Sutta Nipata 5.18: Parayanasutta

This said Bhagavat, living in Magadha at Pasanaka Cetiya (the Rock Temple). Sought by sixteen Brahmanas, the followers (of Bavari, and) questioned by each of them in turn, he responded to the questions. If a man, having understood the meaning and tenor of each question, lives according to the Dhamma, then he will go to the further shore of decay and death, for these Dhammas lead to the further shore, and therefore this order of Dhamma was called ‘the way to the other shore.’

Ajita, Tissametteyya, Punnaka and Mettagu, Dhotaka and Upasiva, Nanda and Hemaka, the two Todeyya and Kappa, and the wise Jatukanni, Bhadravudha and Udaya, and also the Brahmana Posala, and the wise Mogharajan, and Pingiya the great Isi,

These went up to Buddha, the Isi of exemplary conduct; asking subtle questions they went up to the supreme Buddha.

Buddha, being asked, responded to their questions truly, and in responding to the questions the Muni delighted the Brahmanas.

They, having been delighted by the clearly-seeing Buddha, the kinsman of the Adiccas, devoted themselves to a religious life near the man of excellent understanding.

He who lived according to what had been taught by Buddha (in answer) to each single question, went from this shore to the other shore.

From this shore he went to the other shore entering upon the most excellent way; this way is to lead to the other shore, therefore it is called ‘the way to the other shore.’

‘I will proclaim accordingly the way to the further shore,’—so said the venerable Pingiya;—‘as he saw it, so he told it; the spotless, the very wise, the passionless, the desireless lord, for what reason should he speak falsely?

‘Well! I will praise the beautiful voice of (Buddha), who is without stain and folly, and who has left behind arrogance and hypocrisy.

‘The darkness-dispelling Buddha, the all-seeing, who thoroughly understands the world has overcome all existences, is free from passion, has left behind all pain, is rightly called (Buddha), he, O Brahmana, has come to me.

‘As the bird, having left the bush, takes up his abode in the fruitful forest, even so I, having left men of narrow views, have reached the great sea, like the hamsa.

‘Those who before in another world explained the doctrine of Gotama, saying, “So it was, so it will be,” all that was only oral tradition, all that was only something that increased my doubts.

‘There is only one abiding dispelling darkness, that is the high-born, the luminous, Gotama of great understanding, Gotama of great wisdom,

‘Who taught me the Dhamma, the instantaneous, the immediate, the destruction of desire, freedom from distress, whose likeness is nowhere.’

Bavari: ‘Canst thou stay away from him even for a moment, O Pingiya, from Gotama of great understanding, from Gotama of great wisdom,

‘Who taught thee the Dhamma, the instantaneous, the immediate, the destruction of desire, freedom from distress, whose likeness is nowhere?’

Pingiya: ‘I do not stay away from him even for a moment, O Brahmana, from Gotama of great understanding, from Gotama of great wisdom,

‘Who taught me the Dhamma, the instantaneous, the immediate, the destruction of desire, freedom from distress, whose likeness is nowhere.

‘I see him in my mind and with my eye, vigilant, O Brahmana, night and day; worshipping I spend the night, therefore I think I do not stay away from him.

‘Belief and joy, mind and thought incline me towards the doctrine of Gotama; whichever way the very wise man goes, the very same I am inclined to.

‘Therefore, as I am worn out and feeble, my body does not go there, but in my thoughts I always go there, for my mind, O Brahmana, is joined to him.

‘Lying in the mud (of lusts) wriggling, I jumped from island to island; then I saw the perfectly Enlightened, who has crossed the stream, and is free from passion.’

Bhagavat: ‘As Vakkali was delivered by faith, (as well as) Bhadravudha and Alavi-Gotama, so thou shalt let faith deliver thee, and thou shalt go, O Pingiya, to the further shore of the realm of death.’

Pingiya: ‘I am highly pleased at hearing the Muni’s words; Sambuddha has removed the veil, he is free from harshness, and wise.

‘Having penetrated (all things) concerning the gods, he knows everything of every description; the Master will put an end to all questions of the doubtful that (will) admit (him).

‘To the insuperable, the unchangeable (Nibbana), whose likeness is nowhere, I shall certainly go; in this (Nibbana) there will be no doubt (left) for me, so know (me to be) of a dispossessed mind.’