Mahākhandhako The Great Chapter - Ancient Buddhist Texts

I. The First Teachings - 37
‘Kicchena me adhigataṁ halan-dāni pakāsituṁ
‘Now, is it suitable for me to explain what was attained with difficulty
Rāgadosaparetehi nāyaṁ Dhammo susambudho.
For those overcome by passion and hatred this Dhamma is not easily understood.
Paṭisotagāmiṁ nipuṇaṁ gambhīraṁ duddasaṁ aṇuṁ,
Going against the stream, it is profound, deep, hard to see, subtle,
Rāgarattā na dakkhanti, tamokkhandhena āvuṭā.’ ti
Those delighting in passion, obstructed by darkness, will not see (it).’
Itiha me paṭisañcikkhato
Such was my reflection
appossukkatāya cittaṁ namati, no Dhammadesanāyā.” ti
and my mind inclined to inaction, not to teaching the Dhamma.”
Tatiyam-pi kho Brahmā Sahampatiṁ Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
For a third time Brahmā Sahampati said this to the Gracious One:
“Desetu Bhante Bhagavā Dhammaṁ desetu Sugato Dhammaṁ,
“Let the Gracious One preach the Dhamma, venerable Sir, let the Fortunate One
preach the Dhamma,
santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā assavanatā Dhammassa parihāyanti,
there are beings with little dust on the eyes who are perishing through not hearing
the Dhamma,
bhavissanti Dhammassa aññātāro” ti.
there will be those who understand the Dhamma.”
Idam-avoca Brahmā Sahampati, idaṁ vatvāna athāparaṁ etad-avoca:
Brahmā Sahampati said this, and after saying this he said something more:
“Pātūr-ahosi Magadhesu pubbe
“Formerly there appeared amongst the Magadhans
Dhammo asuddho samalehi cintito,
An impure Dhamma, invented by those still stained,
Apāpuretaṁ Amatassa dvāraṁ
Open this door to the Deathless
Suṇantu Dhammaṁ Vimalenānubuddhaṁ.
Let them hear the Dhamma understood by the Pure One.