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Numbered Discourses 3.50 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.50

5. The Lesser Chapter – 5. Cūḷavagga

AN 3.50 A Master Thief – Mahācorasutta

 

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a master thief with three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.

“Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro sandhimpi chindati, nillopampi harati, ekāgārikampi karoti, paripanthepi tiṭṭhati.

1.2

What three?

Katamehi tīhi?

1.3

A master thief relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on powerful individuals.

Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro visamanissito ca hoti, gahananissito ca hoti, balavanissito ca hoti.

1.4

And how does a master thief rely on uneven ground?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, mahācoro visamanissito hoti?

1.5

It’s when a master thief relies on inaccessible riverlands or rugged mountains.

Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro nadīviduggaṁ vā nissito hoti pabbatavisamaṁ vā.

1.6

That’s how a master thief relies on uneven ground.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mahācoro visamanissito hoti.

2.1

And how does a master thief rely on thick cover?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, mahācoro gahananissito hoti?

2.2

It’s when a master thief relies on thick grass, thick trees, a ridge, or a large dense wood.

Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro tiṇagahanaṁ vā nissito hoti, rukkhagahanaṁ vā rodhaṁ vā mahāvanasaṇḍaṁ vā.

2.3

That’s how a master thief relies on thick cover.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mahācoro gahananissito hoti.

3.1

And how does a master thief rely on powerful individuals?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, mahācoro balavanissito hoti?

3.2

It’s when a master thief relies on rulers or their ministers.

Idha, bhikkhave, mahācoro rājānaṁ vā rājamahāmattānaṁ vā nissito hoti.

3.3

They think:

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

3.4

‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’

‘sace maṁ koci kiñci vakkhati, ime me rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇissantī’ti.

3.5

And that’s exactly what happens.

Sace naṁ koci kiñci āha, tyāssa rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇanti.

3.6

That’s how a master thief relies on powerful individuals.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, mahācoro balavanissito hoti.

3.7

A master thief with these three factors breaks into houses, plunders wealth, steals from isolated buildings, and commits highway robbery.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato mahācoro sandhimpi chindati, nillopampi harati, ekāgārikampi karoti, paripanthepi tiṭṭhati.

4.1

In the same way, when a bad bhikkhu has three factors, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhu khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavati.

4.2

What three?

Katamehi tīhi?

4.3

A bad bhikkhu relies on uneven ground, on thick cover, and on powerful individuals.

Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamanissito ca hoti gahananissito ca balavanissito ca.

5.1

And how does a bad bhikkhu rely on uneven ground?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamanissito hoti?

5.2

It’s when a bad bhikkhu has unethical conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.

Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamena kāyakammena samannāgato hoti, visamena vacīkammena samannāgato hoti, visamena manokammena samannāgato hoti.

5.3

That’s how a bad bhikkhu relies on uneven ground.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu visamanissito hoti.

6.1

And how does a bad bhikkhu rely on thick cover?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu gahananissito hoti?

6.2

It’s when a bad bhikkhu has wrong view, he’s attached to an extremist view.

Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu micchādiṭṭhiko hoti, antaggāhikāya diṭṭhiyā samannāgato hoti.

6.3

That’s how a bad bhikkhu relies on thick cover.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu gahananissito hoti.

7.1

And how does a bad bhikkhu rely on powerful individuals?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu balavanissito hoti?

7.2

It’s when a bad bhikkhu relies on rulers or their ministers.

Idha, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu rājānaṁ vā rājamahāmattānaṁ vā nissito hoti.

7.3

They think:

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

7.4

‘If anyone accuses me of anything, these rulers or their ministers will speak in my defense in the case.’

‘sace maṁ koci kiñci vakkhati, ime me rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇissantī’ti.

7.5

And that’s exactly what happens.

Sace naṁ koci kiñci āha, tyāssa rājāno vā rājamahāmattā vā pariyodhāya atthaṁ bhaṇanti.

7.6

That’s how a bad bhikkhu relies on powerful individuals.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, pāpabhikkhu balavanissito hoti.

7.7

When a bad bhikkhu has these three qualities, they keep themselves broken and damaged. They deserve to be blamed and criticized by sensible people, and they make much bad karma.”

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato pāpabhikkhu khataṁ upahataṁ attānaṁ pariharati, sāvajjo ca hoti sānuvajjo ca viññūnaṁ, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavatī”ti.

7.8

 

Ekādasamaṁ.

7.9

 

Cūḷavaggo pañcamo.

8.0

 

Tassuddānaṁ

8.1

 

Sammukhī ṭhānatthavasaṁ,

8.2

 

pavatti paṇḍita sīlavaṁ;

8.3

 

Saṅkhataṁ pabbatātappaṁ,

8.4

 

mahācorenekādasāti.

8.5

 

Paṭhamo paṇṇāsako samatto.