Vatthugāthā
Introductory Verses
A brahman teacher sends his students to the Buddha to see if the latter is truly awakened.
Translations
Ajitamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Ajita
A brahman questions the Buddha about mindfulness, discernment, and the cessation of name-and-form.
Translations
Tissametteyyamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Tissametteyya
Who in the world is truly contented, truly free, truly a great person?
Translations
Puṇṇakamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Puṇṇaka
Birth and aging can be overcome, not through sacrificial rituals, but through training the mind to go beyond perturbation.
Translations
Mettagūmāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Mettagū
How does one cross the flood of birth and old age, sorrow and grief?
Translations
Dhotakamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Dhotaka
How can one become freed of all doubt?
Translations
Upasīvamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Upasīva
What support should one hold on to in order to cross over the flood of craving? Can an awakened person be described?
Translations
Nandamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Nanda
Who deserves to be called a sage? Who has crossed over birth and aging?
Translations
Hemakamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Hemaka
How do you cross over entanglements in the world?
Translations
Todeyyamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Todeyya
How to recognize an emancipated person.
Translations
Kappamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Kappa
What is the island above the flood of the great danger of birth?
Translations
Jatukaṇṇimāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Jatukaṇṇī
How does one abandon birth and aging?
Translations
Bhadrāvudhamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Bhadrāvudha
Bhadrāvudha asks the Buddha: How did you come to know the Dhamma?
Translations
Udayamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Udaya
How to reach unbinding and bring consciousness to a halt.
Translations
Posālamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Posala
How to develop insight after mastering the perception of nothingness.
Translations
Mogharājamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Mogharāja
How should one view the world so as to escape the king of Death?
Translations
Piṅgiyamāṇavapucchā
The Questions of the Student Piṅgiya
Alarmed by the deterioration of his aging body, Piṅgiya asks the Buddha how to conquer birth and decay.
Translations
Pārāyanatthutigāthā
Homage to the Way to the Beyond
The questions and events are summarized.
Translations
Pārāyanānugītigāthā
Preserving the Way to the Beyond
Piṅgiya, after becoming a non-returner, explains to his former teacher his devotion to the Buddha.