AN 10 The Book of the Tens – Dasakanipāta > AN 10.45 Entering a Royal Harem

Numbered Discourses 10.45 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.45

5. Abuse – 5. Akkosavagga

AN 10.45 Entering a Royal Harem – Rājantepurappavesanasutta

1.1

“Bhikkhū, there are ten drawbacks to entering a royal harem.

“Dasayime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā rājantepurappavesane.

1.2

What ten?

Katame dasa?

1.3

Firstly, a king is sitting with his chief queen

Idha, bhikkhave, rājā mahesiyā saddhiṁ nisinno hoti.

1.4

when a monk enters.

Tatra bhikkhu pavisati.

1.5

When the queen sees the monk she smiles, or when the monk sees the queen he smiles.

Mahesī vā bhikkhuṁ disvā sitaṁ pātukaroti, bhikkhu vā mahesiṁ disvā sitaṁ pātukaroti.

1.6

So the king thinks:

Tattha rañño evaṁ hoti:

1.7

‘They’ve done it for sure, or they will do it.’

‘addhā imesaṁ kataṁ vā karissanti vā’ti.

1.8

This is the first drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

2.1

Furthermore, a king has many duties, and much to do. He has sex with one of the women but doesn’t remember.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā bahukicco bahukaraṇīyo aññataraṁ itthiṁ gantvā na sarati:

2.2

She gets pregnant from that.

‘sā tena gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti’.

2.3

So the king thinks:

Tattha rañño evaṁ hoti:

2.4

‘No-one else has entered here, except for that monk.

‘na kho idha añño koci pavisati, aññatra pabbajitena.

2.5

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

2.6

This is the second drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

3.1

Furthermore, a gem is lost somewhere in the royal harem.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepure aññataraṁ ratanaṁ nassati.

3.2

So the king thinks:

Tattha rañño evaṁ hoti:

3.3

‘No-one else has entered here, except for that monk.

‘na kho idha añño koci pavisati, aññatra pabbajitena.

3.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

3.5

This is the third drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

4.1

Furthermore, secret deliberations in the royal harem are leaked outside.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepure abbhantarā guyhamantā bahiddhā sambhedaṁ gacchanti.

4.2

So the king thinks:

Tattha rañño evaṁ hoti:

4.3

‘No-one else has entered here, except for that monk.

‘na kho idha añño koci pavisati, aññatra pabbajitena.

4.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

4.5

This is the fourth drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

5.1

Furthermore, in a royal harem, a father longs for their son, or a son longs for his father.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepure pitā vā puttaṁ pattheti putto vā pitaraṁ pattheti.

5.2

They think:

Tesaṁ evaṁ hoti:

5.3

‘No-one else has entered here, except for that monk.

‘na kho idha añño koci pavisati, aññatra pabbajitena.

5.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

5.5

This is the fifth drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

6.1

Furthermore, the king promotes someone to a higher position.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā nīcaṭṭhāniyaṁ ucce ṭhāne ṭhapeti.

6.2

Those who are upset by this think:

Yesaṁ taṁ amanāpaṁ tesaṁ evaṁ hoti:

6.3

‘The king is close to that monk.

‘rājā kho pabbajitena saṁsaṭṭho.

6.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

6.5

This is the sixth drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

7.1

Furthermore, the king demotes someone to a lower position.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā uccaṭṭhāniyaṁ nīce ṭhāne ṭhapeti.

7.2

Those who are upset by this think:

Yesaṁ taṁ amanāpaṁ tesaṁ evaṁ hoti:

7.3

‘The king is close to that monk.

‘rājā kho pabbajitena saṁsaṭṭho.

7.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

7.5

This is the seventh drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

8.1

Furthermore, the king dispatches the army at the wrong time.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā akāle senaṁ uyyojeti.

8.2

Those who are upset by this think:

Yesaṁ taṁ amanāpaṁ tesaṁ evaṁ hoti:

8.3

‘The king is close to that monk.

‘rājā kho pabbajitena saṁsaṭṭho.

8.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

8.5

This is the eighth drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

9.1

Furthermore, the king dispatches the army at the right time, but orders it to turn back while still on the road.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā kāle senaṁ uyyojetvā antarāmaggato nivattāpeti.

9.2

Those who are upset by this think:

Yesaṁ taṁ amanāpaṁ tesaṁ evaṁ hoti:

9.3

‘The king is close to that monk.

‘rājā kho pabbajitena saṁsaṭṭho.

9.4

Could this be the monk’s doing?’

Siyā nu kho pabbajitassa kamman’ti.

9.5

This is the ninth drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, navamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

10.1

Furthermore, in the royal harem there is a trampling of elephants, horses, and chariots, as well as arousing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches that do not befit a monk.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepuraṁ hatthisammaddaṁ assasammaddaṁ rathasammaddaṁ rajanīyāni rūpasaddagandharasaphoṭṭhabbāni, yāni na pabbajitassa sāruppāni.

10.2

This is the tenth drawback of entering a royal harem.

Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dasamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.

10.3

These are the ten drawbacks of entering a royal harem.”

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dasa ādīnavā rājantepurappavesane”ti.

10.4

Pañcamaṁ.