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Majjhima Nikāya 101

Devadahasutta

At Devadaha · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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just asSeyyathāpi, monksbhikkhave, a fletcherusukāro an arrow shafttejanaṁ between twodvīsu firebrandsalātesu heatsātāpeti thoroughly heatsparitāpeti straightujuṁ makeskaroti fit for usekammaniyaṁ.

Suppose a fletcher was heating an arrow shaft between two firebrands, making it straight and fit for use.

whenYato indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, of the fletcherusukārassa the arrow-shafttejanaṁ on twodvīsu firebrandsalātesu heatedātāpitaṁ ishoti thoroughly heatedparitāpitaṁ straightujuṁ madekataṁ fit for usekammaniyaṁ, notna heso ittaṁ lateraparena timesamayena the fletcherusukāro the arrow-shafttejanaṁ on twodvīsu firebrandsalātesu heatsātāpeti thoroughly heatsparitāpeti straightujuṁ makeskaroti fit for usekammaniyaṁ.
thatTaṁ of whatkissa reasonhetu?
for whichYassa indeedhi heso, monksbhikkhave, for the purposeatthāya the fletcherusukāro the arrow-shafttejanaṁ on twodvīsu firebrandsalātesu would heatātāpeyya would thoroughly heatparitāpeyya straightujuṁ would makekareyya fit for usekammaniyaṁ for him thatsvāssa purposeattho accomplishedabhinipphanno ishoti.
thereforeTasmā notna lateraparena timesamayena the fletcherusukāro the arrow-shafttejanaṁ on twodvīsu firebrandsalātesu heatsātāpeti thoroughly heatsparitāpeti straightujuṁ makeskaroti fit for usekammaniyaṁ.
just soEvameva indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu thusiti reflectspaṭisañcikkhati:
as I please‘yathāsukhaṁ indeedkho for meme livingviharato unskillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti;
painfullydukkhāya butpana for meme myselfattānaṁ strivingpadahato unskillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā declineparihāyanti, skillfulkusalā qualitiesdhammā growabhivaḍḍhanti.
why don't IYannūnāhaṁ painfullydukkhāya myselfattānaṁ would strivepadaheyyan’ti.
heSo painfullydukkhāya himselfattānaṁ strivespadahati.

After it’s been made straight and fit for use, they’d no longer heat it to make it straight and fit for use. Why is that? Because they have accomplished the goal for which they heated it. In the same way, a mendicant reflects: ‘When I live as I please, unskillful qualities grow and skillful qualities decline. But when I strive painfully, unskillful qualities decline and skillful qualities grow. Why don’t I strive painfully?’ …

for himTassa with paindukkhāya himselfattānaṁ strivingpadahato unwholesomeakusalā statesdhammā declineparihāyanti, wholesomekusalā statesdhammā increaseabhivaḍḍhanti.
heSo notna lateraparena timesamayena with paindukkhāya himselfattānaṁ strivespadahati.
thatTaṁ of whatkissa reasonhetu?
for whichYassa indeedhi heso, monksbhikkhave, monkbhikkhu for the sakeatthāya with paindukkhāya himselfattānaṁ should strivepadaheyya for him thatsvāssa goalattho accomplishedabhinipphanno ishoti.
thereforeTasmā notna lateraparena timesamayena with paindukkhāya himselfattānaṁ strivespadahati.
thus tooEvampi, monksbhikkhave, fruitfulsaphalo exertionupakkamo ishoti, fruitfulsaphalaṁ strivingpadhānaṁ.

After some time, they no longer strive painfully. That too is how exertion and striving is fruitful.

furthermorePuna and alsocaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, hereidha a realized onetathāgato in the worldloke arisesuppajjati perfectedarahaṁ fully awakened buddhasammāsambuddho accomplished in knowledge and conductvijjācaraṇasampanno holysugato knower of the worldlokavidū supremeanuttaro guide for those fit for trainingpurisadammasārathi teachersatthā of gods and humansdevamanussānaṁ awakenedbuddho blessedbhagavā.
heSo thisimaṁ worldlokaṁ with its godssadevakaṁ with its mārassamārakaṁ with its divinitiessabrahmakaṁ with its ascetics and brahminssassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ populationpajaṁ with gods and humanssadevamanussaṁ with his own insightsayaṁ with insightabhiññā having realizedsacchikatvā makes it knownpavedeti.
heSo dhammadhammaṁ teachesdeseti good in the beginningādikalyāṇaṁ good in the middlemajjhekalyāṇaṁ good in the endpariyosānakalyāṇaṁ meaningfulsātthaṁ well-phrasedsabyañjanaṁ, entirely fullkevalaparipuṇṇaṁ pureparisuddhaṁ a spiritual practicebrahmacariyaṁ revealspakāseti.

Furthermore, a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.

thatTaṁ teachingdhammaṁ hearssuṇāti householdergahapati orvā householder's childgahapatiputto orvā in someaññatarasmiṁ orvā familykule rebornpaccājāto.
theySo thattaṁ teachingdhammaṁ having heardsutvā in the Realized Onetathāgate faithsaddhaṁ gainspaṭilabhati.
theySo with thattena gain of faithsaddhāpaṭilābhena endowedsamannāgato thusiti reflectspaṭisañcikkhati:
cramped‘sambādho life at homegharāvāso dirtyrajāpatho, wide openabbhokāso life gone forthpabbajjā.
not thisNayidaṁ easysukaraṁ homeagāraṁ for one livingajjhāvasatā utterly fullekantaparipuṇṇaṁ utterly pureekantaparisuddhaṁ like a polished shellsaṅkhalikhitaṁ spiritual lifebrahmacariyaṁ to leadcarituṁ.
why don't IYannūnāhaṁ hair and beardkesamassuṁ having shaved offohāretvā ocher robeskāsāyāni clothesvatthāni having dressed inacchādetvā from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ I might go forthpabbajeyyan’ti.
theySo after someaparena timesamayena smallappaṁ orvā fortunebhogakkhandhaṁ having given uppahāya largemahantaṁ orvā fortunebhogakkhandhaṁ having given uppahāya, smallappaṁ orvā family circleñātiparivaṭṭaṁ having given uppahāya largemahantaṁ orvā family circleñātiparivaṭṭaṁ having given uppahāya hair and beardkesamassuṁ having shaved offohāretvā ocher robeskāsāyāni clothesvatthāni having dressed inacchādetvā from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ goes forthpabbajati.

A householder hears that teaching, or a householder’s child, or someone reborn in a good family. They gain faith in the Realized One, and reflect: ‘Life at home is cramped and dirty, life gone forth is wide open. It’s not easy for someone living at home to lead the spiritual life utterly full and pure, like a polished shell. Why don’t I shave off my hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’ After some time they give up a large or small fortune, and a large or small family circle. They shave off hair and beard, dress in ocher robes, and go forth from the lay life to homelessness.

theySo thusevaṁ gone forthpabbajito beingsamāno of mendicantsbhikkhūnaṁ undertaken the training and livelihoodsikkhāsājīvasamāpanno killing living creaturespāṇātipātaṁ having given uppahāya from killingpāṇātipātā refrainingpaṭivirato ishoti rod laid downnihitadaṇḍo sword laid downnihitasattho, scrupulouslajjī kinddayāpanno full of sympathy for all living beingssabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī livesviharati.
stealingAdinnādānaṁ having given uppahāya from stealingadinnādānā refrainingpaṭivirato ishoti taking only what is givendinnādāyī expecting only what is givendinnapāṭikaṅkhī, not thievingathenena cleansucibhūtena by oneselfattanā livesviharati.
unchastityAbrahmacariyaṁ having given uppahāya chastebrahmacārī ishoti set apartārācārī refrainingvirato from the vulgar act of sexmethunā lyinggāmadhammā.
having given upMusāvādaṁ from lyingpahāya refrainingmusāvādā ispaṭivirato speaking the truthhoti sticking to the truthsaccavādī honestsaccasandho dependabletheto not deceivingpaccayiko of the worldavisaṁvādako backbitinglokassa.
speechPisuṇaṁ having given upvācaṁ from backbiting speechpahāya from backbiting speechpisuṇāya refrainingvācāya ispaṭivirato from herehoti; having heardito notsutvā therena one who tellsamutra of theseakkhātā for divisionimesaṁ therebhedāya, oramutra having heardvā notsutvā to thesena one who tellsimesaṁ of thoseakkhātā for divisionamūsaṁ thusbhedāya—iti of those who are dividedbhinnānaṁ orvā one who reconcilessandhātā of those who are unitedsahitānaṁ orvā one who supportsanuppadātā delighting in harmonysamaggārāmo loving harmonysamaggarato rejoicing in harmonysamagganandī promoting harmonysamaggakaraṇiṁ speechvācaṁ speakingbhāsitā ishoti.

Once they’ve gone forth, they take up the training and livelihood of the mendicants. They give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They’re scrupulous and kind, living full of sympathy for all living beings. They give up stealing. They take only what’s given, and expect only what’s given. They keep themselves clean by not thieving. They give up unchastity. They are chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex. They give up lying. They speak the truth and stick to the truth. They’re honest and dependable, and don’t trick the world with their words. They give up backbiting. They don’t repeat in one place what they heard in another so as to divide people against each other. Instead, they reconcile those who are divided and support those who are united, delighting in harmony, loving harmony, speaking words that promote harmony.

harshPharusaṁ speechvācaṁ having given uppahāya harshpharusāya speechvācāya abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti; whichyā thatsā speechvācā mellownelā pleasing to the earkaṇṇasukhā endearingpemanīyā going to the hearthadayaṅgamā politeporī likable to the peoplebahujanakantā agreeable to the peoplebahujanamanāpā suchtathārūpiṁ speechvācaṁ speaksbhāsitā ishoti.
talking nonsenseSamphappalāpaṁ having given uppahāya from talking nonsensesamphappalāpā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti timely speakerkālavādī truthful speakerbhūtavādī meaningful speakeratthavādī dhamma speakerdhammavādī discipline speakervinayavādī, valuablenidhānavatiṁ speechvācaṁ speaksbhāsitā at the right timekālena reasonablesāpadesaṁ succinctpariyantavatiṁ beneficialatthasaṁhitaṁ.
heSo injuring plants and seedsbījagāmabhūtagāmasamārambhā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
eating one mealEkabhattiko ishoti refraining at nightrattūparato refrainingvirato from food at the wrong timevikālabhojanā.
from seeing showsNaccagītavāditavisūkadassanā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from garlands fragrance makeup attire adornmentMālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from high and luxurious bedsUccāsayanamahāsayanā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving gold and currencyJātarūparajatapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving raw grainsĀmakadhaññapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving raw meatĀmakamaṁsapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving women and girlsItthikumārikapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving bondservantsDāsidāsapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving goats and sheepAjeḷakapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving chickens and pigsKukkuṭasūkarapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving elephants cows horses and maresHatthigavassavaḷavapaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from receiving fields and landKhettavatthupaṭiggahaṇā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from running errands and messagesDūteyyapahiṇagamanānuyogā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from buying and sellingKayavikkayā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from falsifying weights metals or measuresTulākūṭakaṁsakūṭamānakūṭā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from bribery fraud cheating and duplicityUkkoṭanavañcananikatisāciyogā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.
from mutilation murder abduction banditry plunder and violenceChedanavadhabandhanaviparāmosaālopasahasākārā abstainingpaṭivirato ishoti.

They give up harsh speech. They speak in a way that’s mellow, pleasing to the ear, endearing, going to the heart, polite, and likable and agreeable to the people. They give up talking nonsense. Their words are timely, true, and meaningful, in line with the teaching and training. They say things at the right time which are valuable, reasonable, succinct, and beneficial. They refrain from injuring plants and seeds. They eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night and food at the wrong time. They refrain from seeing shows of dancing, singing, and music. They refrain from attiring and adorning themselves with garlands, fragrance, and makeup. They refrain from high and luxurious beds. They refrain from receiving gold and currency, raw grains, raw meat, women and girls, male and female bondservants, goats and sheep, chickens and pigs, elephants, cows, horses, and mares, and fields and land. They refrain from running errands and messages; buying and selling; falsifying weights, metals, or measures; bribery, fraud, cheating, and duplicity; mutilation, murder, abduction, banditry, plunder, and violence.

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