Pahārādasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.19

Numbered Discourses 8.19

2. Mahāvagga

2. The Great Chapter

Pahārādasutta

With Pahārāda

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā verañjāyaṁ viharati naḷerupucimandamūle.

At one time the Buddha was staying in Verañjā at the root of a neem tree dedicated to Naḷeru.

Atha kho pahārādo asurindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho pahārādaṁ asurindaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

Then Pahārāda, lord of titans, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. The Buddha said to him,

“Api pana, pahārāda, asurā mahāsamudde abhiramantī”ti?

“Well, Pahārāda, do the titans love the ocean?”

“Abhiramanti, bhante, asurā mahāsamudde”ti.

“Sir, they do indeed.”

“Kati pana, pahārāda, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramantī”ti?

“But seeing what incredible and amazing things do the titans love the ocean?”

“Aṭṭha, bhante, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

“Sir, seeing eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Mahāsamuddo, bhante, anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto.

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice.

Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the first thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati.

Furthermore, the ocean is consistent and doesn’t overflow its boundaries.

Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the second thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati. Yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ, taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti.

Furthermore, the ocean doesn’t accommodate a carcass, but quickly carries it to the shore and strands it on the beach.

Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati, yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ, taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the third thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—

Furthermore, when they reach the ocean, all the great rivers—that is,

gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti.

the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—lose their names and clans and are simply reckoned as ‘the ocean’.

Yampi, bhante, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the fourth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati.

Furthermore, for all the world’s streams that reach it, and the showers that fall from the sky, the ocean never empties or fills up.

Yampi, bhante, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the fifth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso.

Furthermore, the ocean has just one taste, the taste of salt.

Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the sixth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano. Tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitako masāragallaṁ.

Furthermore, the ocean is full of many kinds of treasures, such as pearls, gems, beryl, conch, quartz, coral, silver, native gold, rubies, and emeralds.

Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitako masāragallaṁ;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the seventh thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā. Santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, tiyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, catuyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā.

Furthermore, many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long.

Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… tiyojana … catuyojana … pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā;

ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

This is the eighth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Ime kho, bhante, mahāsamudde aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramantīti.

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean.

Api pana, bhante, bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī”ti?

Well, sir, do the mendicants love this teaching and training?”

“Abhiramanti, pahārāda, bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye”ti.

“They do indeed, Pahārāda.”

“Kati pana, bhante, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī”ti?

“But seeing how many incredible and amazing things do the mendicants love this teaching and training?”

“Aṭṭha, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

“Seeing eight incredible and amazing things, Pahārāda, the mendicants love this teaching and training.

Katame aṭṭha?

What eight?

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto;

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho.

In the same way in this teaching and training the penetration to enlightenment comes from gradual training, progress, and practice, not abruptly.

Yampi, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the first thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati;

The ocean is consistent and doesn’t overflow its boundaries.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, yaṁ mayā sāvakānaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ taṁ mama sāvakā jīvitahetupi nātikkamanti.

In the same way, when a training rule is laid down for my disciples they wouldn’t break it even for the sake of their own life.

Yampi, pahārāda, mayā sāvakānaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ taṁ mama sāvakā jīvitahetupi nātikkamanti;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the second thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati. Yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ, taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti thalaṁ ussāreti;

The ocean doesn’t accommodate a carcass, but quickly carries it to the shore and strands it on the beach.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, yo so puggalo dussīlo pāpadhammo asucisaṅkassarasamācāro paṭicchannakammanto assamaṇo samaṇapaṭiñño abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño antopūti avassuto kasambujāto, na tena saṅgho saṁvasati; khippameva naṁ sannipatitvā ukkhipati. Kiñcāpi so hoti majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa sannisinno, atha kho so ārakāva saṅghamhā saṅgho ca tena.

In the same way, the Saṅgha doesn’t accommodate an individual who is unethical, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, festering, and depraved. But they quickly gather and expel them. Even if they are sitting in the middle of the Saṅgha, they’re far from the Saṅgha, and the Saṅgha is far from them.

Yampi, pahārāda, yo so puggalo dussīlo pāpadhammo asucisaṅkassarasamācāro paṭicchannakammanto assamaṇo samaṇapaṭiñño abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño antopūti avassuto kasambujāto, na tena saṅgho saṁvasati; khippameva naṁ sannipatitvā ukkhipati; kiñcāpi so hoti majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa sannisinno, atha kho so ārakāva saṅghamhā saṅgho ca tena;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the third thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti;

When they reach the ocean, all the great rivers—that is, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—lose their names and clans and are simply reckoned as ‘the ocean’.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, cattārome vaṇṇā—khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā, te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘samaṇā sakyaputtiyā’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti.

In the same way, when they go forth from the lay life to homelessness, all four classes—aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials—lose their former names and clans and are simply reckoned as ‘ascetics who follow the Sakyan’.

Yampi, pahārāda, cattārome vaṇṇā—khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā, te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘samaṇā sakyaputtiyā’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the fourth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati;

For all the world’s streams that reach it, and the showers that fall from the sky, the ocean never empties or fills up.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, bahū cepi bhikkhū anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyanti, na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati.

In the same way, though several mendicants become fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue, the element of extinguishment never empties or fills up.

Yampi, pahārāda, bahū cepi bhikkhū anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyanti, na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the fifth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso;

The ocean has just one taste, the taste of salt.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo ekaraso, vimuttiraso.

In the same way, this teaching and training has one taste, the taste of freedom.

Yampi, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo ekaraso, vimuttiraso;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the sixth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitako masāragallaṁ;

The ocean is full of many kinds of treasures, such as pearls, gems, beryl, conch, quartz, coral, silver, native gold, rubies, and emeralds.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo bahuratano anekaratano. Tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, cattāro sammappadhānā, cattāro iddhipādā, pañcindriyāni, pañca balāni, satta bojjhaṅgā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo.

In the same way, this teaching and training is full of many kinds of treasures, such as the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path.

Yampi, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, cattāro sammappadhānā, cattāro iddhipādā, pañcindriyāni, pañca balāni, satta bojjhaṅgā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the seventh thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, tiyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, catuyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā;

Many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long.

evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, sakadāgāmī sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, anāgāmī anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, arahā arahattāya paṭipanno.

In the same way, great beings live in this teaching and training, and these are those beings. The stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. The once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. The non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. The perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection.

Yampi, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, sakadāgāmī sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, anāgāmī anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, arahā arahattāya paṭipanno;

ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

This is the eighth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Ime kho, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī”ti.

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things, Pahārāda, the mendicants love this teaching and training.”

Navamaṁ.