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5. Jiṇṇapurisa to Bodhisattapabbajjā (The Old Man, the Sick Man, the Dead Man, the Renunciant, and the Bodhisatta's Going Forth)

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Driving out to the parkland, Prince Vipassī sees an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a renunciant, learns from his charioteer that he too is liable to old age, sickness and death, and shaves his hair and beard and goes forth; the four sights of the Mahāpadānasutta (7D/1). Translated from the Dīgha Nikāya.

Original text: 7D/1.5–1.9 Jiṇṇapurisa to Bodhisattapabbajjā 92–108 in the World Tipitaka Edition

The four sights and the going forth, the edition’s divisions Jiṇṇapurisa to Bodhisattapabbajjā. Driving out to the parkland, Prince Vipassī sees in turn an old man, a sick man and a dead man; each time the charioteer tells him he too is liable to old age, sickness and death, he returns dejected, and the king, remembering the fortune tellers’ word, surrounds him with still more sensual pleasure. The fourth sight, a renunciant in ochre robes, shows him a good way, and he shaves his hair and beard and goes forth there and then.

flowchart TB
    A["Prince Vipassī drives out to the parkland"] --> B["An old man"]
    A --> C["A sick man"]
    A --> D["A dead man"]
    B --> E["The charioteer: you and we are all liable"]
    C --> E
    D --> E
    E --> F["Back to the palace, dejected: shame on birth"]
    F --> G["The king adds sensual pleasures"]
    G --> A
    A --> H["A renunciant in ochre robes"]
    H --> I["Good is conduct in line with the Dhamma"]
    I --> J["Shaves hair and beard, goes forth"]

(43.)

92. Then, Bhikkhave, after the passing of many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years, Prince Vipassī addressed the charioteer: ‘Harness the most stately carriages, Samma (friend) charioteer; let us go to the parkland to see the beautiful grounds.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī, and having harnessed the most stately carriages he informed Prince Vipassī: ‘The most stately carriages are harnessed for you, your majesty; do now as you see fit.’ Then, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī mounted the most stately carriage and, with the most stately carriages, set out for the parkland.

(44.)

93. Bhikkhave, as he was setting out for the parkland, Prince Vipassī saw an old man, as crooked as a rafter, bent, leaning on a staff, trembling as he went, sick, past his prime. Having seen him, he addressed the charioteer: ‘But this man, Samma charioteer, what has happened to him? His hair is not like others’, and his body is not like others’.’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called an old man.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called old?’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called an old man. Now he will not have long to live.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer — am I too liable to old age, not exempt from old age?’ ‘Both you, your majesty, and we are all liable to old age, not exempt from old age.’ ‘Well then, Samma charioteer, enough of the parkland for today. Turn back from here to the royal palace.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī and turned back from there to the royal palace. There, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, having gone to the royal palace, distressed and dejected, brooded: ‘Shame indeed, Bho, on what is called birth, since for one who is born old age will manifest!’

(45.)

94. Then, Bhikkhave, King Bandhumā had the charioteer summoned and said this: ‘I hope, Samma charioteer, the prince enjoyed himself in the parkland? I hope, Samma charioteer, the prince was pleased with the parkland?’ ‘No, your majesty, the prince did not enjoy himself in the parkland; no, your majesty, the prince was not pleased with the parkland.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer, did the prince see as he was setting out for the parkland?’ ‘Your majesty, as he was setting out for the parkland, the prince saw an old man, as crooked as a rafter, bent, leaning on a staff, trembling as he went, sick, past his prime. Having seen him, he said this to me: “But this man, Samma charioteer, what has happened to him? His hair is not like others’, and his body is not like others’.” “This, your majesty, is what is called an old man.” “But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called old?” “This, your majesty, is what is called an old man; now he will not have long to live.” “But what, Samma charioteer — am I too liable to old age, not exempt from old age?” “Both you, your majesty, and we are all liable to old age, not exempt from old age.”

95. “Well then, Samma charioteer, enough of the parkland for today; turn back from here to the royal palace.” “Yes, your majesty,” I, your majesty, replied to Prince Vipassī and turned back from there to the royal palace. And he, your majesty, the prince, having gone to the royal palace, distressed and dejected, broods: “Shame indeed, Bho, on what is called birth, since for one who is born old age will manifest!”’

(46.)

96. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to King Bandhumā:

97. ‘Let it not be that Prince Vipassī does not exercise kingship; let it not be that Prince Vipassī goes forth from the home life into homelessness; let it not be that the word of the brahmin fortune tellers is true!’ Then, Bhikkhave, King Bandhumā provided Prince Vipassī with the five kāmaguṇā (strands of sensual pleasure) in even greater measure, [thinking:] ‘so that Prince Vipassī would exercise kingship, so that Prince Vipassī would not go forth from the home life into homelessness, so that the word of the brahmin fortune tellers would be false.’

98. There, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, endowed and furnished with the five strands of sensual pleasure, amused himself. Then, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, [after the passing] of many years … and so on …

(47.)

99. Bhikkhave, as he was setting out for the parkland, Prince Vipassī saw a sick man, suffering, extremely ill, lying immersed in his own urine and excrement, being lifted up by some and laid down by others. Having seen him, he addressed the charioteer: ‘But this man, Samma charioteer, what has happened to him? His eyes are not like others’, and his voice is not like others’.’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called a sick man.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called sick?’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called a sick man; hopefully he may recover from that illness.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer — am I too liable to get sick, not exempt from sickness?’ ‘Both you, your majesty, and we are all liable to get sick, not exempt from sickness.’ ‘Well then, Samma charioteer, enough of the parkland for today; turn back from here to the royal palace.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī and turned back from there to the royal palace. There, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, having gone to the royal palace, distressed and dejected, brooded: ‘Shame indeed, Bho, on what is called birth, since for one who is born old age will manifest, sickness will manifest!’

(48.)

100. Then, Bhikkhave, King Bandhumā had the charioteer summoned and said this: ‘I hope, Samma charioteer, the prince enjoyed himself in the parkland; I hope, Samma charioteer, the prince was pleased with the parkland?’ ‘No, your majesty, the prince did not enjoy himself in the parkland; no, your majesty, the prince was not pleased with the parkland.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer, did the prince see as he was setting out for the parkland?’ ‘Your majesty, as he was setting out for the parkland, the prince saw a sick man, suffering, extremely ill, lying immersed in his own urine and excrement, being lifted up by some and laid down by others. Having seen him, he said this to me: “But this man, Samma charioteer, what has happened to him? His eyes are not like others’, and his voice is not like others’.” “This, your majesty, is what is called a sick man.” “But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called sick?” “This, your majesty, is what is called a sick man; hopefully he may recover from that illness.” “But what, Samma charioteer — am I too liable to get sick, not exempt from sickness?” “Both you, your majesty, and we are all liable to get sick, not exempt from sickness.” “Well then, Samma charioteer, enough of the parkland for today; turn back from here to the royal palace.” “Yes, your majesty,” I, your majesty, replied to Prince Vipassī and turned back from there to the royal palace. And he, your majesty, the prince, having gone to the royal palace, distressed and dejected, broods: “Shame indeed, Bho, on what is called birth, since for one who is born old age will manifest, sickness will manifest!”’

(49.)

101. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to King Bandhumā: ‘Let it not be that Prince Vipassī does not exercise kingship; let it not be that Prince Vipassī goes forth from the home life into homelessness; let it not be that the word of the brahmin fortune tellers is true!’ Then, Bhikkhave, King Bandhumā provided Prince Vipassī with the five strands of sensual pleasure in even greater measure, [thinking:] ‘so that Prince Vipassī would exercise kingship, so that Prince Vipassī would not go forth from the home life into homelessness, so that the word of the brahmin fortune tellers would be false.’

102. There, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, endowed and furnished with the five strands of sensual pleasure, amused himself. Then, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, [after the passing] of many years … and so on …

(50.)

103. Bhikkhave, as he was setting out for the parkland, Prince Vipassī saw a great crowd of people gathered together and a bier of variously coloured cloths being made. Having seen them, he addressed the charioteer: ‘Why, Samma charioteer, is that great crowd of people gathered together, and a bier of variously coloured cloths being made?’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called a dead man.’ ‘Well then, Samma charioteer, drive the chariot to where that dead man is.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī and drove the chariot to where that dead man was. Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī saw the departed dead man; having seen him, he addressed the charioteer: ‘But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called dead?’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called a dead man. Now neither mother nor father nor other family and blood relatives will see him, nor will he see mother or father or other family and blood relatives.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer — am I too liable to death, not exempt from death; will neither the king nor the queen nor other family and blood relatives see me; and will I too not see the king or the queen or other family and blood relatives?’ ‘Both you, your majesty, and we are all liable to death, not exempt from death; neither the king nor the queen nor other family and blood relatives will see you; and you too will not see the king or the queen or other family and blood relatives.’ ‘Well then, Samma charioteer, enough of the parkland for today; turn back from here to the royal palace.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī and turned back from there to the royal palace. There, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, having gone to the royal palace, distressed and dejected, brooded: ‘Shame indeed, Bho, on what is called birth, since for one who is born old age will manifest, sickness will manifest, death will manifest!’

(51.)

104. Then, Bhikkhave, King Bandhumā had the charioteer summoned and said this: ‘I hope, Samma charioteer, the prince enjoyed himself in the parkland; I hope, Samma charioteer, the prince was pleased with the parkland?’ ‘No, your majesty, the prince did not enjoy himself in the parkland; no, your majesty, the prince was not pleased with the parkland.’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer, did the prince see as he was setting out for the parkland?’ ‘Your majesty, as he was setting out for the parkland, the prince saw a great crowd of people gathered together and a bier of variously coloured cloths being made. Having seen them, he said this to me: “Why, Samma charioteer, is that great crowd of people gathered together, and a bier of variously coloured cloths being made?” “This, your majesty, is what is called a dead man.” “Well then, Samma charioteer, drive the chariot to where that dead man is.” “Yes, your majesty,” I, your majesty, replied to Prince Vipassī and drove the chariot to where that dead man was. Your majesty, the prince saw the departed dead man; having seen him, he said this to me: “But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called dead?” “This, your majesty, is what is called a dead man. Now neither mother nor father nor other family and blood relatives will see him, nor will he see mother or father or other family and blood relatives.” “But what, Samma charioteer — am I too liable to death, not exempt from death; will neither the king nor the queen nor other family and blood relatives see me; and will I too not see the king or the queen or other family and blood relatives?” “Both you, your majesty, and we are all liable to death, not exempt from death; neither the king nor the queen nor other family and blood relatives will see you, and you too will not see the king or the queen or other family and blood relatives.” “Well then, Samma charioteer, enough of the parkland for today; turn back from here to the royal palace.” “Yes, your majesty,” I, your majesty, replied to Prince Vipassī and turned back from there to the royal palace. And he, your majesty, the prince, having gone to the royal palace, distressed and dejected, broods: “Shame indeed, Bho, on what is called birth, since for one who is born old age will manifest, sickness will manifest, death will manifest!”’

(52.)

105. Then, Bhikkhave, this thought occurred to King Bandhumā: ‘Let it not be that Prince Vipassī does not exercise kingship; let it not be that Prince Vipassī goes forth from the home life into homelessness; let it not be that the word of the brahmin fortune tellers is true!’ Then, Bhikkhave, King Bandhumā provided Prince Vipassī with the five strands of sensual pleasure in even greater measure, [thinking:] ‘so that Prince Vipassī would exercise kingship, so that Prince Vipassī would not go forth from the home life into homelessness, so that the word of the brahmin fortune tellers would be false.’

106. There, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī, endowed and furnished with the five strands of sensual pleasure, amused himself. Then, Bhikkhave, after the passing of many years, many hundreds of years, many thousands of years, Prince Vipassī addressed the charioteer: ‘Harness the most stately carriages, Samma charioteer; let us go to the parkland to see the beautiful grounds.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī, and having harnessed the most stately carriages he informed Prince Vipassī: ‘The most stately carriages are harnessed for you, your majesty; do now as you see fit.’ Then, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī mounted the most stately carriage and, with the most stately carriages, set out for the parkland.

(53.)

107. Bhikkhave, as he was setting out for the parkland, Prince Vipassī saw a shaven-headed man who had gone forth, wearing ochre robes. Having seen him, he addressed the charioteer: ‘But this man, Samma charioteer, what has happened to him? His head is not like others’, and his clothes are not like others’.’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called a pabbajita (renunciant).’ ‘But what, Samma charioteer, is this one called a renunciant?’ ‘This, your majesty, is what is called a renunciant: good is conduct in line with the Dhamma, good is wholesome conduct, good is the performance of good deeds, good is the making of merit, good is not harming, good is compassion for living beings.’ ‘Good indeed, Samma charioteer, is that one called a renunciant: good is conduct in line with the Dhamma, good is wholesome conduct, good is the performance of good deeds, good is the making of merit, good is not harming, good is compassion for living beings. Well then, Samma charioteer, drive the chariot to where that renunciant is.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī and drove the chariot to where that renunciant was. Then, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī said this to that renunciant: ‘But you, Samma, what has happened to you? Your head is not like others’, and your clothes are not like others’.’ ‘I, your majesty, am what is called a renunciant.’ ‘But what, Samma, are you who are called a renunciant?’ ‘I, your majesty, am what is called a renunciant: good is conduct in line with the Dhamma, good is wholesome conduct, good is the performance of good deeds, good is the making of merit, good is not harming, good is compassion for living beings.’ ‘Good indeed, Samma, are you who are called a renunciant: good is conduct in line with the Dhamma, good is wholesome conduct, good is the performance of good deeds, good is the making of merit, good is not harming, good is compassion for living beings.’

(54.)

108. Then, Bhikkhave, Prince Vipassī addressed the charioteer: ‘Well then, Samma charioteer, take the chariot and turn back from here to the royal palace. But I, right here, having shaved off my hair and beard and having put on saffron robes, will go forth from the home life into homelessness.’ ‘Yes, your majesty,’ Bhikkhave, the charioteer replied to Prince Vipassī and, taking the chariot, turned back from there to the royal palace. But Prince Vipassī, right there, having shaved off his hair and beard and having put on saffron robes, went forth from the home life into homelessness.

  • The charioteer’s dialogue takes one wording for the four sights (kiṃkato “what has happened to him?”, “this is what is called …”, “am I too liable …?”, the brooding dhiratthu kira bho jāti nāma), repeated to the king in the same words inside the edition’s nested quotation marks (94–95, 100, 104).
  • pabbajita is “renunciant”, the title’s word; the glossary gives “renunciant” to paribbājaka, so “one gone forth” is the alternative to settle.
  • deva, the charioteer’s address, is kept as “Deva” (lord), like Bhante; buddhavacana’s Susīma page has “your majesty” for a king. samma is “Samma” (friend).
  • The going forth (108) keeps the wording of the Bhagavā’s own on buddhavacana (https://buddhavacana.github.io/articles/meditation/): hair and beard shaved, saffron robes, “from the home life into homelessness”.
  • jarā is “old age”, as in jarādhamma on the Pāsarāsi page (/majjhimanikaya/pasarasisutta/); the chain’s jarāmaraṇa is “ageing and death”.

Go to previous page (4. Vipassīsamaññā (The Naming of Vipassī)) / Go to parent page (Mahāpadānasutta) / Go to next page (6. Mahājanakāyaanupabbajjā and Bodhisattaabhinivesa (The Great Crowd’s Going Forth after Him, and the Bodhisatta’s Settling into Seclusion))