AN 9 The Book of the Nines – Navakanipāta > AN 9.11 Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar

Numbered Discourses 9.11 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.11

2. The Lion’s Roar – 2. Sīhanādavagga

AN 9.11 Sāriputta’s Lion’s Roar – Sīhanādasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2

Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

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

1.3

“Sir, I have completed the rainy season residence at Sāvatthī.

“vuttho me, bhante, sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāso.

1.4

I wish to depart to wander the countryside.”

Icchāmahaṁ, bhante, janapadacārikaṁ pakkamitun”ti.

1.5

“Please, Sāriputta, go at your convenience.”

“Yassadāni tvaṁ, sāriputta, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.

1.6

Then Sāriputta got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

1.7

And then, not long after Sāriputta had left, a certain monk said to the Buddha,

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu acirapakkante āyasmante sāriputte bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.8

“Sir, Venerable Sāriputta attacked me and left without saying sorry.”

“āyasmā maṁ, bhante, sāriputto āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkanto”ti.

1.9

So the Buddha addressed a certain monk,

Atha kho bhagavā aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ āmantesi:

1.10

“Please, monk, in my name tell Sāriputta that

“ehi tvaṁ, bhikkhu, mama vacanena sāriputtaṁ āmantehi:

1.11

the teacher summons him.”

‘satthā taṁ, āvuso sāriputta, āmantetī’”ti.

1.12

“Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Sāriputta and said to him,

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho so bhikkhu bhagavato paṭissutvā yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

1.13

“Reverend Sāriputta, the teacher summons you.”

“satthā taṁ, āvuso sāriputta, āmantetī”ti.

1.14

“Yes, reverend,” Sāriputta replied.

“Evamāvuso”ti kho āyasmā sāriputto tassa bhikkhuno paccassosi.

2.1

Now at that time the venerables Mahāmoggallāna and Ānanda took a key and went from dwelling to dwelling, saying:

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā ca mahāmoggallāno āyasmā ca ānando avāpuraṇaṁ ādāya vihāre āhiṇḍanti:

2.2

“Come forth, venerables! Come forth, venerables!

“abhikkamathāyasmanto, abhikkamathāyasmanto.

2.3

Now Venerable Sāriputta will roar his lion’s roar in the presence of the Buddha!”

Idānāyasmā sāriputto bhagavato sammukhā sīhanādaṁ nadissatī”ti.

2.4

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

Atha kho āyasmā sāriputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

2.5

“Sāriputta, one of your spiritual companions has made this complaint:

“idha te, sāriputta, aññataro sabrahmacārī khīyanadhammaṁ āpanno:

2.6

‘Venerable Sāriputta attacked me and left without saying sorry.’”

‘āyasmā maṁ, bhante, sāriputto āsajja appaṭinissajjacārikaṁ pakkanto’”ti.

3.1

“Sir, someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

“Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

4.1

Suppose they were to toss both clean and unclean things on the earth, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The earth isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, pathaviyaṁ sucimpi nikkhipanti asucimpi nikkhipanti gūthagatampi nikkhipanti muttagatampi nikkhipanti kheḷagatampi nikkhipanti pubbagatampi nikkhipanti lohitagatampi nikkhipanti, na ca tena pathavī aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;

4.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like the earth, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, pathavīsamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

4.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

5.1

Suppose they were to wash both clean and unclean things in water, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The water isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, āpasmiṁ sucimpi dhovanti asucimpi dhovanti gūthagatampi … muttagatampi … kheḷagatampi … pubbagatampi … lohitagatampi dhovanti, na ca tena āpo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;

5.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like water, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, āposamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

5.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

6.1

Suppose a fire was to burn both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The fire isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, tejo sucimpi ḍahati asucimpi ḍahati gūthagatampi … muttagatampi … kheḷagatampi … pubbagatampi … lohitagatampi ḍahati, na ca tena tejo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;

6.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like fire, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, tejosamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

6.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

7.1

Suppose the wind was to blow on both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The wind isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, vāyo sucimpi upavāyati asucimpi upavāyati gūthagatampi … muttagatampi … kheḷagatampi … pubbagatampi … lohitagatampi upavāyati, na ca tena vāyo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;

7.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like the wind, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, vāyosamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

7.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

8.1

Suppose a rag was to wipe up both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The rag isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, rajoharaṇaṁ sucimpi puñchati asucimpi puñchati gūthagatampi … muttagatampi … kheḷagatampi … pubbagatampi … lohitagatampi puñchati, na ca tena rajoharaṇaṁ aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā;

8.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like a rag, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, rajoharaṇasamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

8.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

9.1

Suppose an outcaste boy or girl, holding a pot and clad in rags, were to enter a town or village. They’d enter with a humble mind.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, caṇḍālakumārako vā caṇḍālakumārikā vā kaḷopihattho nantakavāsī gāmaṁ vā nigamaṁ vā pavisanto nīcacittaṁyeva upaṭṭhapetvā pavisati;

9.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like an outcaste boy or girl, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, caṇḍālakumārakacaṇḍālakumārikāsamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

9.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

10.1

Suppose there was a bull with his horns cut, gentle, well tamed and well trained. He’d wander from street to street and square to square without hurting anyone with his feet or horns.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, usabho chinnavisāṇo sūrato sudanto suvinīto rathiyāya rathiyaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ anvāhiṇḍanto na kiñci hiṁsati pādena vā visāṇena vā;

10.2

In the same way, I live with a heart like a bull with horns cut, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, usabhachinnavisāṇasamena cetasā viharāmi vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyāpajjena.

10.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

11.1

Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and had bathed their head. If the corpse of a snake or a dog or a human were hung around their neck, they’d be horrified, repelled, and disgusted.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, itthī vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko sīsaṁnhāto ahikuṇapena vā kukkurakuṇapena vā manussakuṇapena vā kaṇṭhe āsattena aṭṭīyeyya harāyeyya jiguccheyya;

11.2

In the same way, I’m horrified, repelled, and disgusted by this rotten body.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, iminā pūtikāyena aṭṭīyāmi harāyāmi jigucchāmi.

11.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyya.

12.1

Suppose someone was to carry around a bowl of fat that was leaking and oozing from holes and cracks.

Seyyathāpi, bhante, puriso medakathālikaṁ parihareyya chiddāvachiddaṁ uggharantaṁ paggharantaṁ;

12.2

In the same way, I carry around this body that’s leaking and oozing from holes and cracks.

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, imaṁ kāyaṁ pariharāmi chiddāvachiddaṁ uggharantaṁ paggharantaṁ.

12.3

Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.”

Yassa nūna, bhante, kāye kāyagatāsati anupaṭṭhitā assa, so idha aññataraṁ sabrahmacāriṁ āsajja appaṭinissajja cārikaṁ pakkameyyā”ti.

13.1

Then that monk rose from his seat, placed his robe over one shoulder, bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet, and said,

Atha kho so bhikkhu uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhagavato pādesu sirasā nipatitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

13.2

“I have made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to speak ill of Venerable Sāriputta with a false, hollow, lying, untruthful claim.

“accayo maṁ, bhante, accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo ahaṁ āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ asatā tucchā musā abhūtena abbhācikkhiṁ.

13.3

Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I will restrain myself in future.”

Tassa me, bhante, bhagavā accayaṁ accayato paṭiggaṇhatu āyatiṁ saṁvarāyā”ti.

13.4

“Indeed, monk, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to act in that way.

“Taggha taṁ, bhikkhu, accayo accagamā yathābālaṁ yathāmūḷhaṁ yathāakusalaṁ, yo tvaṁ sāriputtaṁ asatā tucchā musā abhūtena abbhācikkhi.

13.5

But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it.

Yato ca kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikarosi, taṁ te mayaṁ paṭiggaṇhāma.

13.6

For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future.”

Vuḍḍhihesā, bhikkhu, ariyassa vinaye yo accayaṁ accayato disvā yathādhammaṁ paṭikaroti āyatiṁ saṁvaraṁ āpajjatī”ti.

14.1

Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta,

Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ āmantesi:

14.2

“Sāriputta, forgive that silly man before his head explodes into seven pieces right here.”

“khama, sāriputta, imassa moghapurisassa, purā tassa tattheva sattadhā muddhā phalatī”ti.

14.3

“I will pardon that venerable if he asks me:

“Khamāmahaṁ, bhante, tassa āyasmato sace maṁ so āyasmā evamāha:

14.4

‘May the venerable please pardon me too.’”

‘khamatu ca me so āyasmā’”ti.

14.5

Paṭhamaṁ.