Dhammapada Verses 254 and 255
Subhaddaparibbajaka Vatthu
Akaseva padam natthi
samano natthi bahire
papancabhirata paja
nippapanca tathagata.
Akaseva padam natthi
samano natthi bahire
sankhara sassatta natthi
natthi buddhanaminjitam.
Verse 254: In the sky there is no track; outside the Buddha's Teaching there
is no ariya bhikkhu (samana). All beings take delight in fetters (i.e., craving,
pride and wrong view) that prolong samsara; all the Buddhas are free from these
fetters.
Verse 255: In the sky there is no track; outside the Buddha's Teaching there
is no ariya bhikkhu (samana). There is no conditioned thing that is permanent;
all the Buddhas are unperturbed (by craving, pride and wrong view).
The Story of Subhadda the Wandering Ascetic
Verses (254) and (255) of this book were uttered by the Buddha in the Sal
Grove of the Malla princes near Kusinara, just before the parinibbana (passing
away) of the Buddha, in reply to the questions raised by Subhadda, the wandering
ascetic (paribbajaka).
Subhadda the wandering ascetic was staying at Kusinara when he heard that the
parinibbana of Gotama Buddha would take place in the last watch of that night.
Subhadda had three questions which had been troubling him for a long time. He
had already put these questions to other religious leaders, namely, Purana
Kassapa, Makkhali Gosala, Ajita Kesakambala, Pakudha Kaccayana, Sancaya
Belatthaputta and Nigantha Nataputta, but their answers did not satisfy him. He
had not yet asked Gotama Buddha, and he felt that only the Buddha could answer
his questions. So, he hurried off to the Sal Grove, but the Venerable Ananda did
not allow him to see the Buddha, because the Buddha was by that time very weak.
The Buddha overheard their conversation and consented to see Subhadda. Subhadda
asked three questions. They are: (1) Are there any tracks in the sky? (2) Are
there any ariya bhikkhus (samanas) outside the Teaching of the Buddha? and (3)
Is there any conditioned thing (sankhara) that is permanent? The Buddha's answer
to all the above questions was negative.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
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Verse 254: In the sky there is no track; outside
the Buddha's Teaching there is no ariya bhikkhu (samana). All beings
take delight in fetters (i.e., craving, pride and wrong view) that
prolong samsara; all the Buddhas are free from these fetters.
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Verse 255: In the sky there is no track; outside
the Buddha's Teaching there is no ariya bhikkhu (samana). There is no
conditioned thing that is permanent; all the Buddhas are unperturbed
(by craving, pride and wrong view).
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At the end of the discourse Subhadda attained Anagami Fruition and as
requested by him the Buddha admitted him to the Order of the bhikkhus. Subhadda
was the last one to become a bhikkhu in the life time of the Buddha. Eventually,
Subhadda attained arahatship.
End of Chapter Eighteen: Impurities