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Sutta Nipāta 1.12

Munisutta

The Sage · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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Santhavāto bhayaṁ jātaṁ,
niketā jāyate rajo;
Aniketamasanthavaṁ,
etaṁ ve munidassanaṁ.

Peril stems from intimacy, dust comes from an abode. Freedom from abode and intimacy: that is the sage’s vision.

Yo jātamucchijja na ropayeyya,
Jāyantamassa nānuppavecche;
Tamāhu ekaṁ muninaṁ carantaṁ,
Addakkhi so santipadaṁ mahesi.

Having cut down what’s grown, they wouldn’t replant, nor would they nurture what’s growing. That’s who they call a sage wandering alone, the great seer has seen the state of peace.

Saṅkhāya vatthūni pamāya bījaṁ,
Sinehamassa nānuppavecche;
Sa ve munī jātikhayantadassī,
Takkaṁ pahāya na upeti saṅkhaṁ.

Having appraised the fields and measured the seeds, they wouldn’t nurture them with moisture. Truly that sage who sees the ending of rebirth has left speculation behind and is beyond reckoning.

Aññāya sabbāni nivesanāni,
Anikāmayaṁ aññatarampi tesaṁ;
Sa ve munī vītagedho agiddho,
Nāyūhatī pāragato hi hoti.

Understanding all the planes of rebirth, not wanting a single one of them; truly that sage freed of greed need not swim, for they have reached the far shore.

Sabbābhibhuṁ sabbaviduṁ sumedhaṁ,
Sabbesu dhammesu anūpalittaṁ;
Sabbañjahaṁ taṇhakkhaye vimuttaṁ,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

The vanquisher of all, knower of all, so very intelligent, unsullied in the midst of all things, has given up all, freed in the ending of craving: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Paññābalaṁ sīlavatūpapannaṁ,
Samāhitaṁ jhānarataṁ satīmaṁ;
Saṅgā pamuttaṁ akhilaṁ anāsavaṁ,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

Strong in wisdom, with precepts and observances intact, serene, loving absorption, mindful, released from chains, kind, undefiled: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Ekaṁ carantaṁ munimappamattaṁ,
Nindāpasaṁsāsu avedhamānaṁ;
Sīhaṁva saddesu asantasantaṁ,
Vātaṁva jālamhi asajjamānaṁ;
Padmaṁva toyena alippamānaṁ,
Netāramaññesamanaññaneyyaṁ;
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

The diligent sage wandering alone, is unshaken by blame and praise— like a lion not startled by sounds, like wind not caught in a net, like water not sticking to a lotus. Leader of others, not by others led: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Yo ogahaṇe thambhorivābhijāyati,
Yasmiṁ pare vācāpariyantaṁ vadanti;
Taṁ vītarāgaṁ susamāhitindriyaṁ,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

Steady as a post in a bathing-place when others speak endlessly against them, freed of greed, with senses stilled: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Yo ve ṭhitatto tasaraṁva ujju,
Jigucchati kammehi pāpakehi;
Vīmaṁsamāno visamaṁ samañca,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

Steadfast, straight as a spindle, horrified by wicked deeds, discerning the just and the unjust: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Yo saññatatto na karoti pāpaṁ,
Daharo majjhimo ca muni yatatto;
Arosaneyyo na so roseti kañci,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

Restrained, they do no evil, young or middle-aged, the sage is self-controlled. Irreproachable, he does not insult anyone: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Yadaggato majjhato sesato vā,
Piṇḍaṁ labhetha paradattūpajīvī;
Nālaṁ thutuṁ nopi nipaccavādī,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

When one who lives on charity receives alms, from the top, the middle, or the leftovers, they think it unworthy to praise or put down: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Muniṁ carantaṁ virataṁ methunasmā,
Yo yobbane nopanibajjhate kvaci;
Madappamādā virataṁ vippamuttaṁ,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

The sage lives refraining from sex, even when young is not tied down, refraining from indulgence and negligence, freed: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Aññāya lokaṁ paramatthadassiṁ,
Oghaṁ samuddaṁ atitariya tādiṁ;
Taṁ chinnaganthaṁ asitaṁ anāsavaṁ,
Taṁ vāpi dhīrā muni vedayanti.

Understanding the world, the seer of the ultimate goal, the unaffected one, having crossed the flood and the ocean, has cut the ties, unattached and undefiled: that’s who the attentive know as a sage.

Asamā ubho dūravihāravuttino,
Gihī dāraposī amamo ca subbato;
Parapāṇarodhāya gihī asaññato,
Niccaṁ munī rakkhati pāṇine yato.

The two are not the same, far apart in lifestyle and conduct— the householder providing for a wife, and the selfless one true to their vows. The unrestrained householder kills other creatures, while the restrained sage always protects living creatures.

Sikhī yathā nīlagīvo vihaṅgamo,
Haṁsassa nopeti javaṁ kudācanaṁ;
Evaṁ gihī nānukaroti bhikkhuno,
Munino vivittassa vanamhi jhāyatoti.
Munisuttaṁ dvādasamaṁ.
Uragavaggo paṭhamo.

As the crested blue-necked peacock flying through the sky never approaches the speed of the swan, so the householder cannot compete with the mendicant, the sage meditating secluded in the woods.

Tassuddānaṁ
Urago dhaniyo ceva,
visāṇañca tathā kasi;
Cundo parābhavo ceva,
vasalo mettabhāvanā.

This is its summary: The Serpent, Dhaniya, and the Rhinoceros, thus the Plowing; Cunda, the Downfall, the Outcaste, and the Development of Loving-Kindness.

Sātāgiro āḷavako,
Vijayo ca tathā muni;
Dvādasetāni suttāni,
Uragavaggoti vuccatīti.

Sātāgira, Āḷavaka, and Vijaya the sage: these twelve discourses are called the Uraga Chapter.

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