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Numbered Discourses 4.68 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.68

7. Deeds of Substance – 7. Pattakammavagga

AN 4.68 Devadatta – Devadattasutta

 

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.

1.2

There the Buddha spoke to the bhikkhū about Devadatta:

Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.3

“Possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

“attavadhāya, bhikkhave, devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

1.4

 

Parābhavāya, bhikkhave, devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

2.1

It’s like a banana tree,

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kadalī attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

2.2

 

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

3.1

or a bamboo,

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, veḷu attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

3.2

 

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

4.1

or a reed, all of which bear fruit to their own ruin and downfall …

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, naḷo attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

4.2

 

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

5.1

It’s like a mule, which becomes pregnant to its own ruin and downfall.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, assatarī attavadhāya gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti, parābhavāya gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti;

5.2

In the same way, possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādīti.

6.1

The banana tree is destroyed by its own fruit,

Phalaṁ ve kadaliṁ hanti,

6.2

as are the bamboo and the reed.

phalaṁ veḷuṁ phalaṁ naḷaṁ;

6.3

Honor destroys a sinner,

Sakkāro kāpurisaṁ hanti,

6.4

as pregnancy destroys a mule.”

gabbho assatariṁ yathā”ti.

6.5

 

Aṭṭhamaṁ.