SN 45-56 The Group of Connected Discourses on the Path – Mahāvaggasaṁyutta > SN 47 Linked Discourses on Mindfulness Meditation – Satipaṭṭhānasaṁyutta > SN 47.6 A Hawk

Linked Discourses 47.6 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.6

1. In Ambapālī’s Wood – 1. Ambapālivagga

SN 47.6 A Hawk – Sakuṇagghisutta

“Once upon a time, bhikkhū, a hawk suddenly swooped down and grabbed a quail.

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi lāpaṁ sakuṇaṁ sahasā ajjhappattā aggahesi.

And as the quail was being carried off he wailed,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, lāpo sakuṇo sakuṇagghiyā hariyamāno evaṁ paridevasi:

‘I’m so unlucky, so unfortunate, to have roamed out of my territory into the domain of others.

‘mayamevamha alakkhikā, mayaṁ appapuññā, ye mayaṁ agocare carimha paravisaye.

If today I’d roamed within my own territory, the domain of my fathers, this hawk wouldn’t have been able to beat me by fighting.’

Sacejja mayaṁ gocare careyyāma sake pettike visaye, na myāyaṁ, sakuṇagghi, alaṁ abhavissa, yadidaṁ—yuddhāyā’ti.

‘So, quail, what is your own territory, the domain of your fathers?’

‘Ko pana te, lāpa, gocaro sako pettiko visayo’ti?

‘It’s a ploughed field covered with clods of earth.’

‘Yadidaṁ—naṅgalakaṭṭhakaraṇaṁ leḍḍuṭṭhānan’ti.

Confident in her own strength, the hawk was not daunted or intimidated. She released the quail, saying,

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi sake bale apatthaddhā sake bale asaṁvadamānā lāpaṁ sakuṇaṁ pamuñci:

‘Go now, quail. But even there you won’t escape me!’

‘gaccha kho tvaṁ, lāpa, tatrapi me gantvā na mokkhasī’ti.

Then the quail went to a ploughed field covered with clods of earth. He climbed up a big clod, and standing there, he said to the hawk:

Atha kho, bhikkhave, lāpo sakuṇo naṅgalakaṭṭhakaraṇaṁ leḍḍuṭṭhānaṁ gantvā mahantaṁ leḍḍuṁ abhiruhitvā sakuṇagghiṁ vadamāno aṭṭhāsi:

‘Come get me, hawk! Come get me, hawk!’

‘ehi kho dāni me, sakuṇagghi, ehi kho dāni me, sakuṇagghī’ti.

Confident in her own strength, the hawk was not daunted or intimidated. She folded her wings and suddenly swooped down on the quail.

Atha kho sā, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi sake bale apatthaddhā sake bale asaṁvadamānā ubho pakkhe sannayha lāpaṁ sakuṇaṁ sahasā ajjhappattā.

When the quail knew that the hawk was nearly there, he slipped under that clod.

Yadā kho, bhikkhave, aññāsi lāpo sakuṇo ‘bahuāgato kho myāyaṁ sakuṇagghī’ti, atha tasseva leḍḍussa antaraṁ paccupādi.

But the hawk crashed chest-first right there.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi tattheva uraṁ paccatāḷesi.

That’s what happens when you roam out of your territory into the domain of others.

Evañhi taṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yo agocare carati paravisaye.

So, bhikkhū, don’t roam out of your own territory into the domain of others.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, mā agocare carittha paravisaye.

If you roam out of your own territory into the domain of others, Māra will find a vulnerability and get hold of you.

Agocare, bhikkhave, carataṁ paravisaye lacchati māro otāraṁ, lacchati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

And what is not a bhikkhu’s own territory but the domain of others?

Ko ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno agocaro paravisayo?

It’s the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Yadidaṁ—pañca kāmaguṇā.

What five?

Katame pañca?

Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā,

Sounds known by the ear …

sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe…

Smells known by the nose …

ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …pe…

Tastes known by the tongue …

jivhāviññeyyā rasā …pe…

Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā—

This is not a bhikkhu’s own territory but the domain of others.

ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno agocaro paravisayo.

You should roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers.

Gocare, bhikkhave, caratha sake pettike visaye.

If you roam inside your own territory, the domain of your fathers, Māra won’t find a vulnerability or get hold of you.

Gocare, bhikkhave, carataṁ sake pettike visaye na lacchati māro otāraṁ, na lacchati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

And what is a bhikkhu’s own territory, the domain of the fathers?

Ko ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno gocaro sako pettiko visayo?

Yadidaṁ—

It’s the four kinds of mindfulness meditation.

cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

What four?

Katame cattāro?

It’s when a bhikkhu meditates by observing an aspect of the body—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ;

They meditate observing an aspect of feelings …

vedanāsu …pe…

mind …

citte …pe…

principles—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ—

This is a bhikkhu’s own territory, the domain of the fathers.”

ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno gocaro sako pettiko visayo”ti.