AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.30 Wanderers

Numbered Discourses 4.30 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.30

3. At Uruvelā – 3. Uruvelavagga

AN 4.30 Wanderers – Paribbājakasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

1.2

Now at that time several very well-known wanderers were residing in the monastery of the wanderers on the bank of the Sappinī river. They included Annabhāra, Varadhara, Sakuludāyī, and other very well-known wanderers.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā paribbājakā sippinikātīre paribbājakārāme paṭivasanti, seyyathidaṁ annabhāro varadharo sakuludāyī ca paribbājako aññe ca abhiññātā abhiññātā paribbājakā.

1.3

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the wanderer’s monastery on the banks of the Sappinī river, He sat down on the seat spread out, and said to the wanderers:

Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena sippinikātīraṁ paribbājakārāmo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā te paribbājake etadavoca:

2.1

“Wanderers, these four footprints of the Dhamma are primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.

“Cattārimāni, paribbājakā, dhammapadāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṁsaññāni porāṇāni asaṅkiṇṇāni asaṅkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

2.2

What four?

Katamāni cattāri?

2.3

Contentment …

Anabhijjhā, paribbājakā, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

2.4

Good will … Right mindfulness … Right samādhi …

Abyāpādo, paribbājakā, dhammapadaṁ …pe… sammāsati, paribbājakā, dhammapadaṁ …pe… sammāsamādhi, paribbājakā, dhammapadaṁ aggaññaṁ rattaññaṁ vaṁsaññaṁ porāṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇaṁ asaṅkiṇṇapubbaṁ, na saṅkīyati na saṅkīyissati, appaṭikuṭṭhaṁ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

2.5

These four footprints of the Dhamma are primordial, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.

Imāni kho, paribbājakā, cattāri dhammapadāni aggaññāni rattaññāni vaṁsaññāni porāṇāni asaṅkiṇṇāni asaṅkiṇṇapubbāni, na saṅkīyanti na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.

3.1

Wanderers, if someone should say:

Yo kho, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

3.2

‘I’ll reject this Dhamma footprint of contentment, and describe a true ascetic or brahmin who covets sensual pleasures with acute lust.’ Then I’d say to them:

‘ahametaṁ anabhijjhaṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya abhijjhāluṁ kāmesu tibbasārāgaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessāmī’ti, tamahaṁ tattha evaṁ vadeyyaṁ:

3.3

‘Let them come, speak, and discuss. We’ll see how powerful they are.’

‘etu vadatu byāharatu passāmissānubhāvan’ti.

3.4

It’s simply impossible to reject this Dhamma footprint of contentment, and point out a true ascetic or brahmin who covets sensual pleasures with acute lust.

So vata, paribbājakā, anabhijjhaṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya abhijjhāluṁ kāmesu tibbasārāgaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

4.1

If someone should say:

Yo kho, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

4.2

‘I’ll reject this Dhamma footprint of good will, and describe a true ascetic or brahmin who has ill will and malicious intent.’ Then I’d say to them:

‘ahametaṁ abyāpādaṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya byāpannacittaṁ paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessāmī’ti, tamahaṁ tattha evaṁ vadeyyaṁ:

4.3

‘Let them come, speak, and discuss. We’ll see how powerful they are.’

‘etu vadatu byāharatu passāmissānubhāvan’ti.

4.4

It’s simply impossible to reject this Dhamma footprint of good will, and point out a true ascetic or brahmin who has ill will and malicious intent.

So vata, paribbājakā, abyāpādaṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya byāpannacittaṁ paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

5.1

If someone should say:

Yo kho, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

5.2

‘I’ll reject this Dhamma footprint of right mindfulness, and describe a true ascetic or brahmin who is unmindful, with no situational awareness.’ Then I’d say to them:

‘ahametaṁ sammāsatiṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessāmī’ti, tamahaṁ tattha evaṁ vadeyyaṁ:

5.3

‘Let them come, speak, and discuss. We’ll see how powerful they are.’

‘etu vadatu byāharatu passāmissānubhāvan’ti.

5.4

It’s simply impossible to reject this Dhamma footprint of right mindfulness, and point out a true ascetic or brahmin who is unmindful, with no situational awareness.

So vata, paribbājakā, sammāsatiṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

6.1

If someone should say:

Yo kho, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

6.2

‘I’ll reject this Dhamma footprint of right samādhi, and describe a true ascetic or brahmin who is scattered, with straying mind.’ Then I’d say to them:

‘ahametaṁ sammāsamādhiṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessāmī’ti, tamahaṁ tattha evaṁ vadeyyaṁ:

6.3

‘Let them come, speak, and discuss. We’ll see how powerful they are.’

‘etu vadatu byāharatu passāmissānubhāvan’ti.

6.4

It’s simply impossible to reject this Dhamma footprint of right samādhi, and point out a true ascetic or brahmin who is scattered, with straying mind.

So vata, paribbājakā, sammāsamādhiṁ dhammapadaṁ paccakkhāya asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā paññāpessatīti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

7.1

If anyone imagines they can criticize and reject these four footprints of the Dhamma, they deserve rebuke and criticism on four legitimate grounds in the present life.

Yo kho, paribbājakā, imāni cattāri dhammapadāni garahitabbaṁ paṭikkositabbaṁ maññeyya, tassa diṭṭheva dhamme cattāro sahadhammikā vādānupātā gārayhā ṭhānā āgacchanti.

7.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

7.3

If you reject the Dhamma footprint of contentment, then you must honor and praise those ascetics and brahmins who covet sensual pleasures with acute lust.

Anabhijjhañce bhavaṁ dhammapadaṁ garahati paṭikkosati, ye ca hi abhijjhālū kāmesu tibbasārāgā samaṇabrāhmaṇā te bhoto pujjā te bhoto pāsaṁsā.

7.4

If you reject the Dhamma footprint of good will, you must honor and praise those ascetics and brahmins who have ill will and malicious intent.

Abyāpādañce bhavaṁ dhammapadaṁ garahati paṭikkosati, ye ca hi byāpannacittā paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappā samaṇabrāhmaṇā te bhoto pujjā te bhoto pāsaṁsā.

7.5

If you reject the Dhamma footprint of right mindfulness, then you must honor and praise those ascetics and brahmins who are unmindful, with no situational awareness.

Sammāsatiñce bhavaṁ dhammapadaṁ garahati paṭikkosati, ye ca hi muṭṭhassatī asampajānā samaṇabrāhmaṇā te bhoto pujjā te bhoto pāsaṁsā.

7.6

If you reject the Dhamma footprint of right samādhi, you must honor and praise those ascetics and brahmins who are scattered, with straying minds.

Sammāsamādhiñce bhavaṁ dhammapadaṁ garahati paṭikkosati, ye ca hi asamāhitā vibbhantacittā samaṇabrāhmaṇā te bhoto pujjā te bhoto pāsaṁsā.

8.1

If anyone imagines they can criticize and reject these four footprints of the Dhamma, they deserve rebuke and criticism on four legitimate grounds in the present life.

Yo kho, paribbājakā, imāni cattāri dhammapadāni garahitabbaṁ paṭikkositabbaṁ maññeyya, tassa diṭṭheva dhamme ime cattāro sahadhammikā vādānupātā gārayhā ṭhānā āgacchanti.

8.2

Even those wanderers of the past, Vassa and Bhañña of Ukkalā, who taught the doctrines of no-cause, inaction, and nihilism, didn’t imagine that these four footprints of the Dhamma should be criticized or rejected.

Yepi te paribbājakā ahesuṁ ukkalā vassabhaññā ahetukavādā akiriyavādā natthikavādā, tepi imāni cattāri dhammapadāni na garahitabbaṁ na paṭikkositabbaṁ amaññiṁsu.

8.3

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

8.4

For fear of being blamed, criticized, and faulted.

Nindābyārosanaupārambhabhayāti.

9.1

One who has good will, ever mindful,

Abyāpanno sadā sato,

9.2

serene within,

ajjhattaṁ susamāhito;

9.3

training to remove desire,

Abhijjhāvinaye sikkhaṁ,

9.4

is called ‘a diligent one’.”

appamattoti vuccatī”ti.

9.5

Dasamaṁ.

9.6

Uruvelavaggo tatiyo.

10.0

Tassuddānaṁ

10.1

Dve uruvelā loko kāḷako,

10.2

Brahmacariyena pañcamaṁ;

10.3

Kuhaṁ santuṭṭhi vaṁso ca,

10.4

Dhammapadaṁ paribbājakena cāti.