Raṭṭhapālasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 82

With Raṭṭhapāla · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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theseIme indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, by thattena Blessed Onebhagavatā knowingjānatā seeingpassatā perfected onearahatā fully awakened Buddhasammāsambuddhena fourcattāro summaries of the teachingdhammuddesā taughtuddiṭṭhā, whichye Iahaṁ having knownñatvā andca having seendisvā andca having heardsutvā andca from the lay lifeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ went forthpabbajito”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.”

“‘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.”

this“Idaṁ indeedkho thattaṁ, great kingmahārāja, by thattena by the Blessed Onebhagavatā by the one knowingjānatā by the one seeingpassatā by the Worthy Onearahatā by the Perfectly Enlightened Onesammāsambuddhena having referred tosandhāya spokenbhāsitaṁ:
is swept away‘upaniyyati the worldloko unstableaddhuvo’ti,
which Iyamahaṁ having knownñatvā andca having seendisvā andca having heardsutvā andca from homeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ went forthpabbajito”ti.
incredible“Acchariyaṁ, worthybho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, amazingabbhutaṁ, worthybho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla.
howYāva well spoken indeed thissubhāsitañcidaṁ by thattena by the Blessed Onebhagavatā by the one knowingjānatā by the one seeingpassatā by the Worthy Onearahatā by the Perfectly Enlightened Onesammāsambuddhena:
is swept away‘upaniyyati the worldloko unstableaddhuvo’ti.
is swept awayUpaniyyati indeedhi, worthybho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, the worldloko unstableaddhuvo.

“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.

are foundSaṁvijjante indeedkho, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, in thisimasmiṁ royal courtrājakule elephant divisionshatthikāyāpi cavalry divisionsassakāyāpi chariot divisionsrathakāyāpi infantry divisionspattikāyāpi, ouramhākaṁ in misfortunesāpadāsu for defensepariyodhāya will servevattissanti.
without shelter‘Atāṇo worldloko without savioranabhissaro’ti—
venerablebhavaṁ Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo saidāha.
of thisImassa thenpana, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, of the statementbhāsitassa howkathaṁ meaningattho should be seendaṭṭhabbo”ti?
that“Taṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññasi, Great Kingmahārāja,
is thereatthi to youte anykoci chronicanusāyiko ailmentābādho”ti?
there is“Atthi to meme, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, chronicanusāyiko ailmentābādho.
sometimesAppekadā memaṁ, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, friends and colleaguesmittāmaccā relatives and kinñātisālohitā having surroundedparivāretvā standingṭhitā arehonti:
now‘idāni kingrājā Korabyakorabyo timekālaṁ will makekarissati, nowidāni kingrājā Korabyakorabyo timekālaṁ will makekarissatī’”ti.
that“Taṁ whatkiṁ do you thinkmaññasi, Great Kingmahārāja,
can you getlabhasi youtvaṁ thosete friends and colleaguesmittāmacce relatives and kinñātisālohite:
let them come‘āyantu myme sirsbhonto friends and colleaguesmittāmaccā relatives and kinñātisālohitā, all of yousabbeva beingsantā thisimaṁ painvedanaṁ sharesaṁvibhajatha, so that Iyathāhaṁ lighterlahukatarikaṁ painvedanaṁ would feelvediyeyyan’ti—
orudāhu you alonetvaṁyeva thattaṁ painvedanaṁ you feelvediyasī”ti?
I do not“Nāhaṁ, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, I can getlabhāmi thosete friends and colleaguesmittāmacce relatives and kinñātisālohite:

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.

let come‘āyantu to meme sirsbhonto friends and ministersmittāmaccā relatives and kinñātisālohitā, all indeedsabbeva beingsantā thisimaṁ feelingvedanaṁ sharesaṁvibhajatha, so that Iyathāhaṁ lighterlahukatarikaṁ feelingvedanaṁ might feelvediyeyyan’ti.
thenAtha indeedkho I aloneahameva thattaṁ feelingvedanaṁ I feelvediyāmī”ti.
this“Idaṁ indeedkho thattaṁ, great kingmahārāja, by thattena Blessed Onebhagavatā knowingjānatā seeingpassatā worthy onearahatā fully awakened onesammāsambuddhena referring tosandhāya spokenbhāsitaṁ:
without shelter‘atāṇo worldloko without savioranabhissaro’ti,
which Iyamahaṁ having knownñatvā andca having seendisvā andca having heardsutvā andca from homeagārasmā into homelessnessanagāriyaṁ went forthpabbajito”ti.
wonderful“Acchariyaṁ, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, amazingabbhutaṁ, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla.
howYāva well spokensubhāsitaṁ indeed thiscidaṁ by thattena Blessed Onebhagavatā knowingjānatā seeingpassatā worthy onearahatā fully awakened onesammāsambuddhena:
without shelter‘atāṇo worldloko without savioranabhissaro’ti.
without shelterAtāṇo indeedhi, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, worldloko without savioranabhissaro.

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.

is foundSaṁvijjati indeedkho, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, in thisimasmiṁ royal familyrājakule abundantpahūtaṁ gold and moneyhiraññasuvaṇṇaṁ and stored in the groundbhūmigatañca and stored above groundvehāsagatañca.
ownerless‘Assako worldloko, allsabbaṁ having abandonedpahāya one must gogamanīyan’ti—
honorablebhavaṁ Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapālo saidāha.
of thisImassa howeverpana, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, of the statementbhāsitassa howkathaṁ the meaningattho is to be seendaṭṭhabbo”ti?
that“Taṁ whatkiṁ you thinkmaññasi, great kingmahārāja,
just asyathā youtvaṁ nowetarahi with fivepañcahi kinds of sensual stimulationkāmaguṇehi suppliedsamappito endowedsamaṅgībhūto you amuse yourselfparicāresi, you will getlacchasi youtvaṁ in the next life tooparatthāpi:
just so I‘evamevāhaṁ with these very sameimeheva with fivepañcahi kinds of sensual stimulationkāmaguṇehi suppliedsamappito endowedsamaṅgībhūto I will amuse myselfparicāremī’ti, orudāhu othersaññe thisimaṁ propertybhogaṁ will take overpaṭipajjissanti, youtvaṁ butpana according to your deedsyathākammaṁ you will pass ongamissasī”ti?
just as I“Yathāhaṁ, sirbho Raṭṭhapālaraṭṭhapāla, nowetarahi with fivepañcahi kinds of sensual stimulationkāmaguṇehi suppliedsamappito endowedsamaṅgībhūto I amuse myselfparicāremi, I won'tnāhaṁ I will getlacchāmi in the next life tooparatthāpi:
just so‘evameva with these very sameimeheva with fivepañcahi kinds of sensual stimulationkāmaguṇehi suppliedsamappito endowedsamaṅgībhūto I will amuse myselfparicāremī’ti.
thenAtha indeedkho othersaññe thisimaṁ propertybhogaṁ will take overpaṭipajjissanti; Iahaṁ butpana according to my deedsyathākammaṁ I will pass ongamissāmī”ti.
this“Idaṁ indeedkho thattaṁ, great kingmahārāja, by thattena Blessed Onebhagavatā who knowsjānatā who seespassatā the Arahantarahatā Perfectly Awakened Onesammāsambuddhena referring tosandhāya spokenbhāsitaṁ:

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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