AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.128 Bitter

Numbered Discourses 3.128 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.128

13. Kusināra – 13. Kusināravagga

AN 3.128 Bitter – Kaṭuviyasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Benares, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.

1.2

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Benares for alms.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

1.3

While the Buddha was walking for alms near the cow-hitching place at the wavy leaf fig, he saw a disgruntled monk who was looking for pleasure in external things, unmindful, without situational awareness or samādhi, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties.

Addasā kho bhagavā goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.

1.4

The Buddha said to him,

Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Monk, don’t be bitter.

“Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.

2.2

If you’re bitter, corrupted by putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.”

Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī”ti.

2.3

Hearing this advice of the Buddha, that monk was struck with a sense of urgency.

Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavatā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādi.

2.4

Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha told the bhikkhū what had happened. …

Atha kho bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto bhikkhū āmantesi:

3.1

“Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

3.2

Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.

3.3

Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:

4.1

‘Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.

4.2

Taṁ vata bhikkhu kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.

4.3

Atha kho, bhikkhave, so bhikkhu mayā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādī”ti.

4.4

When he said this, one of the bhikkhū asked the Buddha:

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

4.5

“Sir, what is this ‘bitterness’?

“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, kaṭuviyaṁ?

4.6

What is ‘putrefaction’?

Ko āmagandho?

4.7

And what are the ‘flies’?”

Kā makkhikā”ti?

5.1

“Desire is bitterness;

“Abhijjhā kho, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyaṁ;

5.2

ill will is the putrefaction;

byāpādo āmagandho;

5.3

and bad, unskillful thoughts are the flies.

pāpakā akusalā vitakkā makkhikā.

5.4

If you’re bitter, corrupted by putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.

Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatīti.

6.1

When your eyes and ears are unguarded,

Aguttaṁ cakkhusotasmiṁ,

6.2

and you’re not restrained in your sense faculties,

indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ;

6.3

flies—those lustful thoughts—

Makkhikānupatissanti,

6.4

will plague you.

saṅkappā rāganissitā.

7.1

A bhikkhu who’s bitter,

Kaṭuviyakato bhikkhu,

7.2

corrupted by putrefaction,

āmagandhe avassuto;

7.3

is far from being extinguished,

Ārakā hoti nibbānā,

7.4

anguish is their lot.

vighātasseva bhāgavā.

8.1

Whether in village or wilderness,

Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,

8.2

if they don’t find serenity in themselves,

aladdhā samathamattano;

8.3

the fool, void of wisdom,

Pareti bālo dummedho,

8.4

is honored only by flies.

makkhikāhi purakkhato.

9.1

But those who have ethics,

Ye ca sīlena sampannā,

9.2

lovers of wisdom and peace,

paññāyūpasameratā;

9.3

they, being peaceful, sleep at ease,

Upasantā sukhaṁ senti,

9.4

since they’ve got rid of the flies.”

nāsayitvāna makkhikā”ti.

9.5

Chaṭṭhaṁ.