Aṅguttara Nikāya — Discursos Numerados — 6.43 — The Giant

1At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

2Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he addressed Venerable Ānanda, “Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery for the day’s meditation.”

3“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied.

4So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the Eastern Monastery. In the late afternoon the Buddha came out of retreat and addressed Ānanda, “Come, Ānanda, let’s go to the eastern gate to bathe.”

5“Yes, sir,” Ānanda replied. So the Buddha went with Ānanda to the eastern gate to bathe. When he had bathed and emerged from the water he stood in one robe drying his limbs.

6Now, at that time King Pasenadi had a giant bull elephant called “White”. It emerged from the eastern gate to the beating and playing of musical instruments.

7When people saw it they said, “The royal giant is so handsome! The royal giant is so good-looking! The royal giant is so lovely! The royal giant has such a big body!”

8When they said this, Venerable Udāyī said to the Buddha, “Sir, is it only when they see elephants with such a big, formidable body that people say: ‘A giant, such a giant’? Or do they say it when they see any other creatures with big, formidable bodies?”

9“Udāyī, when they see elephants with such a big, formidable body people say: ‘A giant, such a giant!’

10And also when they see a horse with a big, formidable body …

11When they see a bull with a big, formidable body …

12When they see a serpent with a big, formidable body …

13When they see a tree with a big, formidable body …

14And when they see a human being with such a big, formidable body people say: ‘A giant, such a giant!’

15But Udāyī, one who does nothing monstrous by way of body, speech, and mind is who I call a ‘giant’ in this world with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.”

16“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! How well said this was by the Buddha: ‘But Udāyī, one who does nothing monstrous by way of body, speech, and mind is who I call a “giant” in this world with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.’ And I celebrate the well-spoken words of the Buddha with these verses:

17Awakened as a human being,
self-tamed and immersed in samādhi,
following the spiritual path,
he loves peace of mind.

18Revered by people,
gone beyond all things,
even the gods revere him;
so I’ve heard from the perfected one.

19He has transcended all fetters
and escaped from entanglements.
Delighting to renounce sensual pleasures,
he’s freed like lustrous gold from stone.

20That giant outshines all,
like the Himalaya beside other mountains.
Of all those named ‘giant’,
he is truly named, supreme.

21I shall extol the giant for you,
for he does nothing monstrous.
Gentleness and harmlessness
are two feet of the giant.

22Fervor and chastity
are his two other feet.
Faith is the giant’s trunk,
and equanimity his white tusks.

23Mindfulness is his neck, his head is wisdom—
inquiry and thinking about principles.
His belly is the sacred hearth of the Dhamma,
and his tail is seclusion.

24Practicing absorption, enjoying the breath,
he is serene within.
The giant is serene when walking,
the giant is serene when standing,

25the giant is serene when lying down,
and when sitting, the giant is serene.
The giant is restrained everywhere:
this is the accomplishment of the giant.

26He eats blameless things,
he doesn’t eat blameworthy things.
When he gets food and clothes,
he avoids storing them up.

27Having severed all bonds,
fetters large and small,
wherever he goes,
he goes without concern.

28A white lotus,
fragrant and delightful,
sprouts in water and grows there,
but water does not stick to it.

29Just so the Buddha is born in the world,
and lives in the world,
but the world does not stick to him,
as water does not stick to the lotus.

30A great blazing fire
dies down when the fuel runs out.
When the coals have gone out
it’s said to be ‘quenched’.

31This simile is taught by the discerning
to express the meaning clearly.
Great giants will understand
what the giant taught the giant.

32Free of greed, free of hate,
free of delusion, undefiled;
the giant, giving up his body,
being undefiled, will be fully quenched.”