AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.13 A Thoroughbred

Numbered Discourses 8.13 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.13

2. The Great Chapter – 2. Mahāvagga

AN 8.13 A Thoroughbred – Assājānīyasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, a fine royal thoroughbred with eight factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and considered a factor of kingship.

“Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato rañño bhaddo assājānīyo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

1.2

What eight?

Katamehi aṭṭhahi?

1.3

It’s when a fine royal thoroughbred is well born on both

Idha, bhikkhave, rañño bhaddo assājānīyo ubhato sujāto hoti—

1.4

the mother’s and the father’s sides.

mātito ca pitito ca.

1.5

He’s bred in the region fine thoroughbreds come from.

Yassaṁ disāyaṁ aññepi bhaddā assājānīyā jāyanti, tassaṁ disāyaṁ jāto hoti.

1.6

Whatever food he’s given,

Yaṁ kho panassa bhojanaṁ denti—

1.7

fresh or dry,

allaṁ vā sukkhaṁ vā—

1.8

he eats carefully, without making a mess.

taṁ sakkaccaṁyeva paribhuñjati avikiranto.

1.9

He’s disgusted by sitting or lying down in excrement or urine.

Jegucchī hoti uccāraṁ vā passāvaṁ vā abhinisīdituṁ vā abhinipajjituṁ vā.

1.10

He’s sweet-natured and pleasant to live with, and he doesn’t upset the other horses.

Sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, na ca aññe asse ubbejetā.

1.11

He openly shows his tricks, bluffs, ruses, and feints to his trainer,

Yāni kho panassa honti sāṭheyyāni kūṭeyyāni jimheyyāni vaṅkeyyāni, tāni yathābhūtaṁ sārathissa āvikattā hoti.

1.12

so the trainer can try to subdue them.

Tesamassa sārathi abhinimmadanāya vāyamati.

1.13

He carries his load, determining:

Vāhī kho pana hoti.

1.14

‘Whether or not the other horses carry their loads, I’ll carry mine.’

‘Kāmaññe assā vahantu vā mā vā, ahamettha vahissāmī’ti cittaṁ uppādeti.

1.15

He always walks in a straight path.

Gacchanto kho pana ujumaggeneva gacchati.

1.16

He’s strong, and stays strong even until death.

Thāmavā hoti yāva jīvitamaraṇapariyādānā thāmaṁ upadaṁsetā.

1.17

A fine royal thoroughbred with these eight factors is worthy of a king. …

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi aṅgehi samannāgato rañño bhaddo assājānīyo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhaṁ gacchati.

2.1

In the same way, a bhikkhu with eight qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa.

2.2

What eight?

Katamehi aṭṭhahi?

2.3

It’s when a bhikkhu is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.

2.4

Whatever food they’re given,

Yaṁ kho panassa bhojanaṁ denti—

2.5

coarse or fine,

lūkhaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā—

2.6

they eat carefully, without annoyance.

taṁ sakkaccaṁyeva paribhuñjati avihaññamāno.

2.7

They're disgusted with bad conduct by way of body, speech, or mind,

Jegucchī hoti kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena;

2.8

and by attainment of the many kinds of unskillful things.

jegucchī hoti anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā.

2.9

They're sweet-natured and pleasant to live with, and they doesn’t upset the other bhikkhū.

Sorato hoti sukhasaṁvāso, na aññe bhikkhū ubbejetā.

2.10

They openly show their tricks, bluffs, ruses, and feints to their sensible spiritual companions,

Yāni kho panassa honti sāṭheyyāni kūṭeyyāni jimheyyāni vaṅkeyyāni, tāni yathābhūtaṁ āvikattā hoti satthari vā viññūsu vā sabrahmacārīsu.

2.11

so they can try to subdue them.

Tesamassa satthā vā viññū vā sabrahmacārī abhinimmadanāya vāyamati.

2.12

They do their training, determining:

Sikkhitā kho pana hoti.

2.13

‘Whether or not the other bhikkhū do their training, I’ll do mine.’

‘Kāmaññe bhikkhū sikkhantu vā mā vā, ahamettha sikkhissāmī’ti cittaṁ uppādeti.

2.14

They always walk in a straight path.

Gacchanto kho pana ujumaggeneva gacchati;

2.15

And here the straight path is

tatrāyaṁ ujumaggo, seyyathidaṁ—

2.16

right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samādhi.

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

2.17

They’re energetic:

Āraddhavīriyo viharati:

2.18

‘Gladly, let my skin, sinews, and bones remain! Let the blood and flesh waste away in my body! I will not stop trying until I have achieved what is possible by human strength, energy, and vigor.’

‘kāmaṁ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu, sarīre upassussatu maṁsalohitaṁ; yaṁ taṁ purisathāmena purisavīriyena purisaparakkamena pattabbaṁ, na taṁ apāpuṇitvā vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṁ bhavissatī’ti.

2.19

A bhikkhu with these eight qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.”

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

2.20

Tatiyaṁ.