The Shorter Discourse on the Mass of Suffering · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral
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of thatTassa
ifce,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of the clansmankulaputtassa
thusevaṁ
arisinguṭṭhahato
strivingghaṭato
endeavoringvāyamato
thosete
richesbhogā
do not accruenābhinipphajjanti,
heso
sorrowssocati
wearieskilamati
lamentsparidevati
beating the breasturattāḷiṁ
crieskandati
confusionsammohaṁ
falls intoāpajjati
wasted‘moghaṁ
indeedvata
myme
hard workuṭṭhānaṁ,
fruitlessaphalo
indeedvata
myme
effortsvāyāmo’ti.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
drawbackādīnavo
apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko
mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
caused by sensual pleasureskāmahetu
originated from sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
conditioned by sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ
just of sensual pleasureskāmānameva
causehetu.
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,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of a son of a good familykulaputtassa
thusevaṁ
strivinguṭṭhahato
endeavoringghaṭato
exertingvāyamato
thosete
richesbhogā
succeedabhinipphajjanti.
heSo
of thosetesaṁ
of richesbhogānaṁ
because of protectionārakkhādhikaraṇaṁ
paindukkhaṁ
sadnessdomanassaṁ
experiencespaṭisaṁvedeti:
how‘kinti
myme
richesbhoge
notneva
rulersrājāno
might takehareyyuṁ,
notna
banditscorā
might takehareyyuṁ,
notna
fireaggi
might burndaheyya,
notna
waterudakaṁ
might carry awayvaheyya,
notna
unlovedappiyā
orvā
heirsdāyādā
might takehareyyun’ti.
of himTassa
thusevaṁ
protectingārakkhato
guardinggopayato
thosete
richesbhoge
rulersrājāno
orvā
takeharanti,
banditscorā
orvā
takeharanti,
fireaggi
orvā
burnsdahati,
waterudakaṁ
orvā
carries awayvahati,
unlovedappiyā
orvā
heirsdāyādā
takeharanti.
heSo
sorrowssocati
wearieskilamati
lamentsparidevati
beating the breasturattāḷiṁ
wailskandati
confusionsammohaṁ
falls intoāpajjati:
what‘yampi
mineme
wasahosi
that tootampi
notno
does not existnatthī’ti.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
drawbackādīnavo
visible in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko
mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
caused by sensual pleasureskāmahetu
originating from sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
because of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ
of sensual pleasures alonekāmānameva
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.
furthermorePuna
and socaparaṁ,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
stemming from sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
with sensual pleasures as the reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ
precisely because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva
because ofhetu
kings toorājānopi
with kingsrājūhi
fightvivadanti,
aristocrats tookhattiyāpi
with aristocratskhattiyehi
fightvivadanti,
brahmins toobrāhmaṇāpi
with brahminsbrāhmaṇehi
fightvivadanti,
householders toogahapatīpi
with householdersgahapatīhi
fightvivadanti,
a mother toomātāpi
with her childputtena
fightsvivadati,
a child tooputtopi
with their mothermātarā
fightsvivadati,
a father toopitāpi
with his childputtena
fightsvivadati,
a child tooputtopi
with their fatherpitarā
fightsvivadati,
a brother toobhātāpi
with his brotherbhātarā
fightsvivadati,
a brother toobhātāpi
with his sisterbhaginiyā
fightsvivadati,
a sister toobhaginīpi
with her brotherbhātarā
fightsvivadati,
a friend toosahāyopi
with a friendsahāyena
fightsvivadati.
theyTe
theretattha
fallen into quarreling, arguing, and disputingkalahaviggahavivādāpannā
each otheraññamaññaṁ
with fists toopāṇīhipi
attackupakkamanti,
with stones tooleḍḍūhipi
attackupakkamanti,
with rods toodaṇḍehipi
attackupakkamanti,
with swords toosatthehipi
attackupakkamanti.
theyTe
theretattha
even deathmaraṇampi
undergonigacchanti,
even deadly painmaraṇamattampi
sufferingdukkhaṁ.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
a drawbackādīnavo
apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko
a mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
caused by sensual pleasureskāmahetu
stemming from sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
with sensual pleasures as the reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ
precisely because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva
because 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.
furthermorePuna
and moreovercaparaṁ,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
caused by sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
because of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ
because of sensual pleasures themselveskāmānameva
causehetu
sword and shieldasicammaṁ
having takengahetvā,
bow and arrowsdhanukalāpaṁ
having fastenedsannayhitvā,
massed on both sidesubhatobyūḷhaṁ
battlesaṅgāmaṁ
they plungepakkhandanti
with arrows alsousūsupi
flyingkhippamānesu,
with spears alsosattīsupi
flyingkhippamānāsu,
with swords alsoasīsupi
flashingvijjotalantesu.
theyTe
theretattha
with arrows alsousūhipi
they are struckvijjhanti,
with a spear alsosattiyāpi
they are struckvijjhanti,
with a sword alsoasināpi
headsīsaṁ
they chop offchindanti.
theyTe
theretattha
death alsomaraṇampi
they undergonigacchanti,
deadly pain alsomaraṇamattampi
painfuldukkhaṁ.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
drawbackādīnavo
apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko
mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
caused by sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
because of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ
because of sensual pleasures themselveskāmānameva
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
and furthercaparaṁ,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
caused by sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
with sensual pleasures as the reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ
with sensual pleasures alone as the causekāmānameva
causehetu
sword and shieldasicammaṁ
having takengahetvā,
bow and arrowsdhanukalāpaṁ
having fastenedsannayhitvā,
wetly plasteredaddāvalepanā
bastionsupakāriyo
they chargepakkhandanti
with arrows toousūsupi
while flyingkhippamānesu,
with spears toosattīsupi
while flyingkhippamānāsu,
with swords tooasīsupi
while flashingvijjotalantesu.
theyTe
theretattha
with arrows toousūhipi
are struckvijjhanti,
with spears toosattiyāpi
are struckvijjhanti,
with dung toochakaṇakāyapi
are splashedosiñcanti,
by a superior force tooabhivaggenapi
are crushedomaddanti,
with a sword tooasināpi
the headsīsaṁ
they chop offchindanti.
theyTe
theretattha
death toomaraṇampi
they undergonigacchanti,
deadly pain toomaraṇamattampi
sufferingdukkhaṁ.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
a drawbackādīnavo
apparent in the present lifesandiṭṭhiko
a mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
caused by sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
with sensual pleasures as the reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ
with sensual pleasures alone as the causekāmānameva
causehetu.
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.
againPuna
furthermorecaparaṁ,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
because of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
caused by sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
on account of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ
of sensual pleasures themselveskāmānameva
for the sake ofhetu
break intosandhimpi
they cutchindanti,
plundernillopampi
they takeharanti,
isolated building robberyekāgārikampi
they dokaronti,
highway robberyparipanthepi
they standtiṭṭhanti,
adulteryparadārampi
they gogacchanti.
him, that oneTamenaṁ
kingsrājāno
having arrestedgahetvā
variousvividhā
punishmentskammakāraṇā
they make them undergokārenti—
with whipskasāhipi
they beattāḷenti,
with canesvettehipi
they beattāḷenti,
with rodsaḍḍhadaṇḍakehipi
they beattāḷenti;
handhatthampi
they cut offchindanti,
footpādampi
they cut offchindanti,
hand and foothatthapādampi
they cut offchindanti,
earkaṇṇampi
they cut offchindanti,
nosenāsampi
they cut offchindanti,
ear and nosekaṇṇanāsampi
they cut offchindanti;
porridge potbilaṅgathālikampi
they dokaronti,
shell-shavesaṅkhamuṇḍikampi
they dokaronti,
Rāhu's mouthrāhumukhampi
they dokaronti,
garland of firejotimālikampi
they dokaronti,
burning handhatthapajjotikampi
they dokaronti,
bulrush twisterakavattikampi
they dokaronti,
bark dresscīrakavāsikampi
they dokaronti,
antelopeeṇeyyakampi
they dokaronti,
meat hookbaḷisamaṁsikampi
they dokaronti,
coinskahāpaṇikampi
they dokaronti,
caustic picklekhārāpatacchikampi
they dokaronti,
twisting barpalighaparivattikampi
they dokaronti,
straw matpalālapīṭhakampi
they dokaronti,
with hottattenapi
with oiltelena
they drenchosiñcanti,
by dogssunakhehipi
they make devourkhādāpenti,
while alivejīvantampi
on a stakesūle
they impaleuttāsenti,
with a swordasināpi
headsīsaṁ
they cutchindanti.
theyTe
theretattha
deathmaraṇampi
they undergonigacchanti,
deadly painmaraṇamattampi
sufferingdukkhaṁ.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
drawbackādīnavo
visible in this lifesandiṭṭhiko
mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
because of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
caused by sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
on account of sensual pleasureskāmādhikaraṇaṁ
of sensual pleasures themselveskāmānameva
for the sake ofhetu.
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.
againPuna
and furthercaparaṁ,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
sourced in sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
with sensual pleasures as the reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ
simply because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva
for the sake ofhetu
with the bodykāyena
bad conductduccaritaṁ
they conduct themselvescaranti,
with speechvācāya
bad conductduccaritaṁ
they conduct themselvescaranti,
with the mindmanasā
bad conductduccaritaṁ
they conduct themselvescaranti.
theyTe
with the bodykāyena
bad conductduccaritaṁ
having conducted themselvescaritvā,
with speechvācāya
bad conductduccaritaṁ
having conducted themselvescaritvā,
with the mindmanasā
bad conductduccaritaṁ
having conducted themselvescaritvā,
of the bodykāyassa
from breaking upbhedā
afterparaṁ
deathmaraṇā,
state of lossapāyaṁ
bad destinationduggatiṁ
downfallvinipātaṁ
hellnirayaṁ
they are rebornupapajjanti.
this tooAyampi,
Mahānāmamahānāma,
of sensual pleasureskāmānaṁ
drawbackādīnavo
pertaining to future livessamparāyiko,
mass of sufferingdukkhakkhandho
for the sake of sensual pleasureskāmahetu
sourced in sensual pleasureskāmanidānaṁ
with sensual pleasures as the reasonkāmādhikaraṇaṁ
simply because of sensual pleasureskāmānameva
for the sake ofhetu.
Furthermore, for the sake of sensual pleasures, they conduct themselves badly by way of body, speech, and mind. When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. This is a drawback of sensual pleasures to do with lives to come, a mass of suffering caused by sensual pleasures.
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