Anaṅgaṇasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 5

Unblemished · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

Parallels & more translations on SuttaCentral

Glosses: Fluent · Literal · Off
Translation: Hide · Show

Tap any word for its dictionary entry.

thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ occasionsamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā near Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ dwellsviharati in Jeta’s Grovejetavane Anāthapiṇḍika’sanāthapiṇḍikassa in the monasteryārāme.
thereTatra indeedkho venerableāyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto the monksbhikkhū addressedāmantesi:
reverends“āvuso monks! (quote)bhikkhave”ti.
reverend! (quote)“Āvuso”ti indeedkho thosete the monksbhikkhū to the venerableāyasmato to Sāriputtasāriputtassa repliedpaccassosuṁ.
venerableĀyasmā Sāriputtasāriputto said thisetadavoca:

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

“Reverends, these four individuals are found in the world. What four? One individual with a blemish doesn’t truly understand: ‘There is a blemish in me.’ But another individual with a blemish does truly understand: ‘There is a blemish in me.’ One individual without a blemish doesn’t truly understand: ‘There is no blemish in me.’ But another individual without a blemish does truly understand: ‘There is no blemish in me.’ In this case, of the two individuals with a blemish, the one who doesn’t understand is said to be worse, while the one who does understand is better. And of the two individuals without a blemish, the one who doesn’t understand is said to be worse, while the one who does understand is better.”

thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, venerableāyasmā Mahāmoggallānamahāmoggallāno to the venerableāyasmantaṁ to Sāriputtasāriputtaṁ said thisetadavoca:
what“Ko nownu indeedkho, reverendāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, the causehetu whatko the reasonpaccayo whereby, of theseyenimesaṁ twodvinnaṁ individualspuggalānaṁ both with blemishsāṅgaṇānaṁyeva beingsataṁ oneeko the inferior manhīnapuriso is calledakkhāyati, oneeko the superior manseṭṭhapuriso is calledakkhāyati?
whatKo but, reverendpanāvuso Sāriputtasāriputta, the causehetu whatko the reasonpaccayo whereby, of theseyenimesaṁ twodvinnaṁ individualspuggalānaṁ both without blemishanaṅgaṇānaṁyeva beingsataṁ oneeko the inferior manhīnapuriso is calledakkhāyati, oneeko the superior manseṭṭhapuriso is called (quote)akkhāyatī”ti?

When he said this, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said to him: “What is the cause, Reverend Sāriputta, what is the reason why, of the two individuals with a blemish, one is said to be worse and one better? And what is the cause, what is the reason why, of the two individuals without a blemish, one is said to be worse and one better?”

therein, reverends“Tatrāvuso, the one whoyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo with a blemishsāṅgaṇova beingsamāno there is‘atthi in meme withinajjhattaṁ a blemish (quote)aṅgaṇan’ti as it really isyathābhūtaṁ does not understandnappajānāti, for him thistassetaṁ is expected—notpāṭikaṅkhaṁ—na desirechandaṁ will generatejanessati notna will strivevāyamissati notna energyvīriyaṁ will rouseārabhissati of that blemishtassaṅgaṇassa for the abandoningpahānāya;
heso with lustsarāgo with hatesadoso with delusionsamoho blemishedsāṅgaṇo with defiled mindsaṅkiliṭṭhacitto his timekālaṁ will make (=die)karissati.
supposeSeyyathāpi, reverendsāvuso, a bronze bowlkaṁsapāti broughtābhatā from a shopāpaṇā orvā from a smithykammārakulā orvā with dustrajena andca with stainmalena andca covered overpariyonaddhā.
and itTamenaṁ the ownerssāmikā notna andceva would useparibhuñjeyyuṁ notna andca would cleanpariyodapeyyuṁ, in a dusty placerajāpathe andca itnaṁ would putnikkhipeyyuṁ.
thus indeedEvañhi thatsā, reverendsāvuso, a bronze bowlkaṁsapāti after someaparena timesamayena more defiledsaṅkiliṭṭhatarā would beassa stained? (quote)malaggahitā”ti?
yes, reverend (quote)“Evamāvuso”ti.
just so“Evameva indeedkho, reverendsāvuso, the one whoyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo with a blemishsāṅgaṇova beingsamāno there is‘atthi in meme withinajjhattaṁ a blemish (quote)aṅgaṇan’ti as it really isyathābhūtaṁ does not understandnappajānāti, for him thistassetaṁ is expected—notpāṭikaṅkhaṁ—na desirechandaṁ will generatejanessati notna will strivevāyamissati notna energyvīriyaṁ will rouseārabhissati of that blemishtassaṅgaṇassa for the abandoningpahānāya;
heso with lustsarāgo with hatesadoso with delusionsamoho blemishedsāṅgaṇo with defiled mindsaṅkiliṭṭhacitto his timekālaṁ will make (=die)karissati.

“Reverends, take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does not understand it. You can expect that they won’t generate enthusiasm, make an effort, or rouse up energy to give up that blemish. And they will die with greed, hate, and delusion, blemished, with a corrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy enveloped with dirt or stains. And the owners neither used it or had it cleaned, but kept it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn’t that bronze cup get even dirtier and more stained?” “Yes, reverend.” “In the same way, take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does not understand it. You can expect that … they will die with a corrupted mind.

therein, reverendsTatrāvuso, the one whoyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo with a blemishsāṅgaṇova beingsamāno there is‘atthi in meme withinajjhattaṁ a blemish (quote)aṅgaṇan’ti as it really isyathābhūtaṁ understandspajānāti, for him thistassetaṁ is expected—desirepāṭikaṅkhaṁ—chandaṁ will generatejanessati will strivevāyamissati energyvīriyaṁ will rouseārabhissati of that blemishtassaṅgaṇassa for the abandoningpahānāya;
heso without lustarāgo without hateadoso without delusionamoho unblemishedanaṅgaṇo with undefiled mindasaṅkiliṭṭhacitto his timekālaṁ will make (=die)karissati.
supposeSeyyathāpi, reverendsāvuso, a bronze bowlkaṁsapāti broughtābhatā from a shopāpaṇā orvā from a smithykammārakulā orvā with dustrajena andca with stainmalena andca covered overpariyonaddhā.
and itTamenaṁ the ownerssāmikā would both useparibhuñjeyyuñceva and would cleanpariyodapeyyuñca, notna andca itnaṁ in a dusty placerajāpathe would putnikkhipeyyuṁ.
thus indeedEvañhi thatsā, reverendsāvuso, a bronze bowlkaṁsapāti after someaparena timesamayena purerparisuddhatarā would beassa brighter? (quote)pariyodātā”ti?
yes, reverend (quote)“Evamāvuso”ti.
just so“Evameva indeedkho, reverendsāvuso, the one whoyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo with a blemishsāṅgaṇova beingsamāno there is‘atthi in meme withinajjhattaṁ a blemish (quote)aṅgaṇan’ti as it really isyathābhūtaṁ understandspajānāti, for him thistassetaṁ is expected—desirepāṭikaṅkhaṁ—chandaṁ will generatejanessati will strivevāyamissati energyvīriyaṁ will rouseārabhissati of that blemishtassaṅgaṇassa for the abandoningpahānāya;
heso without lustarāgo without hateadoso without delusionamoho unblemishedanaṅgaṇo with undefiled mindasaṅkiliṭṭhacitto his timekālaṁ will make (=die)karissati.

Take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does understand it. You can expect that they will generate enthusiasm, make an effort, and rouse up energy to give up that blemish. And they will die without greed, hate, and delusion, unblemished, with an uncorrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy enveloped with dirt or stains. But the owners used it and had it cleaned, and didn’t keep it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn’t that bronze cup get cleaner and brighter?” “Yes, reverend.” “In the same way, take the case of the individual who has a blemish and does understand it. You can expect that … they will die with an uncorrupted mind.

therein, reverendsTatrāvuso, the one whoyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo without a blemishanaṅgaṇova beingsamāno there is no‘natthi in meme withinajjhattaṁ a blemish (quote)aṅgaṇan’ti as it really isyathābhūtaṁ does not understandnappajānāti, for him thistassetaṁ is expected—a beautiful signpāṭikaṅkhaṁ—subhanimittaṁ in mindmanasi will do (=attend)karissati, of thattassa beautiful signsubhanimittassa from attendingmanasikārā lustrāgo the mindcittaṁ will corruptanuddhaṁsessati;
heso with lustsarāgo with hatesadoso with delusionsamoho blemishedsāṅgaṇo with defiled mindsaṅkiliṭṭhacitto his timekālaṁ will make (=die)karissati.
supposeSeyyathāpi, reverendsāvuso, a bronze bowlkaṁsapāti broughtābhatā from a shopāpaṇā orvā from a smithykammārakulā orvā pureparisuddhā brightpariyodātā.
and itTamenaṁ the ownerssāmikā notna andceva would useparibhuñjeyyuṁ notna andca would cleanpariyodapeyyuṁ, in a dusty placerajāpathe andca itnaṁ would putnikkhipeyyuṁ.
thus indeedEvañhi thatsā, reverendsāvuso, a bronze bowlkaṁsapāti after someaparena timesamayena more defiledsaṅkiliṭṭhatarā would beassa stained? (quote)malaggahitā”ti?
yes, reverend (quote)“Evamāvuso”ti.
just so“Evameva indeedkho, reverendsāvuso, the one whoyvāyaṁ individualpuggalo without a blemishanaṅgaṇova beingsamāno there is no‘natthi in meme withinajjhattaṁ a blemish (quote)aṅgaṇan’ti as it really isyathābhūtaṁ does not understandnappajānāti, for him thistassetaṁ is expected—a beautiful signpāṭikaṅkhaṁ—subhanimittaṁ in mindmanasi will do (=attend)karissati, of thattassa beautiful signsubhanimittassa from attendingmanasikārā lustrāgo the mindcittaṁ will corruptanuddhaṁsessati;
heso with lustsarāgo with hatesadoso with delusionsamoho blemishedsāṅgaṇo with defiled mindsaṅkiliṭṭhacitto his timekālaṁ will make (=die)karissati.

Take the case of the individual who doesn’t have a blemish but does not understand it. You can expect that they will focus on the feature of beauty, and because of that, lust will infect their mind. And they will die with greed, hate, and delusion, blemished, with a corrupted mind. Suppose a bronze cup was brought from a shop or smithy clean and bright. And the owners neither used it or had it cleaned, but kept it in a dirty place. Over time, wouldn’t that bronze cup get dirtier and more stained?” “Yes, reverend.” “In the same way, take the case of the individual who has no blemish and does not understand it. You can expect that … they will die with a corrupted mind.

Lite mode — plain HTML for e-readers and old browsers. Full version