SN 12-21 The Group of Connected Discourses Beginning With Causation – Nidānavaggasaṁyutta > SN 13 Connected Discourses on Comprehension – Abhisamayasaṁyutta > SN 13.1 A Fingernail

Linked Discourses 13.1 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 13.1

1. Comprehension – 1. Abhisamayavagga

SN 13.1 A Fingernail – Nakhasikhāsutta

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Then the Buddha, picking up a little bit of dirt under his fingernail, addressed the bhikkhū:

Atha kho bhagavā parittaṁ nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsuṁ āropetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

“What do you think, bhikkhū?

“Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

Which is more: the little bit of dirt under my fingernail, or this great earth?”

katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yo vāyaṁ mayā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito, ayaṁ vā mahāpathavī”ti?

“Sir, the great earth is far more.

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ mahāpathavī.

The little bit of dirt under your fingernail is tiny.

Appamattako bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito.

Compared to the great earth, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part.”

Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upeti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upeti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upeti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito”ti.

“In the same way, for a noble disciple accomplished in view, a person with comprehension, the suffering that’s over and done with is more,

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa diṭṭhisampannassa puggalassa abhisametāvino etadeva bahutaraṁ dukkhaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ;

what’s left is tiny.

appamattakaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ.

Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that’s over and done with, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part, since there are at most seven more lives.

Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upeti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upeti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upeti purimaṁ dukkhakkhandhaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ upanidhāya yadidaṁ sattakkhattuṁparamatā.

That’s how very beneficial it is to comprehend the teaching

Evaṁ mahatthiyo kho, bhikkhave, dhammābhisamayo;

and gain the vision of the teaching.”

evaṁ mahatthiyo dhammacakkhupaṭilābho”ti.