Aṅgulimālasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 86

With Aṅgulimāla · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thusEvaṁ by meme heard—sutaṁ—
oneekaṁ timesamayaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ is stayingviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa in the monastery.ārāme.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

at thatTena indeedkho thenpana at the timesamayena of the kingrañño Pasenadipasenadissa of Kosalakosalassa in the realmvijite a banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo namednāma there washoti violentluddo bloody-handedlohitapāṇi a hardened killerhatapahate establishedniviṭṭho mercilessadayāpanno toward living beingspāṇabhūtesu.
by himTena village·toogāmāpi non·villageagāmā were madekatā, town·toonigamāpi non·townanigamā were madekatā, country·toojanapadāpi non·countryajanapadā were madekatā.
heSo humansmanusse having killedvadhitvā having killedvadhitvā of fingersaṅgulīnaṁ a necklacemālaṁ he wearsdhāreti.

Now at that time in the realm of King Pasenadi of Kosala there was a bandit named Aṅgulimāla. He was violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. He laid waste to villages, towns, and countries. He was constantly murdering humans, and he wore their fingers as a necklace.

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā morning·timepubbaṇhasamayaṁ down·clothenivāsetvā bowl·robe·takepattacīvaramādāya Sāvatthīsāvatthiṁ for almspiṇḍāya enteredpāvisi.
in SāvatthīSāvatthiyaṁ for almspiṇḍāya having wanderedcaritvā after·mealpacchābhattaṁ almsround·returnpiṇḍapātapaṭikkanto lodgingssenāsanaṁ together·arrangesaṁsāmetvā bowl·robe·takepattacīvaramādāya whereyena banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo along that roadtenaddhānamaggaṁ he traveledpaṭipajji.
sawAddasāsuṁ indeedkho cow·keepergopālakā beast·keeperpasupālakā farmerskassakā travelerspathāvino the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ whereyena banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo traveling along that roadtenaddhānamaggapaṭipannaṁ.
having seenDisvāna the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ said thisetadavocuṁ:
do not“mā, asceticsamaṇa, thisetaṁ roadmaggaṁ takepaṭipajji.
on thisEtasmiṁ, asceticsamaṇa, roadmagge banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo namednāma violentluddo blood·handlohitapāṇi slain·killedhatapahate down·settleniviṭṭho not·mercy·reachadayāpanno to living beingspāṇabhūtesu.
by himTena village·toogāmāpi not·villageagāmā madekatā, town·toonigamāpi not·townanigamā madekatā, country·toojanapadāpi not·countryajanapadā madekatā.
heSo humansmanusse having murderedvadhitvā having murderedvadhitvā of fingersaṅgulīnaṁ a necklacemālaṁ wearsdhāreti.
this indeedEtañhi, asceticsamaṇa, roadmaggaṁ ten·evendasapi menpurisā even twentyvīsampi menpurisā even thirtytiṁsampi menpurisā even fortycattārīsampi menpurisā even fiftypaññāsampi menpurisā having banded togethersaṅkaritvā having banded togethersaṅkaritvā they travelpaṭipajjanti.
they tooTepi of the banditcorassa of Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālassa into the handhatthatthaṁ they gogacchantī”ti.
thusEvaṁ when saidvutte, the Blessed Onebhagavā silent·betuṇhībhūto wentagamāsi.
for a second time tooDutiyampi indeedkho cow·keepergopālakā …pe……pe…

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, he walked down the road that led to Aṅgulimāla. The cowherds, shepherds, farmers, and travelers saw him on the road, and said to him, “Don’t take this road, ascetic. On this road there is a bandit named Aṅgulimāla. He is violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. He has laid waste to villages, towns, and countries. He is constantly murdering humans, and he wears their fingers as a necklace. People travel along this road only after banding closely together in groups of ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty. Still they meet their end by Aṅgulimāla’s hand.” But when they said this, the Buddha went on in silence. For a second time …

third·tootatiyampi indeedkho cowherdsgopālakā herdsmenpasupālakā farmerskassakā travellerspathāvino the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ this·sayetadavocuṁ:
do not“mā, asceticsamaṇa, thisetaṁ roadmaggaṁ do not takepaṭipajji, on thisetasmiṁ asceticsamaṇa roadmagge robbercoro Angulimālaaṅgulimālo namednāma cruelluddo blood·handlohitapāṇi given to violencehatapahate settledniviṭṭho mercilessadayāpanno breathing·beingspāṇabhūtesu, by himtena village·toogāmāpi non-·villageagāmā madekatā, town·toonigamāpi non-townsanigamā madekatā, country·toojanapadāpi non-countriesajanapadā madekatā.
heSo peoplemanusse having killedvadhitvā having killedvadhitvā of fingersaṅgulīnaṁ garlandmālaṁ wearsdhāreti.
this·indeedEtañhi asceticsamaṇa roadmaggaṁ even tendasapi menpurisā even twentyvīsampi menpurisā even thirtytiṁsampi menpurisā even fortycattārīsampi menpurisā even fiftypaññāsampi menpurisā having gathered togethersaṅkaritvā having gathered togethersaṅkaritvā they takepaṭipajjanti.
they tooTepi of the robbercorassa of Angulimālaaṅgulimālassa into the handshatthatthaṁ they gogacchantī”ti.

and a third time, they urged the Buddha to turn back.

thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā silent·becometuṇhībhūto wentagamāsi.
sawAddasā indeedkho the banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ from afar evendūratova comingāgacchantaṁ.
see + himDisvānassa this occurred to himetadahosi:
wonderful“acchariyaṁ indeedvata sirbho, amazingabbhutaṁ indeedvata sirbho.
this + indeedImañhi roadmaggaṁ ten·evendasapi menpurisā twenty + evenvīsampi menpurisā thirty + eventiṁsampi menpurisā forty + evencattārīsampi menpurisā fifty + evenpaññāsampi menpurisā together·makesaṅkaritvā together·makesaṅkaritvā they travelpaṭipajjanti.
they·tooTepi mymama into the handhatthatthaṁ they gogacchanti.
butAtha andca but thispanāyaṁ asceticsamaṇo aloneeko un-·secondadutiyo by forcepasayha I supposemaññe he comesāgacchati.
why + IYannūnāhaṁ thisimaṁ asceticsamaṇaṁ of lifejīvitā deprivevoropeyyan”ti.

But when they said this, the Buddha went on in silence. The bandit Aṅgulimāla saw the Buddha coming off in the distance, and thought, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! People travel along this road only after banding closely together in groups of ten, twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty. Still they meet their end by my hand. But still this ascetic comes along alone and unaccompanied, like a conqueror. Why don’t I take his life?”

thenAtha indeedkho the banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo sword·shieldasicammaṁ having takengahetvā bow·quiverdhanukalāpaṁ having fastenedsannayhitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ from behindpiṭṭhito from behindpiṭṭhito followedanubandhi.
thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā so·formtathārūpaṁ psychic poweriddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ towards·willabhisaṅkhāsi so thatyathā the banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ at normal speedpakatiyā walkinggacchantaṁ with all strengthsabbathāmena goinggacchanto notna is ablesakkoti to catch up withsampāpuṇituṁ.
thenAtha indeedkho of the banditcorassa of Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālassa this occurred to himetadahosi:
“incredible“acchariyaṁ indeedvata oh lordbho, amazingabbhutaṁ indeedvata oh lordbho.
I + indeedAhañhi previouslypubbe elephant + evenhatthimpi runningdhāvantaṁ after·chaseanupatitvā I catchgaṇhāmi, horse + evenassampi runningdhāvantaṁ after·chaseanupatitvā I catchgaṇhāmi, chariot + evenrathampi runningdhāvantaṁ after·chaseanupatitvā I catchgaṇhāmi, deer + evenmigampi runningdhāvantaṁ after·chaseanupatitvā I catchgaṇhāmi;
but nowatha andca then Ipanāhaṁ thisimaṁ asceticsamaṇaṁ at normal speedpakatiyā walkinggacchantaṁ with all strengthsabbathāmena goinggacchanto notna I am ablesakkomi to catch up withsampāpuṇitun”ti.
stood stillṬhitova the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ this he saidetadavoca:
“stop“tiṭṭha, stoptiṭṭha, asceticsamaṇā”ti.
“I have stopped“Ṭhito Iahaṁ, Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimāla, you + andtvañca stoptiṭṭhā”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho of the banditcorassa of Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālassa this occurred to himetadahosi:
“these“ime indeedkho asceticssamaṇā Sakyan·sonsakyaputtiyā truth·speakersaccavādino truth-proclaimerssaccapaṭiññā.
thenAtha but thispanāyaṁ asceticsamaṇo walkinggacchaṁ yet saysyevāha:

Then Aṅgulimāla donned his sword and shield, fastened his bow and arrows, and followed behind the Buddha. But the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Aṅgulimāla could not catch up with him no matter how hard he tried, even though the Buddha kept walking at a normal speed. Then Aṅgulimāla thought, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! Previously, even when I’ve chased a speeding elephant, horse, chariot or deer, I’ve always caught up with them. But I can’t catch up with this ascetic no matter how hard I try, even though he’s walking at a normal speed.” He stood still and said, “Stop, stop, ascetic!” “I’ve stopped, Aṅgulimāla—now you stop.” Then Aṅgulimāla thought, “These ascetics who follow the Sakyan speak the truth. Yet while walking the ascetic says:

I have stopped‘ṭhito Iahaṁ, Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimāla, you·andtvañca stoptiṭṭhā’ti.
why + IYannūnāhaṁ thisimaṁ reclusesamaṇaṁ should askpuccheyyan”ti.

‘I’ve stopped, Aṅgulimāla—now you stop.’ Why don’t I ask him about this?”

thenAtha indeedkho banditcoro Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ in versegāthāya addressedajjhabhāsi:
walking“Gacchaṁ you sayvadesi asceticsamaṇa I have stoppedṭhitomhi,
and meMamañca you saybrūsi stopped—not stoppedṭhitamaṭṭhitoti;
I askPucchāmi youtaṁ asceticsamaṇa this matteretamatthaṁ,
howKathaṁ stoppedṭhito youtvaṁ and I am not stoppedahamaṭṭhitomhī”ti.
stopped“Ṭhito Iahaṁ Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimāla alwayssabbadā,
toward allSabbesu creaturesbhūtesu down·putnidhāya violencedaṇḍaṁ;
but youTuvañca toward living creaturespāṇesu are unrestrainedasaññatosi,
thereforeTasmā I have stoppedṭhitohaṁ you are not stoppedtuvamaṭṭhitosī”ti.
at long last“Cirassaṁ indeedvata to meme renownedmahito great seermahesī,
great forestMahāvanaṁ reachedpāpuṇi truth-speakersaccavādī;
so ISohaṁ I shall livecarissāmi away·abandonpahāya evilpāpaṁ,
having heardSutvāna versegāthaṁ yourtava connected with Dhammadhammayuttaṁ”.
with these wordsItveva banditcoro sword and weaponsasimāvudhañca,
into a pitSobbhe into an abysspapāte into a chasmnarake hurledakiri;
veneratedAvandi banditcoro of the Holy Onesugatassa feetpāde,
right thereTattheva himnaṁ going forthpabbajjaṁ requestedayāci.
the BuddhaBuddho andca indeedkho compassionatekāruṇiko great seermahesi,
whoYo Teachersatthā of the worldlokassa with its godssadevakassa;
come, monk“Tamehi monkbhikkhū”ti thentadā saidavoca,
that veryEseva for himtassa wasahu monkhoodbhikkhubhāvoti.

Then he addressed the Buddha in verse: “While walking, ascetic, you say ‘I’ve stopped.’ And I have stopped, but you tell me I’ve not. I’m asking you this, ascetic: how is it you’ve stopped and I have not?” “Aṅgulimāla, I have forever stopped— I’ve laid aside violence toward all creatures. But you can’t stop yourself from harming living creatures; that’s why I’ve stopped, but you have not.” “Oh, at long last a renowned great seer, an ascetic has followed me into this deep wood. Now that I’ve heard your verse on Dhamma, I shall live without evil.” With these words, the bandit hurled his sword and weapons down a cliff into an abyss. He venerated the Holy One’s feet, and requested the going forth right away. Then the Buddha, the compassionate great seer, the Teacher of the world with its gods, said to him, “Come, monk!” And with that he became a monk.

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