AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.110 Vipers

Numbered Discourses 4.110 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.110

11. Clouds – 11. Valāhakavagga

AN 4.110 Vipers – Āsīvisasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are these four kinds of viper.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, āsīvisā.

1.2

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.3

One whose venom is fast-acting but not lethal,

Āgataviso na ghoraviso,

1.4

one whose venom is lethal but not fast-acting,

ghoraviso na āgataviso,

1.5

one whose venom is both fast-acting and lethal, and

āgataviso ca ghoraviso ca,

1.6

one whose venom is neither fast-acting nor lethal.

nevāgataviso na ghoraviso—

1.7

These are the four kinds of viper.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, cattāro āsīvisā.

1.8

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

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

1.9

What four?

Katame cattāro?

1.10

One whose venom is fast-acting but not lethal,

Āgataviso na ghoraviso,

1.11

one whose venom is lethal but not fast-acting,

ghoraviso na āgataviso,

1.12

one whose venom is both fast-acting and lethal, and

āgataviso ca ghoraviso ca,

1.13

one whose venom is neither fast-acting nor lethal.

nevāgataviso na ghoraviso.

2.1

And how is a person’s venom fast-acting but not lethal?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo āgataviso hoti, na ghoraviso?

2.2

It’s when a person is often angry,

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati.

2.3

but their anger doesn’t linger long.

So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti.

2.4

That’s how a person’s venom is fast-acting but not lethal.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo āgataviso hoti, na ghoraviso.

2.5

That person is like a viper whose venom is fast-acting but not lethal.

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, āsīviso āgataviso, na ghoraviso;

2.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

3.1

And how is a person’s venom lethal but not fast-acting?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo ghoraviso hoti, na āgataviso?

3.2

It’s when a person is not often angry,

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo na heva kho abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati.

3.3

but their anger lingers for a long time.

So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti.

3.4

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo ghoraviso hoti, na āgataviso.

3.5

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, āsīviso ghoraviso, na āgataviso;

3.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

4.1

And how is a person’s venom both fast-acting and lethal?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo āgataviso ca hoti ghoraviso ca?

4.2

It’s when a person is often angry,

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati.

4.3

and their anger lingers for a long time.

So ca khvassa kodho dīgharattaṁ anuseti.

4.4

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo āgataviso ca hoti ghoraviso ca.

4.5

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, āsīviso āgataviso ca ghoraviso ca;

4.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.1

And how is a person’s venom neither fast-acting nor lethal?

Kathañca, bhikkhave, puggalo nevāgataviso hoti na ghoraviso?

5.2

It’s when a person is not often angry,

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo na heva kho abhiṇhaṁ kujjhati.

5.3

and their anger doesn’t linger long.

So ca khvassa kodho na dīgharattaṁ anuseti.

5.4

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, puggalo nevāgataviso hoti, na ghoraviso.

5.5

Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, āsīviso nevāgataviso na ghoraviso;

5.6

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi.

5.7

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

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

5.8

Dasamaṁ.

5.9

Valāhakavaggo paṭhamo.

6.0

Tassuddānaṁ

6.1

Dve valāhā kumbha udaka,

6.2

rahadā dve honti ambāni;

6.3

Mūsikā balībaddā rukkhā,

6.4

āsīvisena te dasāti.