AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.40 In Charge

Numbered Discourses 3.40 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.40

4. Messengers from the Gods – 4. Devadūtavagga

AN 3.40 In Charge – Ādhipateyyasutta

1.1

“There are, bhikkhū, these three things to put in charge.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, ādhipateyyāni.

1.2

What three?

Katamāni tīṇi?

1.3

Putting oneself, the world, or the teaching in charge.

Attādhipateyyaṁ, lokādhipateyyaṁ, dhammādhipateyyaṁ.

1.4

And what, bhikkhū, is putting oneself in charge?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, attādhipateyyaṁ?

1.5

It’s when a bhikkhu has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā iti paṭisañcikkhati:

1.6

‘I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe,

‘na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.

1.7

almsfood, lodgings, or rebirth in this or that state.

Na piṇḍapātahetu, na senāsanahetu, na itibhavābhavahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.

1.8

But I was swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I was swamped by suffering, mired in suffering.

Api ca khomhi otiṇṇo jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto.

1.9

And I thought, “Hopefully I can find an end to this entire mass of suffering.”

Appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethāti.

1.10

But it would not be appropriate for me to seek sensual pleasures like those I abandoned when I went forth, or even worse.’

Ahañceva kho pana yādisake kāme ohāya agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito tādisake vā kāme pariyeseyyaṁ tato vā pāpiṭṭhatare, na metaṁ patirūpan’ti.

1.11

Then they reflect:

So iti paṭisañcikkhati:

1.12

‘My energy shall be roused up and unflagging, mindfulness shall be established and lucid, my body shall be tranquil and undisturbed, and my mind shall be immersed in samādhi.’

‘āraddhaṁ kho pana me vīriyaṁ bhavissati asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggan’ti.

1.13

Putting themselves in charge, they give up the unskillful and develop the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure.

So attānaṁyeva adhipatiṁ karitvā akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti, sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti, suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati.

1.14

This is called putting oneself in charge.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, attādhipateyyaṁ.

2.1

And what, bhikkhū, is putting the world in charge?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, lokādhipateyyaṁ?

2.2

It’s when a bhikkhu has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā iti paṭisañcikkhati:

2.3

‘I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe,

‘na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.

2.4

almsfood, lodgings, or rebirth in this or that state.

Na piṇḍapātahetu, na senāsanahetu, na itibhavābhavahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.

2.5

But I was swamped by rebirth, old age, and death, by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I was swamped by suffering, mired in suffering.

Api ca khomhi otiṇṇo jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto.

2.6

And I thought, “Hopefully I can find an end to this entire mass of suffering.”

Appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

2.7

And now, since I’ve now gone forth, I might have sensual, malicious, or cruel thoughts. But the population of the world is large,

Ahañceva kho pana evaṁ pabbajito samāno kāmavitakkaṁ vā vitakkeyyaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ vā vitakkeyyaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ vā vitakkeyyaṁ, mahā kho panāyaṁ lokasannivāso.

2.8

and there are ascetics and brahmins who have psychic power—they’re clairvoyant, and can read the minds of others.

Mahantasmiṁ kho pana lokasannivāse santi samaṇabrāhmaṇā iddhimanto dibbacakkhukā paracittaviduno.

2.9

They see far without being seen, even by those close; and they understand the minds of others.

Te dūratopi passanti, āsannāpi na dissanti, cetasāpi cittaṁ pajānanti.

2.10

They would know me:

Tepi maṁ evaṁ jāneyyuṁ:

2.11

“Look at this gentleman; he’s gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, but he’s living mixed up with bad, unskillful qualities.”

‘passatha, bho, imaṁ kulaputtaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito samāno vokiṇṇo viharati pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehī’ti.

2.12

And there are deities, too, who have psychic power—they’re clairvoyant, and can read the minds of others.

devatāpi kho santi iddhimantiniyo dibbacakkhukā paracittaviduniyo.

2.13

They see far without being seen, even by those close; and they understand the minds of others.

Tā dūratopi passanti, āsannāpi na dissanti, cetasāpi cittaṁ jānanti.

2.14

They would know me:

Tāpi maṁ evaṁ jāneyyuṁ:

2.15

“Look at this gentleman; he’s gone forth out of faith from the lay life to homelessness, but he’s living mixed up with bad, unskillful qualities.”’

‘passatha, bho, imaṁ kulaputtaṁ saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito samāno vokiṇṇo viharati pāpakehi akusalehi dhammehī’ti.

2.16

Then they reflect:

So iti paṭisañcikkhati:

2.17

‘My energy shall be roused up and unflagging, mindfulness shall be established and lucid, my body shall be tranquil and undisturbed, and my mind shall be immersed in samādhi.’

‘āraddhaṁ kho pana me vīriyaṁ bhavissati asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggan’ti.

2.18

Putting the world in charge, they give up the unskillful and develop the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure.

So lokaṁyeva adhipatiṁ karitvā akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti, sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti, suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati.

2.19

This is called putting the world in charge.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, lokādhipateyyaṁ.

3.1

And what, bhikkhū, is putting the teaching in charge?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dhammādhipateyyaṁ?

3.2

It’s when a bhikkhu has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this:

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā iti paṭisañcikkhati:

3.3

‘I didn’t go forth from the lay life to homelessness for the sake of a robe,

‘na kho panāhaṁ cīvarahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.

3.4

almsfood, lodgings, or rebirth in this or that state.

Na piṇḍapātahetu, na senāsanahetu, na itibhavābhavahetu agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito.

3.5

But I was swamped by rebirth, old age, and death, by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I was swamped by suffering, mired in suffering.

Api ca khomhi otiṇṇo jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, dukkhotiṇṇo dukkhapareto.

3.6

And I thought, “Hopefully I can find an end to this entire mass of suffering.”

Appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethāti.

3.7

The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.

Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.

3.8

I have spiritual companions who live knowing and seeing.

Santi kho pana me sabrahmacārī jānaṁ passaṁ viharanti.

3.9

Now that I’ve gone forth in this well explained teaching and training, it would not be appropriate for me to live lazy and heedless.’

Ahañceva kho pana evaṁ svākkhāte dhammavinaye pabbajito samāno kusīto vihareyyaṁ pamatto, na metaṁ assa patirūpan’ti.

3.10

Then they reflect:

So iti paṭisañcikkhati:

3.11

‘My energy shall be roused up and unflagging, mindfulness shall be established and lucid, my body shall be tranquil and undisturbed, and my mind shall be immersed in samādhi.’

‘āraddhaṁ kho pana me vīriyaṁ bhavissati asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggan’ti.

3.12

Putting the teaching in charge, they give up the unskillful and develop the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure.

So dhammaṁyeva adhipatiṁ karitvā akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti, sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti, suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati.

3.13

This is called putting the teaching in charge.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dhammādhipateyyaṁ.

3.14

These are the three things to put in charge.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi ādhipateyyānīti.

4.1

There’s no privacy in the world,

Natthi loke raho nāma,

4.2

for someone who does bad deeds.

pāpakammaṁ pakubbato;

4.3

You’ll know for yourself,

Attā te purisa jānāti,

4.4

whether you’ve lied or told the truth.

saccaṁ vā yadi vā musā.

5.1

When you witness your good self,

Kalyāṇaṁ vata bho sakkhi,

5.2

you despise it;

attānaṁ atimaññasi;

5.3

while you disguise

Yo santaṁ attani pāpaṁ,

5.4

your bad self inside yourself.

attānaṁ parigūhasi.

6.1

The gods and the Realized One see

Passanti devā ca tathāgatā ca,

6.2

the fool who lives unjustly in the world.

Lokasmiṁ bālaṁ visamaṁ carantaṁ;

6.3

So with yourself in charge, live mindfully;

Tasmā hi attādhipateyyako ca,

6.4

with the world in charge, be alert and practice absorption;

Lokādhipo ca nipako ca jhāyī;

6.5

with the teaching in charge, live in line with that teaching:

Dhammādhipo ca anudhammacārī,

6.6

a sage who tries for the truth doesn’t deteriorate.

Na hīyati saccaparakkamo muni.

7.1

Māra’s destroyed; the terminator’s overcome:

Pasayha māraṁ abhibhuyya antakaṁ,

7.2

one who strives reaches the end of rebirth.

Yo ca phusī jātikkhayaṁ padhānavā;

7.3

Poised, clever, knowing the world—

So tādiso lokavidū sumedho,

7.4

that sage identifies with nothing at all.”

Sabbesu dhammesu atammayo munī”ti.

7.5

Dasamaṁ.

7.6

Devadūtavaggo catuttho.

8.0

Tassuddānaṁ

8.1

Brahma ānanda sāriputto,

8.2

Nidānaṁ hatthakena ca;

8.3

Dūtā duve ca rājāno,

8.4

Sukhumālādhipateyyena cāti.