature & coloring
> of a noble-warrior.
> You would look glorious
> in the vanguard of an army,
> arrayed with an elephant squadron.
> I offer you wealth : enjoy it.
> I ask your birth : inform me."

> "Straight ahead, your majesty,
> by the foothills of the Himalayas,
> is a country consummate
> in energy & wealth,
> inhabited by Kosalans:
> Solar by clan,
> Sakyans by birth.
> From that lineage I have gone forth,
> but not in search of sensual pleasures.
> Seeing the danger in sensual pleasures
> -- and renunciation as rest --
> I go to strive.
> That's where my heart delights."

Revised: Wed 16 May 2001