6.
The Discourse on Doṇa
36.
On one occasion the Blessed One was travelling on the highway between Ukkaṭṭha and Setabya.
The brahmin Doṇa too was travelling on the highway between Ukkaṭṭha and Setabya.
The brahmin Doṇa saw on the Blessed One's footprints wheels with a thousand spokes, with rims, with hubs, complete in every aspect;
having seen them, this occurred to him -
"Wonderful indeed, friend, marvellous indeed, friend!
Surely these will not be the footprints of a human being!"
Then the Blessed One, having turned aside from the road, sat down at the foot of a certain tree, folding his legs crosswise, directing his body upright, having established mindfulness in front of him.
Then the brahmin Doṇa, following the Blessed One's footprints, saw the Blessed One seated at the foot of a certain tree, inspiring, confidence-inspiring, with peaceful faculties, with peaceful mind, having attained the highest taming and serenity, tamed, guarded, with restrained faculties, an elephant.
Having seen him, he approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he said this to the Blessed One -
"Will the venerable one be a god?" "I will not be a god, brahmin." "Will the venerable one be a gandhabba?" "I will not be a gandhabba, brahmin." "Will the venerable one be a demon?" "I will not be a demon, brahmin." "Will the venerable one be a human being?" "I will not be a human being, brahmin."
"When asked 'Will the venerable one be a god?' - you say 'I will not be a god, brahmin.' When asked 'Will the venerable one be a gandhabba?' - you say 'I will not be a gandhabba, brahmin.' When asked 'Will the venerable one be a demon?' - you say 'I will not be a demon, brahmin.' When asked 'Will the venerable one be a human being?' - you say 'I will not be a human being, brahmin.' Then what now will the venerable one be?"
"Those mental corruptions, brahmin, because of which not being abandoned I would be a god - those mental corruptions of mine have been abandoned, their root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future. Those mental corruptions, brahmin, because of which not being abandoned I would be a gandhabba... I would be a demon... I would be a human being - those mental corruptions of mine have been abandoned, their root cut off, made like a palm stump, brought to obliteration, subject to non-arising in the future. Just as, brahmin, a water lily or a lotus or a white lotus, born in the water, grown in the water, having risen above the water, stands untainted by the water; so too, brahmin, born in the world, grown in the world, having overcome the world, I dwell untainted by the world. Remember me as a Buddha, brahmin."
By which I might go to the condition of a demon, and attain human existence;
Those mental corruptions of mine are eliminated, demolished, rendered useless.
I am not tainted by the world, therefore I am the Buddha, brahmin." The sixth.