A River · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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⚠ Glossing did not finish. The original text is shown below.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso nadiyā sotena ovuyheyya piyarūpasātarūpena. Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito disvā evaṁ vadeyya: ‘kiñcāpi kho tvaṁ, ambho purisa, nadiyā sotena ovuyhasi piyarūpasātarūpena, atthi cettha heṭṭhā rahado saūmi sāvaṭṭo sagaho sarakkhaso yaṁ tvaṁ, ambho purisa, rahadaṁ pāpuṇitvā maraṇaṁ vā nigacchasi maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan’ti. Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso tassa purisassa saddaṁ sutvā hatthehi ca pādehi ca paṭisotaṁ vāyameyya.
“Suppose a person was being carried along by a river current that seemed nice and pleasant. If a person with clear eyes saw them, they’d say: ‘My man, even though the river current carrying you along seems nice and pleasant, downstream there is a lake with waves and whirlpools, saltwater crocodiles and monsters. When you reach there it will result in death or deadly pain.’ Then, when they heard what was said, they’d paddle against the stream using their hands and feet.
Upamā kho me ayaṁ, bhikkhave, katā atthassa viññāpanāya. Ayañcettha attho: ‘nadiyā soto’ti kho, bhikkhave, taṇhāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
I’ve made up this simile to make a point. And this is the point. ‘River current’ is a term for craving.
‘Piyarūpaṁ sātarūpan’ti kho, bhikkhave, channetaṁ ajjhattikānaṁ āyatanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Seeming nice and pleasant’ is a term for the six interior sense fields.
‘Heṭṭhā rahado’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘A downstream lake’ is a term for the five lower fetters.
‘Ūmibhayan’ti kho, bhikkhave, kodhupāyāsassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Danger of waves’ is a term for anger and distress.
‘Āvaṭṭan’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Whirlpool’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.
‘Gaharakkhaso’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Saltwater crocodiles and monsters’ is a term for ladies.
‘Paṭisoto’ti kho, bhikkhave, nekkhammassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Against the stream’ is a term for renunciation.
‘Hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyāmo’ti kho, bhikkhave, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.
‘Paddling with hands and feet’ is a term for rousing energy.
‘Cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito’ti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
‘A person with clear eyes’ is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:
“Sahāpi dukkhena jaheyya kāme, Yogakkhemaṁ āyatiṁ patthayāno; Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto, Vimuttiyā phassaye tattha tattha; Sa vedagū vūsitabrahmacariyo, Lokantagū pāragatoti vuccatī”ti.
“In pain they’d give up sensual pleasures, aspiring to the future sanctuary from the yoke. With deep understanding and heart well freed, they’d experience universal liberation. That knowledge master who has completed the spiritual journey, and gone to the end of the world, is called ‘one who has gone beyond’.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti. Dasamaṁ.
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.
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