Aṅgulimālasutta

Majjhima Nikāya 86

With Aṅgulimāla · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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thenAtha indeedkho the Blessed Onebhagavā with the venerableāyasmatā with Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālena as his second monkpacchāsamaṇena whereyena Sāvatthīsāvatthi theretena walking tourcārikaṁ set outpakkāmi.
stage by stageAnupubbena walking tourcārikaṁ wanderingcaramāno whereyena Sāvatthīsāvatthi arrived attadavasari.
thereTatra indeedsudaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā in Sāvatthīsāvatthiyaṁ stayedviharati in Jeta's Grovejetavane of Anāthapiṇḍikaanāthapiṇḍikassa in the monasteryārāme.

Then the Buddha set out for Sāvatthī with Venerable Aṅgulimāla as his second monk. Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Sāvatthī, where he stayed in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

by thatTena indeedkho thenpana at the timesamayena of the kingrañño Pasenadipasenadissa of Kosalakosalassa at the gate of the royal compoundantepuradvāre a crowdmahājanakāyo having gatheredsannipatitvā a colossal racketuccāsaddo a loud noisemahāsaddo there ishoti:
a bandit“coro yourte, Your Majestydeva, in your realmvijite Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo namednāma violentluddo bloody-handedlohitapāṇi a hardened killerhatapahate committedniviṭṭho mercilessadayāpanno to living beingspāṇabhūtesu.
by himTena villages toogāmāpi made non-villagesagāmā madekatā, towns toonigamāpi made non-townsanigamā madekatā, countries toojanapadāpi made non-countriesajanapadā madekatā.
heSo humansmanusse having murderedvadhitvā having murderedvadhitvā of fingersaṅgulīnaṁ a necklacemālaṁ wearsdhāreti.
himTaṁ Your Majestydevo must put a stop topaṭisedhetū”ti.

Now at that time a crowd had gathered by the gate of King Pasenadi’s royal compound making a colossal racket, “In your realm, Your Majesty, 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. Your Majesty must put a stop to him!”

thenAtha indeedkho kingrājā Pasenadipasenadi of Kosalakosalo with around five hundredpañcamattehi horsesassasatehi from Sāvatthīsāvatthiyā drove outnikkhami in the daydivā of the daydivassa.
whereYena monasteryārāmo theretena enteredpāvisi.
as far asYāvatikā of the carriageyānassa groundbhūmi by carriageyānena having gonegantvā from carriageyānā having descendedpaccorohitvā on footpattikova whereyena the Blessed Onebhagavā approached him theretenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Blessed Onebhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat downnisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinnaṁ indeedkho kingrājānaṁ Pasenadipasenadiṁ of Kosalakosalaṁ the Blessed Onebhagavā said thisetadavoca:
what“kiṁ nownu to youte, great kingmahārāja, kingrājā orvā of Magadhamāgadho Seniyaseniyo Bimbisārabimbisāro angrykupito of Vesālīvesālikā orvā Licchavislicchavī otheraññe orvā opposing rulerspaṭirājāno”ti?

Then King Pasenadi drove out from Sāvatthī in the middle of the day with around five hundred horses, heading for the monastery. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the Buddha on foot. He bowed and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him, “What is it, Great King? Is King Seniya Bimbisāra of Magadha angry with you, or the Licchavis of Vesālī, or some other opposing ruler?”

no“Na indeedkho to meme, sirbhante, kingrājā of Magadhamāgadho Seniyaseniyo Bimbisārabimbisāro angrykupito, nornāpi of Vesālīvesālikā Licchavīslicchavī, nornāpi otheraññe rival kingspaṭirājāno.
banditCoro to meme, sirbhante, in realmvijite Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo namednāma violentluddo bloody-handedlohitapāṇi hardened killerhatapahate settledniviṭṭho mercilessadayāpanno to living beingspāṇabhūtesu.
by himTena villages toogāmāpi non-villagesagāmā madekatā, towns toonigamāpi non-townsanigamā madekatā, countryside toojanapadāpi non-countrysideajanapadā madekatā.
heSo peoplemanusse having killedvadhitvā having killedvadhitvā of fingersaṅgulīnaṁ garlandmālaṁ wearsdhāreti.
him ITāhaṁ, sirbhante, I shall stoppaṭisedhissāmī”ti.

“No, sir. In my realm there is a bandit named Aṅgulimāla. He is violent, bloody-handed, a hardened killer, merciless to living beings. … I shall put a stop to him.”

if“Sace butpana youtvaṁ, great kingmahārāja, Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālaṁ you would seepasseyyāsi hair and beardkesamassuṁ having shaved offohāretvā ocherkāsāyāni robesvatthāni having dressed inacchādetvā from the lay lifeagārasmā to homelessnessanagāriyaṁ gone forthpabbajitaṁ, refrainingvirataṁ from killing living creaturespāṇātipātā, refrainingvirataṁ from stealingadinnādānā, refrainingvirataṁ from lyingmusāvādā, eating in one part of the dayekabhattikaṁ, chastebrahmacāriṁ, ethicalsīlavantaṁ, of good characterkalyāṇadhammaṁ, whatkinti himnaṁ would you dokareyyāsī”ti?
we would bow to him“Abhivādeyyāma orvā, sirbhante, we would rise in his presencepaccuṭṭheyyāma orvā with a seatāsanena orvā we would offernimanteyyāma, we would inviteabhinimanteyyāma orvā himnaṁ with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sickcīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārehi, lawfuldhammikaṁ orvā for himassa guarding and protectionrakkhāvaraṇaguttiṁ we would organizesaṁvidaheyyāma.
howKuto but for himpanassa, sirbhante, of an immoraldussīlassa of an evil manpāpadhammassa suchevarūpo virtue and restraintsīlasaṁyamo will there bebhavissatī”ti?

“But, Great King, suppose you were to see that Aṅgulimāla had shaved off his hair and beard, dressed in ocher robes, and gone forth from the lay life to homelessness. And that he was refraining from killing living creatures, stealing, and lying; that he was eating in one part of the day, and was chaste, ethical, and of good character. What would you do to him?” “I would bow to him, rise in his presence, or offer him a seat. I’d invite him to accept robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. And I’d organize his lawful guarding and protection. But sir, how could such an immoral, evil man ever have such virtue and restraint?”

at thatTena indeedkho thenpana at the timesamayena venerableāyasmā Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo of the Buddhabhagavato not faravidūre sittingnisinno washoti.
thenAtha indeedkho the Buddhabhagavā rightdakkhiṇaṁ armbāhuṁ having raisedpaggahetvā kingrājānaṁ Pasenadipasenadiṁ of Kosalakosalaṁ said thisetadavoca:
this“eso, great kingmahārāja, is Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho of the kingrañño Pasenadipasenadissa of Kosalakosalassa there was indeedahudeva fearbhayaṁ, wasahu tremblingchambhitattaṁ, wasahu hair-raisinglomahaṁso.
thenAtha indeedkho the Buddhabhagavā kingrājānaṁ Pasenadipasenadiṁ of Kosalakosalaṁ afraidbhītaṁ agitatedsaṁviggaṁ with hair standing on endlomahaṭṭhajātaṁ having knownviditvā kingrājānaṁ Pasenadipasenadiṁ of Kosalakosalaṁ said thisetadavoca:
do not“mā fearbhāyi, great kingmahārāja, there is notnatthi for youte from hereito fearbhayan”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho of the kingrañño Pasenadipasenadissa of Kosalakosalassa that whichyaṁ wasahosi fearbhayaṁ orvā tremblingchambhitattaṁ orvā hair-raisinglomahaṁso orvā itso subsidedpaṭippassambhi.
thenAtha indeedkho the kingrājā Pasenadipasenadi of Kosalakosalo where venerableyenāyasmā Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo there he approachedtenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā venerableāyasmantaṁ Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālaṁ said thisetadavoca:
is the master“ayyo indeedno, sirbhante, Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo”ti?
yes“Evaṁ, great kingmahārājā”ti.
of what clan“Kathaṅgotto of the masterayyassa fatherpitā, of what clankathaṅgottā mothermātā”ti?
Gagga“Gaggo indeedkho, great kingmahārāja, fatherpitā, Mantāṇīmantāṇī mothermātā”ti.

Now at that time Venerable Aṅgulimāla was sitting not far from the Buddha. Then the Buddha pointed with his right arm and said to the king, “Great king, this is Aṅgulimāla.” Then the king became frightened, scared, his hair standing on end. Knowing this, the Buddha said to him, “Do not fear, Great King. You have nothing to fear from him.” Then the king’s fear died down. Then the king went over to Aṅgulimāla and said, “Sir, is the master really Aṅgulimāla?” “Yes, Great King.” “What clans were your father and mother from?” “My father was a Gagga, and my mother a Mantāṇī.”

may he delight“Abhiramatu, sirbhante, masterayyo Gaggagaggo son of Mantāṇīmantāṇiputto.
I for masterAhamayyassa Gagga'sgaggassa son of Mantāṇī'smantāṇiputtassa effortussukkaṁ I will makekarissāmi robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sickcīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānan”ti.

“Sir, may Master Gagga son of Mantāṇī be happy. I’ll make sure that you’re provided with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.”

at thatTena indeedkho thenpana at the timesamayena Venerableāyasmā Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo forest dwellerāraññiko washoti almsfood eaterpiṇḍapātiko rag-robe wearerpaṁsukūliko three-robe wearer.tecīvariko.
thenAtha indeedkho Venerableāyasmā Aṅgulimālaaṅgulimālo the kingrājānaṁ Pasenadipasenadiṁ Kosalakosalaṁ said this:etadavoca:
“Enough,“alaṁ, Great King,mahārāja, completeparipuṇṇaṁ myme robes”.cīvaran”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho Kingrājā Pasenadipasenadi Kosalakosalo whereyena the Buddhabhagavā approached him there;tenupasaṅkami; having approachedupasaṅkamitvā the Buddhabhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā to one sideekamantaṁ sat down.nisīdi. to one sideEkamantaṁ seatednisinno indeedkho Kingrājā Pasenadipasenadi Kosalakosalo the Buddhabhagavantaṁ said this:etadavoca:
“It's incredible,“acchariyaṁ, sir,bhante, it's amazing!abbhutaṁ, sir.bhante.
as far as this,Yāvañcidaṁ, sir,bhante, the Buddhabhagavā of the untamedadantānaṁ tamer,dametā, of the unpeacefulasantānaṁ pacifier,sametā, of the unquenchedaparinibbutānaṁ extinguisher.parinibbāpetā.
for whichYañhi we,mayaṁ, sir,bhante, we could notnāsakkhimhā with rod evendaṇḍenapi with sword evensatthenapi to tamedametuṁ heso by the Buddhabhagavatā without rodadaṇḍena without sword onlyasattheneva tamed.danto.
Well now,Handa andca nowdāni wemayaṁ, sir,bhante, go;gacchāma;
having many dutiesbahukiccā wemayaṁ having much to do”.bahukaraṇīyā”ti.
“For whom now,“Yassadāni, Great King,mahārāja, the timekālaṁ you think”.maññasī”ti.
thenAtha indeedkho Kingrājā Pasenadipasenadi Kosalakosalo having risen from his seatuṭṭhāyāsanā the Buddhabhagavantaṁ having bowedabhivādetvā a respectful circumambulationpadakkhiṇaṁ having madekatvā departed.pakkāmi.

But at that time Venerable Aṅgulimāla lived in the wilderness, ate only almsfood, and owned just three robes. So he said to the king, “Enough, Great King. My robes are complete.” Then the king went back to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing! How the Buddha tames those who are wild, pacifies those who are violent, and extinguishes those who are unquenched! For I was not able to tame him with the rod and the sword, but the Buddha tamed him without rod or sword. Well, now, sir, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.” “Please, Great King, go at your convenience.” Then King Pasenadi rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.

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