Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 13

Mahādukkhakkhandhasutta

The Longer Discourse on the Mass of Suffering · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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whatKo andca, monksbhikkhave, of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo?
hereIdha, monksbhikkhave, a gentlemankulaputto by whichyena by a professionsippaṭṭhānena a livingjīvikaṁ earnskappeti—
ifyadi by arithmeticmuddāya ifyadi by accountinggaṇanāya ifyadi by calculatingsaṅkhānena ifyadi by farmingkasiyā ifyadi by tradevaṇijjāya ifyadi by raising cattlegorakkhena ifyadi by archeryissatthena ifyadi by government servicerājaporisena ifyadi by one of the professionssippaññatarena—
of coldsītassa facingpurakkhato of heatuṇhassa facingpurakkhato by the touch of flies and mosquitoes, wind and sun, and reptilesḍaṁsamakasavātātapasarīsapasamphassehi being hurtrissamāno by hunger and thirstkhuppipāsāya risking deathmīyamāno;
this tooayampi, monksbhikkhave, of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko, a mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho caused by sensual pleasureskāmahetu originating from sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ due to sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ of sensual pleasures onlykāmānameva becausehetu.

And what is the drawback of sensual pleasures? It’s when a gentleman earns a living by means such as arithmetic, accounting, calculating, farming, trade, raising cattle, archery, government service, or one of the professions. But they must face cold and heat, being hurt by the touch of flies, mosquitoes, wind, sun, and reptiles, and risking death from hunger and thirst. This is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

of thatTassa ifce, monksbhikkhave, clan·sonkulaputtassa thusevaṁ strivinguṭṭhahato endeavoringghaṭato exertingvāyamato thosete richesbhogā not·towards·producenābhinipphajjanti.
heSo sorrowssocati wearieskilamati lamentsparidevati breast·beatingurattāḷiṁ wailskandati, confusionsammohaṁ falls intoāpajjati:
wasted‘moghaṁ alasvata myme effortuṭṭhānaṁ, fruitlessaphalo alasvata myme endeavorvāyāmo’ti.
this tooAyampi, monksbhikkhave, sensual·pleasurekāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo apparent in this lifesandiṭṭhiko mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho sensual·causekāmahetu sensual·sourcekāmanidānaṁ sensual·groundkāmādhikaraṇaṁ just of sensual pleasureskāmānameva owing tohetu.

That gentleman might try hard, strive, and make an effort, but fail to accrue riches. If this happens, they sorrow and wail and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion, saying: ‘Oh, my hard work is wasted. My efforts are fruitless!’ This too is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

of thatTassa ifce, monksbhikkhave, of a gentlemankulaputtassa thusevaṁ trying harduṭṭhahato strivingghaṭato making an effortvāyamato thosete richesbhogā are producedabhinipphajjanti.
heSo of thosetesaṁ of richesbhogānaṁ guarding·because ofārakkhādhikaraṇaṁ paindukkhaṁ sadnessdomanassaṁ experiencespaṭisaṁvedeti:
how indeed‘kinti myme wealthbhoge not·justneva rulersrājāno might takehareyyuṁ, notna banditscorā might takehareyyuṁ, notna fireaggi might burndaheyya, notna waterudakaṁ might carry awayvaheyya, notna not·dearappiyā heirsdāyādā might takehareyyun’ti.
of thatTassa thusevaṁ protectingārakkhato wardinggopayato thosete richesbhoge rulersrājāno orvā takeharanti, banditscorā orvā takeharanti, fireaggi orvā burnsdahati, waterudakaṁ orvā carries awayvahati, not·dearappiyā orvā heirsdāyādā takeharanti.
heSo sorrowssocati wearieskilamati around·lamentparidevati breast·beatingurattāḷiṁ wailskandati, confusionsammohaṁ falls intoāpajjati:
what indeed‘yampi mineme wasahosi that·tootampi notno is notnatthī’ti.
this tooAyampi, monksbhikkhave, of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo apparent in this lifesandiṭṭhiko, suffering·massdukkhakkhandho pleasure·causekāmahetu pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ pleasure·reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ pleasures·themselveskāmānameva causehetu.

That gentleman might try hard, strive, and make an effort, and succeed in accruing riches. But they experience pain and sadness when they try to protect it, thinking: ‘How can I prevent my wealth from being taken by rulers or bandits, consumed by fire, swept away by flood, or taken by unloved heirs?’ And even though they protect it and ward it, rulers or bandits take it, or fire consumes it, or flood sweeps it away, or unloved heirs take it. They sorrow and wail and lament, beating their breast and falling into confusion: ‘What once was mine is gone.’ This too is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

againPuna furthermorecaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, sensual-pleasure·causekāmahetu sensual-pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ conditioned by sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ of-sensual-pleasures + onlykāmānameva for the sake ofhetu king·andrājānopi with kingsrājūhi fightvivadanti, aristocrat·andkhattiyāpi with aristocratskhattiyehi fightvivadanti, brahmin·andbrāhmaṇāpi with brahminsbrāhmaṇehi fightvivadanti, householder·andgahapatīpi with householdersgahapatīhi fightvivadanti, mother·andmātāpi with her childputtena fightsvivadati, child·andputtopi with mothermātarā fightsvivadati, father·andpitāpi with his childputtena fightsvivadati, child·andputtopi with fatherpitarā fightsvivadati, brother·andbhātāpi with brotherbhātarā fightsvivadati, brother·andbhātāpi with sisterbhaginiyā fightsvivadati, sister·andbhaginīpi with brotherbhātarā fightsvivadati, friend·andsahāyopi with friendsahāyena fightsvivadati.
theyTe theretattha once they have started quarreling, arguing, and disputingkalahaviggahavivādāpannā each otheraññamaññaṁ fist·alsopāṇīhipi attackupakkamanti, stone·alsoleḍḍūhipi attackupakkamanti, rod·alsodaṇḍehipi attackupakkamanti, sword·alsosatthehipi attackupakkamanti.
theyTe theretattha death·alsomaraṇampi undergonigacchanti, death-measure·alsomaraṇamattampi paindukkhaṁ.
this tooAyampi, monksbhikkhave, of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko, suffering·massdukkhakkhandho sensual-pleasure·causekāmahetu sensual-pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ conditioned by sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ of-sensual-pleasures + onlykāmānameva for the sake ofhetu.

Furthermore, for the sake of sensual pleasures kings fight with kings, aristocrats fight with aristocrats, brahmins fight with brahmins, and householders fight with householders. A mother fights with her child, child with mother, father with child, and child with father. Brother fights with brother, brother with sister, sister with brother, and friend fights with friend. Once they’ve started quarreling, arguing, and disputing, they attack each other with fists, stones, rods, and swords, resulting in death and deadly pain. This too is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

againPuna furthermorecaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, sensual-pleasure·causekāmahetu sensual-pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ on account of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ simply because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva causehetu sword·shieldasicammaṁ having takengahetvā, bow·bundledhanukalāpaṁ having fastenedsannayhitvā, both-sides·massedubhatobyūḷhaṁ battlesaṅgāmaṁ they plungepakkhandanti arrow + alsousūsupi being hurledkhippamānesu, spear + alsosattīsupi being hurledkhippamānāsu, sword + alsoasīsupi flashingvijjotalantesu.
theyTe theretattha arrow + alsousūhipi are struckvijjhanti, spear + alsosattiyāpi are struckvijjhanti, sword + alsoasināpi headsīsaṁ they cut offchindanti.
theyTe theretattha death alsomaraṇampi they undergonigacchanti, deadly painmaraṇamattampi paindukkhaṁ.
this alsoAyampi, monksbhikkhave, of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo apparent in this lifesandiṭṭhiko, suffering·massdukkhakkhandho sensual-pleasure·causekāmahetu sensual-pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ on account of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ simply because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva causehetu.

Furthermore, for the sake of sensual pleasures they don their sword and shield, fasten their bow and arrows, and plunge into a battle massed on both sides, with arrows and spears flying and swords flashing. There they are struck with arrows and spears, and their heads are chopped off, resulting in death and deadly pain. This too is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

againPuna furthermorecaparaṁ, monksbhikkhave, sensual pleasure·causekāmahetu sensual pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ on account of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva becausehetu sword·shieldasicammaṁ having takengahetvā, bow·quiverdhanukalāpaṁ having fastenedsannayhitvā, wetly plasteredaddāvalepanā bastionsupakāriyo they chargepakkhandanti arrows + alsousūsupi flyingkhippamānesu, spears + alsosattīsupi flyingkhippamānāsu, swords + alsoasīsupi flashingvijjotalantesu.
theyTe theretattha arrows + alsousūhipi are struckvijjhanti, spear + alsosattiyāpi are struckvijjhanti, dung + alsochakaṇakāyapi are splashedosiñcanti, superior force + alsoabhivaggenapi are crushedomaddanti, sword + alsoasināpi headsīsaṁ they cut offchindanti.
theyTe theretattha death toomaraṇampi undergonigacchanti, deadly pain toomaraṇamattampi paindukkhaṁ.
this tooAyampi, monksbhikkhave, of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ drawbackādīnavo apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko, a mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho sensual pleasure·causekāmahetu sensual pleasure·sourcekāmanidānaṁ on account of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva becausehetu.

Furthermore, for the sake of sensual pleasures they don their sword and shield, fasten their bow and arrows, and charge wetly plastered bastions, with arrows and spears flying and swords flashing. There they are struck with arrows and spears, splashed with dung, crushed by a superior force, and their heads are chopped off, resulting in death and deadly pain. This too is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

Furthermore, for the sake of sensual pleasures they break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, and commit adultery. The rulers would arrest them and subject them to various punishments— whipping, caning, and clubbing; cutting off hands or feet, or both; cutting off ears or nose, or both; the ‘porridge pot’, the ‘shell-shave’, the ‘Rāhu’s mouth’, the ‘garland of fire’, the ‘burning hand’, the ‘bulrush twist’, the ‘bark dress’, the ‘antelope’, the ‘meat hook’, the ‘coins’, the ‘caustic pickle’, the ‘twisting bar’, the ‘straw mat’; being splashed with hot oil, being fed to the hounds, being impaled alive, and being beheaded. These result in death and deadly pain. This too is a drawback of sensual pleasures apparent in the present life, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.

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