AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.101 Clouds (1st)

Numbered Discourses 4.101 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.101

11. Clouds – 11. Valāhakavagga

AN 4.101 Clouds (1st) – Paṭhamavalāhakasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.3

There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhū,

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

1.4

“Bhikkhū!”

“bhikkhavo”ti.

1.5

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

1.6

The Buddha said this:

Bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these four kinds of clouds.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, valāhakā.

2.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

2.3

One thunders but doesn’t rain,

Gajjitā no vassitā,

2.4

one rains but doesn’t thunder,

vassitā no gajjitā,

2.5

one neither thunders nor rains, and

neva gajjitā no vassitā,

2.6

one both rains and thunders.

gajjitā ca vassitā ca.

2.7

These are the four kinds of clouds.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro valāhakā.

2.8

In the same way, these four people similar to clouds are found in the world.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro valāhakūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

2.9

What four?

Katame cattāro?

2.10

One thunders but doesn’t rain,

Gajjitā no vassitā,

2.11

one rains but doesn’t thunder,

vassitā no gajjitā,

2.12

one neither thunders nor rains, and

neva gajjitā no vassitā,

2.13

one both rains and thunders.

gajjitā ca vassitā ca.

3.1

And how does a person thunder but not rain?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo gajjitā hoti no vassitā?

3.2

It’s when a person is a talker, not a doer.

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo bhāsitā hoti, no kattā.

3.3

That’s how a person thunders but doesn’t rain.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo gajjitā hoti, no vassitā.

3.4

That person is like a cloud that thunders but doesn’t rain, I say.

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, valāhako gajjitā, no vassitā;

3.5

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

4.1

And how does a person rain but not thunder?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo vassitā hoti, no gajjitā?

4.2

It’s when a person is a doer, not a talker. …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo kattā hoti, no bhāsitā.

4.3

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo vassitā hoti, no gajjitā.

4.4

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, valāhako vassitā, no gajjitā;

4.5

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.1

And how does a person neither thunder nor rain?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo neva gajjitā hoti, no vassitā?

5.2

It’s when a person is neither a talker nor a doer. …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo neva bhāsitā hoti, no kattā.

5.3

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo neva gajjitā hoti, no vassitā.

5.4

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, valāhako neva gajjitā, no vassitā;

5.5

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

6.1

And how does a person both thunder and rain?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo gajjitā ca hoti vassitā ca?

6.2

It’s when a person is both a talker and a doer. …

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo bhāsitā ca hoti kattā ca.

6.3

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo gajjitā ca hoti vassitā ca.

6.4

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, valāhako gajjitā ca vassitā ca;

6.5

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

6.6

These four people similar to clouds are found in the world.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro valāhakūpamā puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmin”ti.

6.7

Paṭhamaṁ.