Mahāgopālakasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 33

The Longer Discourse on the Cowherd · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā near Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ was stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa monasteryārāme.
thereTatra indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā the mendicantsbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
mendicant + quotation marker“bhikkhavo”ti.
venerable sir + quotation marker“Bhadante”ti theyte mendicantsbhikkhū to the Blessed Onebhagavato repliedpaccassosuṁ.
the Blessed OneBhagavā said thisetadavoca:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

with eleven“Ekādasahi, mendicantsbhikkhave, factorsaṅgehi endowed withsamannāgato a cowherdgopālako unableabhabbo cow·herdgogaṇaṁ around·carrypariharituṁ growthphātiṁ to makekātuṁ.
with whichKatamehi elevenekādasahi?
hereIdha, mendicantsbhikkhave, a cowherdgopālako notna form·knowerrūpaññū ishoti, notna skilled in characteristicslakkhaṇakusalo ishoti, notna flies’ eggsāsāṭikaṁ one who picks outhāretā ishoti, notna a woundvaṇaṁ one who dressespaṭicchādetā ishoti, notna smokedhūmaṁ one who makeskattā ishoti, notna the fordtitthaṁ knowsjānāti, notna satisfactionpītaṁ knowsjānāti, notna the trailvīthiṁ knowsjānāti, notna skilled in rangesgocarakusalo ishoti not·remainder·milkeranavasesadohī andca ishoti. thoseYe whote bullsusabhā cow·fathersgopitaro cow·captainsgopariṇāyakā to themte notna extra·respectatirekapūjāya one who shows respectpūjetā ishoti.
with theseImehi indeedkho, mendicantsbhikkhave, elevenekādasahi factorsaṅgehi endowed withsamannāgato a cowherdgopālako unableabhabbo cow·herdgogaṇaṁ around·carrypariharituṁ growthphātiṁ to makekātuṁ.

“Mendicants, a cowherd with eleven factors can’t maintain and expand a herd of cattle. What eleven? It’s when a cowherd doesn’t know form, is unskilled in characteristics, doesn’t pick out flies’ eggs, doesn’t dress wounds, doesn’t spread smoke, doesn’t know the ford, doesn’t know satisfaction, doesn’t know the trail, is not skilled in ranges, milks dry, and doesn’t show extra respect to the bulls who are fathers and captains of the herd. A cowherd with these eleven factors can’t maintain and expand a herd of cattle.

in the same wayEvameva indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, with elevenekādasahi qualitiesdhammehi with·gonesamannāgato a mendicantbhikkhu unableabhabbo in thisimasmiṁ teaching·trainingdhammavinaye growthvuddhiṁ improvementvirūḷhiṁ maturityvepullaṁ to achieveāpajjituṁ.
with whichKatamehi eleven?ekādasahi?
hereIdha, monksbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna form·knowerrūpaññū ishoti, notna characteristic·skilledlakkhaṇakusalo ishoti, notna flies' eggsāsāṭikaṁ one who picks outhāretā ishoti, notna woundsvaṇaṁ one who dressespaṭicchādetā ishoti, notna smokedhūmaṁ one who makeskattā ishoti, notna the fordtitthaṁ knowsjānāti, notna satisfactionpītaṁ knowsjānāti, notna the trailvīthiṁ knowsjānāti, notna range·skilledgocarakusalo ishoti, without remainder·milkeranavasesadohī andca is.hoti. thoseYe who arete mendicantsbhikkhū seniortherā long·knowerrattaññū long·gone forthcirapabbajitā Saṅgha·fatherssaṅghapitaro Saṅgha·leaderssaṅghapariṇāyakā to themte notna extra·respectatirekapūjāya one who honorspūjetā is.hoti.

In the same way, a mendicant with eleven qualities can’t achieve growth, improvement, or maturity in this teaching and training. What eleven? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t know form, is unskilled in characteristics, doesn’t pick out flies’ eggs, doesn’t dress wounds, doesn’t spread smoke, doesn’t know the ford, doesn’t know satisfaction, doesn’t know the trail, is not skilled in ranges, milks dry, and doesn’t show extra respect to senior mendicants of long standing, long gone forth, fathers and leaders of the Saṅgha.

how + andKathañca, monksbhikkhave, a monkbhikkhu notna form·knowrūpaññū ishoti?
hereIdha, monksbhikkhave, a monkbhikkhu whateveryaṁ anykiñci formrūpaṁ allsabbaṁ formrūpaṁ four‘cattāri great·elementsmahābhūtāni, four + andcatunnañca great·elementsmahābhūtānaṁ derived formupādāyarūpan’ti as it truly isyathābhūtaṁ not·understandsnappajānāti.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, a monkbhikkhu notna form·knowrūpaññū ishoti.

And how does a mendicant not know form? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t truly understand that all form is the four principal states, or form derived from the four principal states. That’s how a mendicant doesn’t know form.

and howKathañca, monksbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna characteristic·skilledlakkhaṇakusalo ishoti?
hereIdha, monksbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu characterized by deeds‘kammalakkhaṇo a foolbālo, deed·characterizedkammalakkhaṇo an astute personpaṇḍito’ti as·really isyathābhūtaṁ not·understandnappajānāti.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna characteristic·skilledlakkhaṇakusalo ishoti.

And how is a mendicant not skilled in characteristics? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t understand that a fool is characterized by their deeds, and an astute person is characterized by their deeds. That’s how a mendicant isn’t skilled in characteristics.

how + andKathañca, monks,bhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna flies’ eggsāsāṭikaṁ one who picks outhāretā is?hoti?
Here,Idha, monks,bhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu arisenuppannaṁ sensual thoughtkāmavitakkaṁ tolerates,adhivāseti, does not give upnappajahati notna dispelsvinodeti notna eliminatebyantī doeskaroti notna to non-existenceanabhāvaṁ causes to go.gameti. ArisenUppannaṁ malicious thoughtbyāpādavitakkaṁ ……pe… arisenuppannaṁ cruel thoughtvihiṁsāvitakkaṁ ……pe… arisen again and againuppannuppanne bad,pāpake unskillfulakusale qualitiesdhamme tolerates,adhivāseti, does not give upnappajahati notna dispelsvinodeti notna eliminatebyantī doeskaroti notna to non-existenceanabhāvaṁ causes to go.gameti.
ThusEvaṁ indeed,kho, monks,bhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna flies’ eggsāsāṭikaṁ one who picks outhāretā is.hoti.

And how does a mendicant not pick out flies’ eggs? It’s when a mendicant tolerates a sensual, malicious, or cruel thought that has arisen. They tolerate any bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen. They don’t give them up, dispel them, eliminate them, and obliterate them. That’s how a mendicant doesn’t pick out flies’ eggs.

how + andKathañca, monksbhikkhave, a monkbhikkhu notna a woundvaṇaṁ one who dressespaṭicchādetā ishoti?
hereIdha, monksbhikkhave, a monkbhikkhu with the eyecakkhunā a sightrūpaṁ having seendisvā sign·graspnimittaggāhī ishoti detail·graspanubyañjanaggāhī.
for whatever reasonYatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ the faculty of sightcakkhundriyaṁ un·restrainedasaṁvutaṁ livingviharantaṁ covetousness and displeasureabhijjhādomanassā badpāpakā un·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā would overwhelmanvāssaveyyuṁ, for thattassa for the restraintsaṁvarāya notna practicespaṭipajjati, notna protectsrakkhati the faculty of sightcakkhundriyaṁ, in the faculty of sightcakkhundriye notna restraintsaṁvaraṁ achievesāpajjati.
with the earSotena a soundsaddaṁ having heardsutvā …pe……pe…
with the noseghānena an odorgandhaṁ having smelledghāyitvā …pe……pe…
with the tonguejivhāya a flavorrasaṁ having tastedsāyitvā …pe……pe…
with the bodykāyena a touchphoṭṭhabbaṁ having feltphusitvā …pe……pe…
with the mindmanasā an ideadhammaṁ having knownviññāya sign·graspnimittaggāhī ishoti detail·graspanubyañjanaggāhī.
for whatever reasonYatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ the faculty of the mindmanindriyaṁ un·restrainedasaṁvutaṁ livingviharantaṁ covetousness and displeasureabhijjhādomanassā badpāpakā un·skillfulakusalā qualitiesdhammā would overwhelmanvāssaveyyuṁ, for thattassa for the restraintsaṁvarāya notna practicespaṭipajjati, notna protectsrakkhati the faculty of the mindmanindriyaṁ, in the faculty of the mindmanindriye notna restraintsaṁvaraṁ achievesāpajjati.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, monksbhikkhave, a monkbhikkhu notna a woundvaṇaṁ one who dressespaṭicchādetā ishoti.

And how does a mendicant not dress wounds? When a mendicant sees a sight with their eyes, they get caught up in the features and details. Since the faculty of sight is left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure become overwhelming. They don’t practice restraint, they don’t protect the faculty of sight, and they don’t achieve its restraint. When they hear a sound with their ears … smell an odor with their nose … taste a flavor with their tongue … feel a touch with their body … know an idea with their mind, they get caught up in the features and details. Since the faculty of the mind is left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure become overwhelming. They don’t practice restraint, they don’t protect the faculty of the mind, and they don’t achieve its restraint. That’s how a mendicant doesn’t dress wounds.

how + andKathañca, o mendicantsbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna smokedhūmaṁ a makerkattā ishoti?
hereIdha, o mendicantsbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu as·learnedyathāsutaṁ as·memorizedyathāpariyattaṁ the Dhammadhammaṁ notna in detailvitthārena to othersparesaṁ a teacherdesetā ishoti.
thusEvaṁ indeedkho, o mendicantsbhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu notna smokedhūmaṁ a makerkattā ishoti.

And how does a mendicant not spread smoke? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t teach others the Dhamma in detail as they learned and memorized it. That’s how a mendicant doesn’t spread smoke.

how + andKathañca, monks,bhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu does notna the fordtitthaṁ know?jānāti?
Here,Idha, monks,bhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu thoseye whote mendicantsbhikkhū much·heardbahussutā inheritors of the heritage,āgatāgamā teaching·bearingdhammadharā discipline·bearingvinayadharā outline·bearingmātikādharā, themte from timekālena to timekālaṁ near·goupasaṅkamitvā does notna around·askparipucchati, does notna around·questionparipañhati:
‘this,‘idaṁ, sir,bhante, how?kathaṁ?
of thisImassa whatko is the meaning?’attho’ti?
of himTassa thosete venerablesāyasmanto un·openavivaṭañceva do notna reveal,vivaranti, un·clear·madeanuttānīkatañca notna clear·makeuttānīkaronti, many·variousanekavihitesu andca doubt·being a placekaṅkhāṭhānīyesu mattersdhammesu doubtkaṅkhaṁ notna against·dispelpaṭivinodenti.
ThusEvaṁ indeed,kho, monks,bhikkhave, a mendicantbhikkhu does notna the fordtitthaṁ know.jānāti.

And how does a mendicant not know the ford? It’s when a mendicant doesn’t from time to time go up to those mendicants who are very learned—inheritors of the heritage, who have memorized the teachings, the monastic law, and the outlines—and ask them questions: ‘Why, sir, does it say this? What does that mean?’ Those venerables don’t reveal what is hidden, clarify what is unclear, and dispel doubt regarding the many doubtful matters. That’s how a mendicant doesn’t know the ford.

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