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Linked Discourses 35.240 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.240
19. The Simile of the Vipers – 19. Āsīvisavagga
SN 35.240 The Simile of the Tortoise – Kummopamasutta
“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, a tortoise was grazing along the bank of a river in the afternoon.
“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, kummo kacchapo sāyanhasamayaṁ anunadītīre gocarapasuto ahosi.
At the same time, a jackal was also hunting along the river bank.
Siṅgālopi kho, bhikkhave, sāyanhasamayaṁ anunadītīre gocarapasuto ahosi.
The tortoise saw the jackal off in the distance hunting,
Addasā kho, bhikkhave, kummo kacchapo siṅgālaṁ dūratova gocarapasutaṁ.
so it drew its limbs and neck inside its shell, and kept passive and silent.
Disvāna soṇḍipañcamāni aṅgāni sake kapāle samodahitvā appossukko tuṇhībhūto saṅkasāyati.
But the jackal also saw the tortoise off in the distance grazing.
Siṅgālopi kho, bhikkhave, addasa kummaṁ kacchapaṁ dūratova gocarapasutaṁ.
So it went up to the tortoise and waiting nearby, thinking,
Disvāna yena kummo kacchapo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā kummaṁ kacchapaṁ paccupaṭṭhito ahosi:
‘When that tortoise sticks one or other of its limbs or neck out from its shell, I’ll grab it right there, rip it out, and eat it!’
‘yadāyaṁ kummo kacchapo soṇḍipañcamānaṁ aṅgānaṁ aññataraṁ vā aññataraṁ vā aṅgaṁ abhininnāmessati, tattheva naṁ gahetvā uddālitvā khādissāmī’ti.
But when that tortoise didn’t stick one or other of its limbs or neck out from its shell, the jackal left disappointed, since it couldn’t find a vulnerability.
Yadā kho, bhikkhave, kummo kacchapo soṇḍipañcamānaṁ aṅgānaṁ aññataraṁ vā aññataraṁ vā aṅgaṁ na abhininnāmi, atha siṅgālo kummamhā nibbijja pakkāmi, otāraṁ alabhamāno.
In the same way, Māra the Wicked is always waiting nearby, thinking:
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, tumhepi māro pāpimā satataṁ samitaṁ paccupaṭṭhito:
‘Hopefully I can find a vulnerability in the eye,
‘appeva nāmāhaṁ imesaṁ cakkhuto vā otāraṁ labheyyaṁ …pe…
ear, nose, tongue, body, or
jivhāto vā otāraṁ labheyyaṁ …pe…
mind.’
manato vā otāraṁ labheyyan’ti.
That’s why you should live with sense doors guarded.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, indriyesu guttadvārā viharatha.
When you see a sight with your eyes, don’t get caught up in the features and details.
Cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā mā nimittaggāhino ahuvattha, mā anubyañjanaggāhino.
If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving its restraint.
Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjatha, rakkhatha cakkhundriyaṁ, cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjatha.
When you hear a sound with your ears …
Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …
When you smell an odor with your nose …
ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …
When you taste a flavor with your tongue …
jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …
When you feel a touch with your body …
kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …
When you know a thought with your mind, don’t get caught up in the features and details.
manasā dhammaṁ viññāya mā nimittaggāhino ahuvattha, mā anubyañjanaggāhino.
If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of desire and aversion would become overwhelming. For this reason, practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving its restraint.
Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjatha, rakkhatha manindriyaṁ, manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjatha.
When you live with your sense doors restrained, Māra will leave you disappointed, since he can’t find a vulnerability,
Yato tumhe, bhikkhave, indriyesu guttadvārā viharissatha, atha tumhehipi māro pāpimā nibbijja pakkamissati, otāraṁ alabhamāno—
just like the jackal left the tortoise.
kummamhāva siṅgāloti.
A bhikkhu should collect their thoughts
Kummova aṅgāni sake kapāle,
as a tortoise draws its limbs into its shell.
Samodahaṁ bhikkhu manovitakke;
Independent, not disturbing others,
Anissito aññamaheṭhayāno,
someone who’s extinguished wouldn’t blame anyone.”
Parinibbuto nūpavadeyya kañcī”ti.