Laṭukikopamasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 66

The Simile of the Quail · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heardsutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā among the Aṅguttarāpansaṅguttarāpesu was stayingviharati Āpaṇaāpaṇaṁ namednāma of the Aṅguttarāpansaṅguttarāpānaṁ townnigamo.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Aṅguttarāpans, near the town of theirs named Āpaṇa.

thenAtha indeedkho the Buddhabhagavā morning·timepubbaṇhasamayaṁ down·dressnivāsetvā bowl·robe + takingpattacīvaramādāya Āpaṇaāpaṇaṁ for almspiṇḍāya forth·enterpāvisi.
in ĀpaṇaĀpaṇe for almspiṇḍāya having wanderedcaritvā after·mealpacchābhattaṁ almsround·returnedpiṇḍapātapaṭikkanto where + certainyenaññataro forest·grovevanasaṇḍo he went to ittenupasaṅkami for the day’s meditationdivāvihārāya.
thatTaṁ forest·grovevanasaṇḍaṁ having plunged deep intoajjhogāhetvā at a certainaññatarasmiṁ tree·rootrukkhamūle day·meditationdivāvihāraṁ down·sitnisīdi.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Āpaṇa for alms. He wandered for alms in Āpaṇa. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to a certain forest grove for the day’s meditation. Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate.

venerable·tooĀyasmāpi indeedkho Udāyīudāyī morning·timepubbaṇhasamayaṁ having robed upnivāsetvā bowl·robe·takingpattacīvaramādāya Āpaṇaāpaṇaṁ for almspiṇḍāya enteredpāvisi.
in ĀpaṇaĀpaṇe for almspiṇḍāya having wanderedcaritvā after·mealpacchābhattaṁ almsround·returnedpiṇḍapātapaṭikkanto whereyena thatso forest·grovevanasaṇḍo went to ittenupasaṅkami for the day's meditationdivāvihārāya.
thatTaṁ forest·grovevanasaṇḍaṁ having plunged intoajjhogāhetvā a certainaññatarasmiṁ tree·rootrukkhamūle day·meditationdivāvihāraṁ satnisīdi.
thenAtha indeedkho of Venerableāyasmato Udāyīudāyissa private·gonerahogatassa in retreatpaṭisallīnassa thusevaṁ of mindcetaso around·thoughtparivitakko aroseudapādi:

Venerable Udāyī also robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Āpaṇa for alms. He wandered for alms in Āpaṇa. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to that forest grove for the day’s meditation. Having plunged deep into it, he sat at the root of a certain tree to meditate. Then as Venerable Udāyī was in private retreat this thought came to his mind:

of many“bahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā suffering·thingdukkhadhammānaṁ a removerapahattā, of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā happiness·thingsukhadhammānaṁ a bringerupahattā;
of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā not·skillfulakusalānaṁ of thingsdhammānaṁ a removerapahattā, of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā of skillfulkusalānaṁ of thingsdhammānaṁ a bringerupahattā”ti.

“The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!”

thenAtha indeedkho venerableāyasmā Udāyīudāyī evening·timesāyanhasamayaṁ from retreatpaṭisallānā emergedvuṭṭhito whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā he approached himtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho venerableāyasmā Udāyīudāyī the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said this to himetadavoca:

Then in the late afternoon, Udāyī came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

here“idha for memayhaṁ, sirbhante, seclusion·gonerahogatassa in seclusionpaṭisallīnassa thusevaṁ of mindcetaso around·thoughtparivitakko aroseudapādi:
of many‘bahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā suffering·thingdukkhadhammānaṁ away·removeapahattā, of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā happy·thingsukhadhammānaṁ to·bringupahattā;
of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā not·skillfulakusalānaṁ thingsdhammānaṁ away·removeapahattā, of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā of skillfulkusalānaṁ thingsdhammānaṁ to·bringupahattā’ti.
for weMayañhi, sirbhante, formerlypubbe evening·justsāyañceva we atebhuñjāma in the morningpāto andca by daydivā andca wrong·timevikāle.
there wasAhu indeedkho thatso, sirbhante, timesamayo whenyaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā the mendicantsbhikkhū to·speakāmantesi:
please‘iṅgha youtumhe, mendicantsbhikkhave, thisetaṁ day·wrong·time·mealdivāvikālabhojanaṁ forth·givepajahathā’ti.
for thatTassa memayhaṁ, sirbhante, was·indeedahudeva distressaññathattaṁ, was·indeedahudeva sadnessdomanassaṁ:
which indeed‘yampi to usno faithfulsaddhā householdersgahapatikā by daydivā wrong·timevikāle deliciouspaṇītaṁ fresh foodkhādanīyaṁ cooked foodbhojanīyaṁ they givedenti that·tootassapi for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā giving up·speakpahānamāha, that·tootassapi for usno the Holy Onesugato letting go·speakpaṭinissaggamāhā’ti.
thoseTe wemayaṁ, sirbhante, for the Blessed Onebhagavati fondness·andpemañca respect·andgāravañca conscience·andhiriñca prudence·andottappañca consideringsampassamānā thusevaṁ thattaṁ day·wrong·time·mealdivāvikālabhojanaṁ forth·givepajahimhā.

“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness! He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!’ For we used to eat at dusk, at daybreak, and at the wrong time of day. But then there came a time when the Buddha addressed the mendicants, saying, ‘Please, mendicants, give up that meal at the wrong time of day.’ At that, sir, we became sad and upset, ‘But these faithful householders give us delicious fresh and cooked foods at the wrong time of day. And the Blessed One tells us to give it up! The Holy One tells us to let it go!’ But when we considered our fondness and respect for the Buddha, and our sense of conscience and prudence, we gave up that meal at the wrong time of day.

theyTe wemayaṁ, sirbhante, and in the eveningsāyañceva we eatbhuñjāma in the morningpāto andca.
there wasAhu indeedkho thatso, sirbhante, timesamayo whenyaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā the mendicantsbhikkhū he addressedāmantesi:
come‘iṅgha youtumhe, mendicantsbhikkhave, thatetaṁ meal at the wrong time of nightrattiṁvikālabhojanaṁ give up!pajahathā’ti.
for meTassa for memayhaṁ, sirbhante, there was indeed alterationahudeva upsetaññathattaṁ there was indeedahudeva dejectiondomanassaṁ:
what‘yampi for usno of theseimesaṁ of twodvinnaṁ of mealsbhattānaṁ considered the more deliciouspaṇītasaṅkhātataraṁ of that tootassapi for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā says the giving uppahānamāha, of that tootassapi for usno the Holy Onesugato says the letting gopaṭinissaggamāhā’ti.
once it so happenedBhūtapubbaṁ, sirbhante, a certainaññataro personpuriso during the daydivā soupsūpeyyaṁ having obtainedlabhitvā he said thusevamāha:
come‘handa andca thisimaṁ set asidenikkhipatha, in the eveningsāyaṁ all togethersabbeva unitedsamaggā we will enjoybhuñjissāmā’ti.
whatYā kind ofkāci, sirbhante, prepared mealssaṅkhatiyo allsabbā thosetā at nightrattiṁ, fewappā in the daydivā.
theyTe wemayaṁ, sirbhante, in the Blessed Onebhagavati love + andpemañca respect + andgāravañca shame + andhiriñca prudence + andottappañca together·seeingsampassamānā thusevaṁ thattaṁ meal at the wrong time of nightrattiṁvikālabhojanaṁ we gave uppajahimhā.

Then we ate at dusk and daybreak. But then there came a time when the Buddha addressed the mendicants, saying, ‘Please, mendicants, give up that meal at the wrong time of night.’ At that, sir, we became sad and upset, ‘But that’s considered the more delicious of the two meals. And the Blessed One tells us to give it up! The Holy One tells us to let it go!’ Once it so happened that a certain person got some soup during the day. He said, ‘Come, let’s set this aside; we’ll enjoy it together this evening.’ Nearly all meals are prepared at night, only a few in the day. But when we considered our love and respect for the Buddha, and our sense of conscience and prudence, we gave up that meal at the wrong time of night.

once it happenedBhūtapubbaṁ, sirbhante, mendicantsbhikkhū in the dark of the nightrattandhakāratimisāyaṁ for almspiṇḍāya wanderingcarantā swampcandanikampi they walked intopavisanti, seweroligallepi they fell intopapatanti, thorn bushkaṇṭakāvāṭampi they collided withārohanti, sleepingsuttampi cowgāviṁ they collided withārohanti, youthsmāṇavehipi together·to·gosamāgacchanti having done a crimekatakammehipi having not done a crimeakatakammehipi, a ladymātugāmopi themte with a lewd actasaddhammena invitednimanteti.
once it happened IBhūtapubbāhaṁ, sirbhante, in the dark of the nightrattandhakāratimisāyaṁ for almspiṇḍāya I wandercarāmi.
she sawAddasā indeedkho memaṁ, sirbhante, a certainaññatarā womanitthī by a flash of lightningvijjantarikāya a potbhājanaṁ washingdhovantī.
having seenDisvā memaṁ startledbhītā she cried outvissaramakāsi:
woe is me‘abhumme goblinpisāco indeedvata meman’ti.
thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, Iahaṁ, sirbhante, to thattaṁ womanitthiṁ I said thisetadavocaṁ:
I am not‘nāhaṁ, sisterbhagini, goblinpisāco;
a mendicantbhikkhu for almspiṇḍāya waitingṭhito’ti.
mendicant's‘Bhikkhussa father may dieātumārī, mendicant'sbhikkhussa mother may diemātumārī.
betterVaraṁ for youte, mendicantbhikkhu, with a sharptiṇhena cow·cleavergovikantanena bellykucchi sliced openparikanto, notna indeedtveva bettervaraṁ thatyaṁ in the dark of the nightrattandhakāratimisāyaṁ belly·sakekucchihetu for almspiṇḍāya you wandercarasī’ti.
of thatTassa mymayhaṁ, sirbhante, that·rememberingtadanussarato thusevaṁ it ishoti:
of many‘bahūnaṁ indeedvata usno the Buddhabhagavā suffering·thingsdukkhadhammānaṁ has rid usapahattā, of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata usno the Buddhabhagavā happiness·thingssukhadhammānaṁ has gifted usupahattā;

In the past, mendicants went wandering for alms in the dark of the night. They walked into a swamp, or fell into a sewer, or collided with a thorn bush, or collided with a sleeping cow, or encountered youths escaping a crime or on their way to commit one, or were invited by a lady to commit a lewd act. Once it so happened that I was wandering for alms in the dark of the night. A woman washing a pot saw me by a flash of lightning. Startled, she cried out, ‘Woe is me! It’s a damn goblin!’ When she said this, I said to her, ‘Sister, I am no goblin. I’m a mendicant waiting for alms.’ ‘Die, mendicant’s father! Die, mendicant’s mother! Better to have your belly sliced open with a sharp meat cleaver than to wander for alms in the dark of night for the sake of your belly!’ Recollecting that, I thought, ‘The Buddha has rid us of so many things that bring suffering and gifted us so many things that bring happiness!

of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā of unskillfulakusalānaṁ of thingsdhammānaṁ a removerapahattā, of manybahūnaṁ indeedvata for usno the Blessed Onebhagavā of skillfulkusalānaṁ of thingsdhammānaṁ a bringerupahattā’”ti.

He has rid us of so many unskillful things and gifted us so many skillful things!’”

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