Reading guide
A brief teaching before a dangerous journey
Puṇṇa's request opens with the same formula Ānanda used at SN 35.86: “may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief.” The answer given is on relishing (nandī) — approving, welcoming, and clinging to what is pleasant — named as the origin of suffering, and its absence as suffering's cessation, across all six sense fields.
Sunāparanta, a rough frontier country
Asked where he will go, Puṇṇa names Sunāparanta. Sujato's own note identifies this with the historical port of Suppāraka, near modern Mumbai — a far-sighted choice, since it became a major trading hub from the time of Ashoka onward, though nothing in the discourse itself says Puṇṇa knew this.
Five steps toward death, each met with gratitude
The Buddha warns that the people there are wild. Puṇṇa answers, step by step, that he will judge them gracious — for not throwing stones once they've hit him with their fists, not clubbing him once they've thrown stones, not stabbing him once they've clubbed him, not killing him once they've stabbed him — each answer naming the worse harm not yet done.
An echo of Migalaṇḍika, and a different outcome
At the final step — if they do take his life — Puṇṇa says he would consider it a gift found “without looking.” Sujato's own note connects this directly to the Migalaṇḍika incident: mendicants who sought death from revulsion with the body, redirected instead by the Buddha toward mindfulness of breathing. Here, unlike there, the Buddha does not redirect Puṇṇa — he simply approves his self-control and sends him on his way.
A mission completed within a single rainy season
Puṇṇa travels to Sunāparanta, confirms five hundred male and five hundred female lay followers, realizes full awakening, and passes into final nibbāna — all within that same rainy season. Asked where he has been reborn, the Buddha answers simply: “Puṇṇa has become completely quenched.”
Key terms
The text
§1And then Venerable Puṇṇa went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: “Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”
§2“Puṇṇa, there are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them, this gives rise to relishing. Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say. There are sounds … smells … tastes … touches … There are ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them, this gives rise to relishing. Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say. There are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases. When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say. … There are ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them, relishing ceases. When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say.
§3Puṇṇa, now that I’ve given you this brief advice, what country will you live in?” “Sir, there’s a country named Sunāparanta; I will live there.” “The people of Sunāparanta are wild and rough, Puṇṇa. If they abuse and insult you, what will you think of them?”
§4“If they abuse and insult me, I will think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t hit me with their fists.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do hit you with their fists, what will you think of them then?”
§5“If they hit me with their fists, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t throw stones at me.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do throw stones at you, what will you think of them then?”
§6“If they throw stones at me, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t beat me with a club.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do beat you with a club, what will you think of them then?”
§7“If they beat me with a club, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t stab me with a knife.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do stab you with a knife, what will you think of them then?”
§8“If they stab me with a knife, I’ll think: ‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t take my life with a sharp knife.’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “But if they do take your life with a sharp knife, what will you think of them then?”
§9“If they take my life with a sharp knife, I’ll think: ‘There are disciples of the Buddha who looked for a suicide weapon because they were horrified, repelled, and disgusted with the body and with life. And I have found this without looking!’ That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One. That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.” “Good, good Puṇṇa! Having such self-control and peacefulness, you will be quite capable of living in Sunāparanta. Now, Puṇṇa, go at your convenience.”
§10And then Puṇṇa welcomed and agreed with the Buddha’s words. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for Sunāparanta. Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Sunāparanta, and stayed there. Within that rainy season he confirmed around five hundred male and five hundred female lay followers. And within that same rainy season he realized the three knowledges. And within that same rainy season he became completely extinguished.
§11Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha … and asked him, “Sir, the gentleman named Puṇṇa, who was advised in brief by the Buddha, has passed away. Where has he been reborn in his next life?” “Mendicants, Puṇṇa was astute. He practiced in line with the teaching, and did not trouble me about the teachings. Puṇṇa has become completely quenched.”
Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.