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Sutta Nipāta 1.3

Khaggavisāṇasutta

The Rhinoceros Horn · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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“Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,
Aviheṭhayaṁ aññatarampi tesaṁ;
Na puttamiccheyya kuto sahāyaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

When you’ve laid down violence toward all creatures, not harming even a single one, don’t wish for a child, let alone a companion: live alone like a horned rhino.

“Saṁsaggajātassa bhavanti snehā,
Snehanvayaṁ dukkhamidaṁ pahoti;
Ādīnavaṁ snehajaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Those with close relationships have affection, following which this pain arises. Seeing this danger born of affection, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Mitte suhajje anukampamāno,
Hāpeti atthaṁ paṭibaddhacitto;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ santhave pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

When feelings for friends and loved ones are tied up in selfish love, you miss out on the goal. Seeing this peril in intimacy, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Vaṁso visālova yathā visatto,
Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā;
Vaṁsakkaḷīrova asajjamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

As a spreading bamboo gets entangled, so does concern for partners and children. Like a bamboo shoot unobstructed, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Migo araññamhi yathā abaddho,
Yenicchakaṁ gacchati gocarāya;
Viññū naro seritaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

As a wild deer loose in the forest grazes wherever it wants, a smart person looking for freedom would live alone like a horned rhino.

“Āmantanā hoti sahāyamajjhe,
Vāse ṭhāne gamane cārikāya;
Anabhijjhitaṁ seritaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

When among friends, whether staying in place or going on a journey, you’re always on call. Looking for the uncoveted freedom, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Khiḍḍā ratī hoti sahāyamajjhe,
Puttesu ca vipulaṁ hoti pemaṁ;
Piyavippayogaṁ vijigucchamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Among friends you have fun and games, and for children you are full of fondness. Though loathe to depart from those you hold dear, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Cātuddiso appaṭigho ca hoti,
Santussamāno itarītarena;
Parissayānaṁ sahitā achambhī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

At ease in any quarter, unresisting, content with whatever comes your way; prevailing over adversities, dauntless, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Dussaṅgahā pabbajitāpi eke,
Atho gahaṭṭhā gharamāvasantā;
Appossukko paraputtesu hutvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Even some renunciates are hard to please, as are some layfolk dwelling at home. Don’t worry about others’ children, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Oropayitvā gihibyañjanāni,
Sañchinnapatto yathā koviḷāro;
Chetvāna vīro gihibandhanāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Having shed the marks of the home life, like the fallen leaves of the Shady Orchid Tree; having cut the bonds of the home life, a hero would live alone like a horned rhino.

“Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni,
Careyya tenattamano satīmā”.

If you find an alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, overcoming all adversities, wander with them, joyful and mindful.

“No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya,
Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo”.

If you find no alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, like a king who flees his conquered realm, wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.

“Addhā pasaṁsāma sahāyasampadaṁ,
Seṭṭhā samā sevitabbā sahāyā;
Ete aladdhā anavajjabhojī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Clearly we praise the blessing of a friend, it’s good to be with friends your equal or better. But failing to find them, eating blamelessly, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Disvā suvaṇṇassa pabhassarāni,
Kammāraputtena suniṭṭhitāni;
Saṅghaṭṭamānāni duve bhujasmiṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Though made of shining gold, well-finished by a smith, when two bracelets share the same arm they clash up against each other. Seeing this, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Evaṁ dutīyena sahā mamassa,
Vācābhilāpo abhisajjanā vā;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ āyatiṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Thinking, “So too, if I had a partner, there’d be flattery or curses.” Seeing this peril in the future, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Kāmā hi citrā madhurā manoramā,
Virūparūpena mathenti cittaṁ;
Ādīnavaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Sensual pleasures are diverse, sweet, delightful; appearing in disguise they disturb the mind. Seeing danger in sensual stimulations, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Ītī ca gaṇḍo ca upaddavo ca,
Rogo ca sallañca bhayañca metaṁ;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

This is a calamity, a boil, a disaster, an illness, a dart, and a danger for me. Seeing this peril in sensuality, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Sītañca uṇhañca khudaṁ pipāsaṁ,
Vātātape ḍaṁsasarīsape ca;
Sabbānipetāni abhisambhavitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Heat and cold, hunger and thirst, wind and sun, flies and reptiles: having put up with all these things, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Nāgova yūthāni vivajjayitvā,
Sañjātakhandho padumī uḷāro;
Yathābhirantaṁ viharaṁ araññe,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

As a full-grown elephant, lotus-fond, magnificent, forsaking the herd, stays as it pleases in the forest, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Aṭṭhānataṁ saṅgaṇikāratassa,
Yaṁ phassaye sāmayikaṁ vimuttiṁ;
Ādiccabandhussa vaco nisamma,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

It’s impossible for one who delights in company to experience even temporary freedom. Heeding the speech of the Kinsman of the Sun, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Diṭṭhīvisūkāni upātivatto,
Patto niyāmaṁ paṭiladdhamaggo;
Uppannañāṇomhi anaññaneyyo,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Thinking, “I have left twisted views behind, reached the sure way, and gained the path; I’ve given rise to knowledge, and need no one to guide me”, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Nillolupo nikkuho nippipāso,
Nimmakkho niddhantakasāvamoho;
Nirāsayo sabbaloke bhavitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

No greed, no guile, no thirst, no slur, dross and delusion is smelted off; free of hoping for anything in the world, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Pāpaṁ sahāyaṁ parivajjayetha,
Anatthadassiṁ visame niviṭṭhaṁ;
Sayaṁ na seve pasutaṁ pamattaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Avoid a wicked companion, blind to the good, habitually immoral. Don’t befriend the heedless and the hankering, but live alone like a horned rhino.

“Bahussutaṁ dhammadharaṁ bhajetha,
Mittaṁ uḷāraṁ paṭibhānavantaṁ;
Aññāya atthāni vineyya kaṅkhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Spend time with the learned who have memorized the teachings, an eloquent and uplifting friend. When you understand the meanings and have dispelled doubt, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Khiḍḍaṁ ratiṁ kāmasukhañca loke,
Analaṅkaritvā anapekkhamāno;
Vibhūsanaṭṭhānā virato saccavādī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

When you realize that worldly fun and games and pleasure are inadequate, unconcerned with them, as one unadorned, a speaker of truth, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Puttañca dāraṁ pitarañca mātaraṁ,
Dhanāni dhaññāni ca bandhavāni;
Hitvāna kāmāni yathodhikāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Children, partner, father, mother, wealth and grain and relatives: having given up sensual pleasures to this extent, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Saṅgo eso parittamettha sokhyaṁ,
Appassādo dukkhamettha bhiyyo;
Gaḷo eso iti ñatvā matīmā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

“This is a chain. Here there’s hardly any happiness, little gratification, and it’s full of drawbacks. It’s a hook.” Knowing this, a thoughtful person would live alone like a horned rhino.

“Sandālayitvāna saṁyojanāni,
Jālaṁva bhetvā salilambucārī;
Aggīva daḍḍhaṁ anivattamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Having burst apart the fetters, like a fish that tears the net and swims free, or a fire not returning to ground it has burned, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Okkhittacakkhu na ca pādalolo,
Guttindriyo rakkhitamānasāno;
Anavassuto apariḍayhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Eyes downcast, not footloose, senses guarded, mind protected, not festering or burning with desire, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Ohārayitvā gihibyañjanāni,
Sañchannapatto yathā pārichatto;
Kāsāyavattho abhinikkhamitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Having shed the marks of the home life, like the fallen leaves of the Orchid Tree, and gone forth in the ocher robe, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Rasesu gedhaṁ akaraṁ alolo,
Anaññaposī sapadānacārī;
Kule kule appaṭibaddhacitto,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Not wanton, nor rousing greed for tastes, providing for no other, wandering indiscriminately for alms, not attached to this family or that, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Pahāya pañcāvaraṇāni cetaso,
Upakkilese byapanujja sabbe;
Anissito chetva sinehadosaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

When you’ve given up five mental obstacles, and cast aside all corruptions, and cut off affection and hate, being independent, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṁ dukhañca,
Pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṁ;
Laddhānupekkhaṁ samathaṁ visuddhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

When you’ve put pleasure and pain behind you, and former happiness and sadness, and gained equanimity serene and pure, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Āraddhaviriyo paramatthapattiyā,
Alīnacitto akusītavutti;
Daḷhanikkamo thāmabalūpapanno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

With energy roused to reach the ultimate goal, not sluggish in mind or lazy, vigorous, strong and powerful, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Paṭisallānaṁ jhānamariñcamāno,
Dhammesu niccaṁ anudhammacārī;
Ādīnavaṁ sammasitā bhavesu,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Not neglecting retreat and absorption, always living in line with the teaching, comprehending the danger in rebirths, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Taṇhakkhayaṁ patthayamappamatto,
Aneḷamūgo sutavā satīmā;
Saṅkhātadhammo niyato padhānavā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

One whose aim is the ending of craving— diligent, clever, learned, mindful, resolute— who has appraised the teaching and is assured, destined for awakening, should live alone like a horned rhino.

“Sīhova saddesu asantasanto,
Vātova jālamhi asajjamāno;
Padumaṁva toyena alippamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Like a lion not startled by sounds, like wind not caught in a net, like water not sticking to a lotus, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Sīho yathā dāṭhabalī pasayha,
Rājā migānaṁ abhibhuyya cārī;
Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Like the fierce-fanged lion, king of beasts, who wanders as conqueror and victor, you should frequent remote lodgings, and live alone like a horned rhino.

“Mettaṁ upekkhaṁ karuṇaṁ vimuttiṁ,
Āsevamāno muditañca kāle;
Sabbena lokena avirujjhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

In time, cultivate freedom through love, compassion, rejoicing, and equanimity. Not upset by anything in the world, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Sandālayitvāna saṁyojanāni;
Asantasaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.

Having given up greed, hate, and delusion, having burst apart the fetters, unafraid at the end of life, live alone like a horned rhino.

“Bhajanti sevanti ca kāraṇatthā,
Nikkāraṇā dullabhā ajja mittā;
Attaṭṭhapaññā asucī manussā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo”.
Khaggavisāṇasuttaṁ tatiyaṁ.

They befriend you and serve you for their own sake; these days it’s hard to find friends lacking ulterior motive. Impure folk cleverly profit themselves— live alone like a horned rhino.

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