AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.44 With Vāseṭṭha on the Sabbath

Numbered Discourses 8.44 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.44

5. Sabbath – 5. Uposathavagga

AN 8.44 With Vāseṭṭha on the Sabbath – Vāseṭṭhasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

1.2

Then the layman Vāseṭṭha went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

Atha kho vāseṭṭho upāsako yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho vāseṭṭhaṁ upāsakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

1.3

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

“aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato, vāseṭṭha, uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti …pe…

1.4

blameless, they go to a heavenly place.”

aninditā saggamupenti ṭhānan”ti.

2.1

When he said this, Vāseṭṭha said to the Buddha:

Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭho upāsako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.2

“If my loved ones—relatives and kin—were to observe this sabbath with its eight factors, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness.

“piyā me, bhante, ñātisālohitā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, piyānampi me assa ñātisālohitānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

2.3

If all the aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, and workers were to observe this sabbath with its eight factors, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”

Sabbe cepi, bhante, khattiyā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, sabbesampissa khattiyānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya. Sabbe cepi, bhante, brāhmaṇā …pe… vessā … suddā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, sabbesampissa suddānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

3.1

“That’s so true, Vāseṭṭha! That’s so true, Vāseṭṭha!

“Evametaṁ, vāseṭṭha, evametaṁ, vāseṭṭha.

3.2

If all the aristocrats, brahmins, merchants, and workers were to observe this sabbath with its eight factors, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness.

Sabbe cepi, vāseṭṭha, khattiyā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, sabbesampissa khattiyānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya. Sabbe cepi, vāseṭṭha, brāhmaṇā …pe… vessā … suddā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, sabbesampissa suddānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

3.3

If the whole world—with its gods, Māras and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—were to observe this sabbath with its eight factors, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness.

Sadevako cepi, vāseṭṭha, loko samārako sabrahmako sassamaṇabrāhmaṇī pajā sadevamanussā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, sadevakassapissa lokassa samārakassa sabrahmakassa sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.

3.4

If these great sal trees were to observe this sabbath with its eight factors, it would be for their lasting welfare and happiness—if they were sentient.

Ime cepi, vāseṭṭha, mahāsālā aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgataṁ uposathaṁ upavaseyyuṁ, imesampissa mahāsālānaṁ dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya (…).

3.5

How much more then a human being!”

Ko pana vādo manussabhūtassā”ti.

3.6

Catutthaṁ.