AN 4 The Book of the Fours – Catukkanipāta > AN 4.188 With Upaka

Numbered Discourses 4.188 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.188

19. Brahmins – 19. Brāhmaṇavagga

AN 4.188 With Upaka – Upakasutta

1.1

Once the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

1.2

Then Upaka the son of Maṇḍikā went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.1

“Sir, this is my doctrine and view:

“Ahañhi, bhante, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi:

2.2

‘Whoever goes on complaining about others without giving any reasons

‘yo koci parūpārambhaṁ vatteti, parūpārambhaṁ vattento sabbo so na upapādeti.

2.3

is reprehensible and at fault.’”

Anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo’”ti.

2.4

“Upaka, if someone goes on complaining about others without giving a reason, they’re reprehensible and at fault.

“Parūpārambhañce, upaka, vatteti parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādeti, anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo.

2.5

But that’s what you do, so you’re reprehensible and at fault!”

Tvaṁ kho, upaka, parūpārambhaṁ vattesi, parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādesi, anupapādento gārayho hosi upavajjo”ti.

2.6

“Sir, like a fish caught in a big trap just as it rises,

“Seyyathāpi, bhante, ummujjamānakaṁyeva mahatā pāsena bandheyya;

2.7

so the Buddha caught me in a big trap of words just as I rose up.”

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, ummujjamānakoyeva bhagavatā mahatā vādapāsena baddho”ti.

3.1

“Upaka, I’ve declared: ‘This is unskillful.’

“Idaṁ akusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

3.2

And there are limitless words, phrases, and teachings of the Realized One about that:

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

3.3

‘This is another way of saying that this is unskillful.’

itipidaṁ akusalanti.

3.4

I’ve declared: ‘The unskillful should be given up.’

Taṁ kho panidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

3.5

And there are limitless words, phrases, and teachings of the Realized One about that:

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

3.6

‘This is another way of saying that the unskillful should be given up.’

itipidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti.

4.1

I’ve declared that: ‘This is skillful.’

Idaṁ kusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

4.2

And there are limitless words, phrases, and teachings of the Realized One about that:

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

4.3

‘This is another way of saying that this is skillful.’

itipidaṁ kusalanti.

4.4

I’ve declared: ‘The skillful should be developed.’

Taṁ kho panidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

4.5

And there are limitless words, phrases, and teachings of the Realized One about that:

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

4.6

‘This is another way of saying that the skillful should be developed.’”

itipidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabban”ti.

5.1

And then Upaka son of Maṇḍikā approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went up to King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Magadha. He told the King of all they had discussed.

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ rañño māgadhassa ajātasattussa vedehiputtassa ārocesi.

5.2

But Ajātasattu became angry and upset, and said to Upaka,

Evaṁ vutte, rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto kupito anattamano upakaṁ maṇḍikāputtaṁ etadavoca:

5.3

“How rude of this salt-maker’s boy! How scurrilous and impudent of him to imagine he could attack the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

“yāva dhaṁsī vatāyaṁ loṇakāradārako yāva mukharo yāva pagabbo yatra hi nāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ āsādetabbaṁ maññissati;

5.4

Get out, Upaka, go away! Don’t let me see you again.”

apehi tvaṁ, upaka, vinassa, mā taṁ addasan”ti.

5.5

Aṭṭhamaṁ.