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Linked Discourses 56.62 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.62

7. Abbreviated Texts on Raw Grain – 7. Paṭhamaāmakadhaññapeyyālavagga

SN 56.62 In the Borderlands – Paccantasutta

 

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 certainly more. The little bit of dirt under your fingernail is tiny.

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ—mahāpathavī; appamattakāyaṁ bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito.

Compared to the great earth, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction.”

Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya bhagavatā paritto nakhasikhāyaṁ paṁsu āropito”ti.

“In the same way, the sentient beings reborn in central countries are few, while those reborn in the borderlands, among strange barbarian tribes, are many. …”

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, appamattakā te sattā ye majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva bahutarā sattā ye paccantimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti aviññātāresu milakkhesu …pe….