Raṭṭhapālasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 82

With Raṭṭhapāla · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Ime kho, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena cattāro dhammuddesā uddiṭṭhā, ye ahaṁ ñatvā ca disvā ca sutvā ca agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti.

The Blessed One who knows and sees, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha taught these four summaries of the teaching. It was after knowing and seeing and hearing these that I went forth from the lay life to homelessness.”

“‘Upaniyyati loko addhuvo’ti—
bhavaṁ raṭṭhapālo āha.
Imassa, bho raṭṭhapāla, bhāsitassa kathaṁ attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
tvaṁ vīsativassuddesikopi paṇṇavīsativassuddesikopi hatthismimpi katāvī assasmimpi katāvī rathasmimpi katāvī dhanusmimpi katāvī tharusmimpi katāvī ūrubalī bāhubalī alamatto saṅgāmāvacaro”ti?
“Ahosiṁ ahaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, vīsativassuddesikopi paṇṇavīsativassuddesikopi hatthismimpi katāvī assasmimpi katāvī rathasmimpi katāvī dhanusmimpi katāvī tharusmimpi katāvī ūrubalī bāhubalī alamatto saṅgāmāvacaro.
Appekadāhaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, iddhimāva maññe na attano balena samasamaṁ samanupassāmī”ti.
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
evameva tvaṁ etarahi ūrubalī bāhubalī alamatto saṅgāmāvacaro”ti?
“No hidaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla.
Etarahi jiṇṇo vuḍḍho mahallako addhagato vayoanuppatto āsītiko me vayo vattati.
Appekadāhaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, ‘idha pādaṁ karissāmī’ti aññeneva pādaṁ karomī”ti.

“‘The world is unstable and swept away.’ So the worthy Raṭṭhapāla said. How should I see the meaning of this statement?” “What do you think, Great King? When you were twenty or twenty-five years of age, were you well-versed at riding elephants, horses, and chariots, and at archery and swordsmanship? Were you strong in thigh and arm, capable, and battle-hardened?” “I was, worthy Raṭṭhapāla. Sometimes it seems as if I had superpowers then. I don’t see anyone who could have equaled me in strength.” “What do you think, Great King? These days are you just as strong in thigh and arm, capable, and battle-hardened?” “No, worthy Raṭṭhapāla. For now I am old, elderly, and senior, I’m advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life. I am eighty years old. Sometimes I intend to step in one place, but my foot goes somewhere else.”

“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:
‘upaniyyati loko addhuvo’ti,
yamahaṁ ñatvā ca disvā ca sutvā ca agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti.
“Acchariyaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, abbhutaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla.
Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena:
‘upaniyyati loko addhuvo’ti.
Upaniyyati hi, bho raṭṭhapāla, loko addhuvo.

“This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: ‘The world is unstable and swept away.’” “It’s incredible, worthy Raṭṭhapāla, it’s amazing, how well said this was by the Buddha. For the world is indeed unstable and swept away.

Saṁvijjante kho, bho raṭṭhapāla, imasmiṁ rājakule hatthikāyāpi assakāyāpi rathakāyāpi pattikāyāpi, amhākaṁ āpadāsu pariyodhāya vattissanti.
‘Atāṇo loko anabhissaro’ti—
bhavaṁ raṭṭhapālo āha.
Imassa pana, bho raṭṭhapāla, bhāsitassa kathaṁ attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
atthi te koci anusāyiko ābādho”ti?
“Atthi me, bho raṭṭhapāla, anusāyiko ābādho.
Appekadā maṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā parivāretvā ṭhitā honti:
‘idāni rājā korabyo kālaṁ karissati, idāni rājā korabyo kālaṁ karissatī’”ti.
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
labhasi tvaṁ te mittāmacce ñātisālohite:
‘āyantu me bhonto mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā, sabbeva santā imaṁ vedanaṁ saṁvibhajatha, yathāhaṁ lahukatarikaṁ vedanaṁ vediyeyyan’ti—
udāhu tvaṁyeva taṁ vedanaṁ vediyasī”ti?
“Nāhaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, labhāmi te mittāmacce ñātisālohite:

In this royal court you can find divisions of elephants, cavalry, chariots, and infantry. They will serve to defend us from any threats. Yet you said: ‘The world has no shelter and no savior.’ How should I see the meaning of this statement?” “What do you think, Great King? Do you have any chronic ailments?” “Yes, I do. Sometimes my friends and colleagues, relatives and kin surround me, thinking: ‘Now the king will die! Now the king will die!’” “What do you think, Great King? Can you get your friends and colleagues, relatives and kin to help: ‘Please, my dear friends and colleagues, relatives and kin, all of you here share my pain so that I may feel less pain.’ Or must you alone feel that pain?” “I can’t get my friends to share my pain.

‘āyantu me bhonto mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā, sabbeva santā imaṁ vedanaṁ saṁvibhajatha, yathāhaṁ lahukatarikaṁ vedanaṁ vediyeyyan’ti.
Atha kho ahameva taṁ vedanaṁ vediyāmī”ti.
“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:
‘atāṇo loko anabhissaro’ti,
yamahaṁ ñatvā ca disvā ca sutvā ca agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito”ti.
“Acchariyaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, abbhutaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla.
Yāva subhāsitaṁ cidaṁ tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena:
‘atāṇo loko anabhissaro’ti.
Atāṇo hi, bho raṭṭhapāla, loko anabhissaro.

Rather, I alone must feel it.” “This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said: ‘The world has no shelter and no savior.’” “It’s incredible, worthy Raṭṭhapāla, it’s amazing, how well said this was by the Buddha. For the world indeed has no shelter and no savior.

Saṁvijjati kho, bho raṭṭhapāla, imasmiṁ rājakule pahūtaṁ hiraññasuvaṇṇaṁ bhūmigatañca vehāsagatañca.
‘Assako loko, sabbaṁ pahāya gamanīyan’ti—
bhavaṁ raṭṭhapālo āha.
Imassa pana, bho raṭṭhapāla, bhāsitassa kathaṁ attho daṭṭhabbo”ti?
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja,
yathā tvaṁ etarahi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgībhūto paricāresi, lacchasi tvaṁ paratthāpi:
‘evamevāhaṁ imeheva pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgībhūto paricāremī’ti, udāhu aññe imaṁ bhogaṁ paṭipajjissanti, tvaṁ pana yathākammaṁ gamissasī”ti?
“Yathāhaṁ, bho raṭṭhapāla, etarahi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgībhūto paricāremi, nāhaṁ lacchāmi paratthāpi:
‘evameva imeheva pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgībhūto paricāremī’ti.
Atha kho aññe imaṁ bhogaṁ paṭipajjissanti; ahaṁ pana yathākammaṁ gamissāmī”ti.
“Idaṁ kho taṁ, mahārāja, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena sandhāya bhāsitaṁ:

In this royal court you can find abundant gold, both coined and uncoined, stored above and below ground. Yet you said: ‘The world has no owner—you must leave it all behind and pass on.’ How should I see the meaning of this statement?” “What do you think, Great King? These days you amuse yourself, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. But is there any way to ensure that in the next life you will continue to amuse yourself in the same way, supplied and provided with the same five kinds of sensual stimulation? Or will others make use of this property, while you pass on according to your deeds?” “There’s no way to ensure that I will continue to amuse myself in the same way. Rather, others will take over this property, while I pass on according to my deeds.” “This is what the Buddha was referring to when he said:

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