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Sutta Nipāta 4.14

Tuvaṭakasutta

Speedy · Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato, SuttaCentral

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“Pucchāmi taṁ ādiccabandhu,
Vivekaṁ santipadañca mahesi;
Kathaṁ disvā nibbāti bhikkhu,
Anupādiyāno lokasmiṁ kiñci”.

“Great seer, I ask you, the Kinsman of the Sun, about seclusion and the state of peace. How, having seen, is a mendicant extinguished, not grasping anything in this world?”

“Mūlaṁ papañcasaṅkhāya,
(iti bhagavā)
Mantā asmīti sabbamuparundhe;
Yā kāci taṇhā ajjhattaṁ,
Tāsaṁ vinayā sadā sato sikkhe.

“They would cut off the idea, ‘I am the thinker’,” said the Buddha, “which is the root of all judgments that emerge from proliferation. Ever mindful, they would train to remove any internal cravings.

Yaṁ kiñci dhammamabhijaññā,
Ajjhattaṁ atha vāpi bahiddhā;
Na tena thāmaṁ kubbetha,
Na hi sā nibbuti sataṁ vuttā.

Regardless of what things they know, whether internal or external, they wouldn’t be proud because of that, for that is not quenching, say the good.

Seyyo na tena maññeyya,
Nīceyyo atha vāpi sarikkho;
Phuṭṭho anekarūpehi,
Nātumānaṁ vikappayaṁ tiṭṭhe.

They wouldn’t let that make them conceited, thinking themselves better or worse or alike. When questioned in many ways, they wouldn’t keep justifying themselves.

Ajjhattamevupasame,
Na aññato bhikkhu santimeseyya;
Ajjhattaṁ upasantassa,
Natthi attā kuto nirattā vā.

A mendicant would be settled internally, and not seek peace from another. For one at peace inside themselves, there’s no picking up, whence putting down?

Majjhe yathā samuddassa,
Ūmi no jāyatī ṭhito hoti;
Evaṁ ṭhito anejassa,
Ussadaṁ bhikkhu na kareyya kuhiñci”.

Just as, in the middle of the ocean, no waves arise, it stays still; so too one unstirred is still— a mendicant would make no pretension regarding anything.”

“Akittayī vivaṭacakkhu,
Sakkhidhammaṁ parissayavinayaṁ;
Paṭipadaṁ vadehi bhaddante,
Pātimokkhaṁ atha vāpi samādhiṁ”.

“He whose eyes are open has explained the truth he witnessed, where adversities are removed. Please now speak of the practice, sir, the monastic code and immersion in samādhi.”

“Cakkhūhi neva lolassa,
Gāmakathāya āvaraye sotaṁ;
Rase ca nānugijjheyya,
Na ca mamāyetha kiñci lokasmiṁ.

“With eyes not wanton, they’d turn their ears from village gossip. They wouldn’t be greedy for flavors, nor possessive about anything in the world.

Phassena yadā phuṭṭhassa,
Paridevaṁ bhikkhu na kareyya kuhiñci;
Bhavañca nābhijappeyya,
Bheravesu ca na sampavedheyya.

Though struck by contacts, a mendicant would not lament at all. They wouldn’t pray for another life, nor tremble in the face of dangers.

Annānamatho pānānaṁ,
Khādanīyānaṁ athopi vatthānaṁ;
Laddhā na sannidhiṁ kayirā,
Na ca parittase tāni alabhamāno.

When they receive food and drink, edibles and clothes, they wouldn’t store them up, nor worry about not getting them.

Jhāyī na pādalolassa,
Virame kukkuccā nappamajjeyya;
Athāsanesu sayanesu,
Appasaddesu bhikkhu vihareyya.

Meditative, not footloose, they’d avoid remorse and not be negligent. Then a mendicant would stay in quiet places to sit and rest.

Niddaṁ na bahulīkareyya,
Jāgariyaṁ bhajeyya ātāpī;
Tandiṁ māyaṁ hassaṁ khiḍḍaṁ,
Methunaṁ vippajahe savibhūsaṁ.

They wouldn’t take much sleep, but, being keen, would apply themselves to wakefulness. They’d give up sloth, illusion, mirth, and play, and sex and ornamentation.

Āthabbaṇaṁ supinaṁ lakkhaṇaṁ,
No vidahe athopi nakkhattaṁ;
Virutañca gabbhakaraṇaṁ,
Tikicchaṁ māmako na seveyya.

They wouldn’t cast Artharvaṇa spells, interpret dreams or omens, or practice astrology. My followers would not study ominous animal cries, work as a doctor, or treat an impacted fetus.

Nindāya nappavedheyya,
Na uṇṇameyya pasaṁsito bhikkhu;
Lobhaṁ saha macchariyena,
Kodhaṁ pesuṇiyañca panudeyya.

Not shaken by criticism, a mendicant would not gloat when praised. They’d cast aside greed and stinginess, anger, and slander.

Kayavikkaye na tiṭṭheyya,
Upavādaṁ bhikkhu na kareyya kuhiñci;
Gāme ca nābhisajjeyya,
Lābhakamyā janaṁ na lapayeyya.

They’d not stand for buying and selling; a mendicant would not speak ill at all. They wouldn’t linger in the village, nor cajole people from desire for profit.

Na ca katthitā siyā bhikkhu,
Na ca vācaṁ payuttaṁ bhāseyya;
Pāgabbhiyaṁ na sikkheyya,
Kathaṁ viggāhikaṁ na kathayeyya.

A mendicant would be no boaster, nor would they speak suggestively. They wouldn’t train in impudence, nor speak argumentatively.

Mosavajje na nīyetha,
Sampajāno saṭhāni na kayirā;
Atha jīvitena paññāya,
Sīlabbatena nāññamatimaññe.

They wouldn’t be led into lying, nor be deliberately devious. And they’d never look down on another because of livelihood, wisdom, or precepts and vows.

Sutvā rusito bahuṁ vācaṁ,
Samaṇānaṁ vā puthujanānaṁ;
Pharusena ne na paṭivajjā,
Na hi santo paṭisenikaronti.

Though provoked from hearing much talk from ascetics saying all different things, they wouldn’t react harshly, for the virtuous do not retaliate.

Etañca dhammamaññāya,
Vicinaṁ bhikkhu sadā sato sikkhe;
Santīti nibbutiṁ ñatvā,
Sāsane gotamassa na pamajjeyya.

Having understood this teaching, inquiring, a mendicant would always train mindfully. Knowing quenching as peace, they’d not be negligent in Gotama’s bidding.

Abhibhū hi so anabhibhūto,
Sakkhidhammamanītihamadassī;
Tasmā hi tassa bhagavato sāsane,
Appamatto sadā namassamanusikkhe”ti.
Tuvaṭakasuttaṁ cuddasamaṁ.

For he is the vanquisher, the unvanquished, seer of the truth as witness, not by legends— that’s why, being diligent, they would always train respectfully in the Buddha’s teaching.”

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