AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.43 With Visākhā on the Sabbath

Numbered Discourses 8.43 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.43

5. Sabbath – 5. Uposathavagga

AN 8.43 With Visākhā on the Sabbath – Visākhāsutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Eastern Monastery, the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

1.2

Then Visākhā, Migāra’s mother, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to her:

Atha kho visākhā migāramātā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho visākhaṁ migāramātaraṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

1.3

“Visākhā, the observance of the sabbath with its eight factors is very fruitful and beneficial and splendid and bountiful.

“aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato kho, visākhe, uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro.

1.4

And how should it be observed?

Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, visākhe, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro?

1.5

It’s when a noble disciple reflects:

Idha, visākhe, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati:

1.6

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They are scrupulous and kind, and live full of compassion for all living beings.

‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti.

1.7

I, too, for this day and night will give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. I’ll be scrupulous and kind, and live full of compassion for all living beings.

Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi.

1.8

I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’

Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti.

1.9

This is its first factor. …

Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti …pe….

2.1

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up high and luxurious beds. They sleep in a low place, either a small bed or a straw mat.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappenti—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā.

2.2

I, too, for this day and night will give up high and luxurious beds. I’ll sleep in a low place, either a small bed or a straw mat.

Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemi—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā.

2.3

I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’

Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti.

2.4

This is its eighth factor.

Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

2.5

The observance of the sabbath with its eight factors in this way is very fruitful and beneficial and splendid and bountiful.

Evaṁ upavuttho kho, visākhe, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro.

3.1

How much so?

Kīvamahapphalo hoti, kīvamahānisaṁso, kīvamahājutiko, kīvamahāvipphāro?

3.2

Suppose you were to rule as sovereign lord over these sixteen great countries—Aṅga, Magadha, Kāsī, Kosala, Vajjī, Malla, Ceti, Vaṅga, Kuru, Pañcāla, Maccha, Sūrusena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhāra, and Kamboja—full of the seven kinds of precious things.

Seyyathāpi, visākhe, yo imesaṁ soḷasannaṁ mahājanapadānaṁ pahūtarattaratanānaṁ issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreyya, seyyathidaṁ—

3.3

This wouldn’t be worth a sixteenth part of the sabbath with its eight factors.

aṅgānaṁ magadhānaṁ kāsīnaṁ kosalānaṁ vajjīnaṁ mallānaṁ cetīnaṁ vaṅgānaṁ kurūnaṁ pañcālānaṁ macchānaṁ sūrasenānaṁ assakānaṁ avantīnaṁ gandhārānaṁ kambojānaṁ, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgatassa uposathassa etaṁ kalaṁ nāgghati soḷasiṁ.

3.4

Why is that?

Taṁ kissa hetu?

3.5

Because human kingship is a poor thing compared to the happiness of the gods.

Kapaṇaṁ, visākhe, mānusakaṁ rajjaṁ dibbaṁ sukhaṁ upanidhāya.

4.1

Fifty years in the human realm is one day and night for the Gods of the Four Great Kings.

Yāni, visākhe, mānusakāni paññāsa vassāni, cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ eso eko rattindivo.

4.2

Thirty such days make up a month.

Tāya rattiyā tiṁsarattiyo māso.

4.3

Twelve such months make up a year.

Tena māsena dvādasamāsiyo saṁvaccharo.

4.4

The life span of the Gods of the Four Great Kings is five hundred of these divine years.

Tena saṁvaccharena dibbāni pañca vassasatāni cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ.

4.5

It’s possible that a woman or man who has observed the eight-factored sabbath will—when their body breaks up, after death—be reborn in the company of the Gods of the Four Great Kings.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, visākhe, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco itthī vā puriso vā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavasitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā cātumahārājikānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyya.

4.6

This is what I was referring to when I said:

Idaṁ kho panetaṁ, visākhe, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

4.7

‘Human kingship is a poor thing compared to the happiness of the gods.’

‘kapaṇaṁ mānusakaṁ rajjaṁ dibbaṁ sukhaṁ upanidhāya’.

5.1

A hundred years in the human realm is one day and night for the Gods of the Thirty-Three.

Yaṁ, visākhe, mānusakaṁ vassasataṁ, tāvatiṁsānaṁ devānaṁ eso eko rattindivo.

5.2

Thirty such days make up a month.

Tāya rattiyā tiṁsarattiyo māso.

5.3

Twelve such months make up a year.

Tena māsena dvādasamāsiyo saṁvaccharo.

5.4

The life span of the Gods of the Thirty-Three is a thousand of these divine years.

Tena saṁvaccharena vassasahassaṁ tāvatiṁsānaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ.

5.5

It’s possible that a woman or man who has observed the eight-factored sabbath will—when their body breaks up, after death—be reborn in the company of the Gods of the Thirty-Three.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, visākhe, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco itthī vā puriso vā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavasitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā tāvatiṁsānaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyya.

5.6

This is what I was referring to when I said:

Idaṁ kho panetaṁ, visākhe, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

5.7

‘Human kingship is a poor thing compared to the happiness of the gods.’

‘kapaṇaṁ mānusakaṁ rajjaṁ dibbaṁ sukhaṁ upanidhāya’.

6.1

Two hundred years in the human realm …

Yāni, visākhe, mānusakāni dve vassasatāni …pe…

6.2

Four hundred years in the human realm …

cattāri vassasatāni …pe…

6.3

Eight hundred years in the human realm …

aṭṭha vassasatāni …pe…

6.4

Sixteen hundred years in the human realm is one day and night for the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others.

soḷasa vassasatāni paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ eso eko rattindivo.

6.5

Thirty such days make up a month.

Tāya rattiyā tiṁsarattiyo māso.

6.6

Twelve such months make up a year.

Tena māsena dvādasamāsiyo saṁvaccharo.

6.7

The life span of the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others is sixteen thousand of these divine years.

Tena saṁvaccharena dibbāni soḷasa vassasahassāni paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ āyuppamāṇaṁ.

6.8

It’s possible that a woman or man who has observed the eight-factored sabbath will—when their body breaks up, after death—be reborn in the company of the Gods Who Control the Creations of Others.

Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, visākhe, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco itthī vā puriso vā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavasitvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā paranimmitavasavattīnaṁ devānaṁ sahabyataṁ upapajjeyya.

6.9

This is what I was referring to when I said:

Idaṁ kho panetaṁ, visākhe, sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

6.10

‘Human kingship is a poor thing compared to the happiness of the gods.’

‘kapaṇaṁ mānusakaṁ rajjaṁ dibbaṁ sukhaṁ upanidhāyā’ti.

7.1

You shouldn’t kill living creatures, or steal,

Pāṇaṁ na haññe na cadinnamādiye,

7.2

or lie, or drink alcohol.

Musā na bhāse na ca majjapo siyā;

7.3

Be celibate, refraining from sex,

Abrahmacariyā virameyya methunā,

7.4

and don’t eat at night, the wrong time.

Rattiṁ na bhuñjeyya vikālabhojanaṁ.

8.1

Not wearing garlands or applying perfumes,

Mālaṁ na dhāre na ca gandhamācare,

8.2

you should sleep on a low bed, or a mat on the ground.

Mañce chamāyaṁ va sayetha santhate;

8.3

This is the eight-factored sabbath, they say,

Etañhi aṭṭhaṅgikamāhuposathaṁ,

8.4

explained by the Buddha, who has gone to suffering’s end.

Buddhena dukkhantagunā pakāsitaṁ.

9.1

The moon and sun are both fair to see,

Cando ca suriyo ca ubho sudassanā,

9.2

radiating as far as they revolve.

Obhāsayaṁ anupariyanti yāvatā;

9.3

Those shining ones in the sky light up the quarters,

Tamonudā te pana antalikkhagā,

9.4

dispelling the darkness as they traverse the heavens.

Nabhe pabhāsanti disāvirocanā.

10.1

All of the wealth that’s found in this realm—

Etasmiṁ yaṁ vijjati antare dhanaṁ,

10.2

pearls, gems, fine beryl too,

Muttā maṇi veḷuriyañca bhaddakaṁ;

10.3

rose-gold or pure gold,

Siṅgīsuvaṇṇaṁ atha vāpi kañcanaṁ,

10.4

or natural gold dug up by marmots—

Yaṁ jātarūpaṁ haṭakanti vuccati.

11.1

they’re not worth a sixteenth part

Aṭṭhaṅgupetassa uposathassa,

11.2

of the sabbath with its eight factors,

Kalampi te nānubhavanti soḷasiṁ;

11.3

as starlight cannot rival the moon.

Candappabhā tāragaṇā ca sabbe.

12.1

So an ethical woman or man,

Tasmā hi nārī ca naro ca sīlavā,

12.2

who has observed the eight-factored sabbath,

Aṭṭhaṅgupetaṁ upavassuposathaṁ;

12.3

having made merit whose outcome is happiness,

Puññāni katvāna sukhudrayāni,

12.4

blameless, they go to a heavenly place.”

Aninditā saggamupenti ṭhānan”ti.

12.5

Tatiyaṁ.