Synopsis |
ak-khama-suttaṃ n (AN 5.139) |
AN 5.139 Not Resilient discourse |
(cst4) |
(thanisssaro trans.) |
♦ 139. “pañcahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato rañño nāgo na rājāraho hoti na rājabhoggo, na rañño aṅgaṃtveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati. katamehi pañcahi? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti rūpānaṃ, akkhamo saddānaṃ, akkhamo gandhānaṃ, akkhamo rasānaṃ, akkhamo phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
“Endowed with five qualities, monks, a king’s elephant is not worthy of a king, is not a king’s asset, does not count as a very limb of his king. Which five? There is the case where a king’s elephant is not resilient to sights, not resilient to sounds, not resilient to aromas, not resilient to flavors, not resilient to tactile sensations. |
1. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti rūpānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato hatthikāyaṃ vā disvā assakāyaṃ vā disvā rathakāyaṃ vā disvā pattikāyaṃ vā disvā saṃsīdati visīdati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti rūpānaṃ. |
1. “And how is a king’s elephant not resilient to sights? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, sees a troop of elephants, a troop of cavalry, a troop of chariots, a troop of foot soldiers, and so he falters, faints, doesn’t steel himself, can’t engage in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is not resilient to sights. |
2. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti saddānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato hatthisaddaṃ vā sutvā assasaddaṃ vā sutvā rathasaddaṃ vā sutvā pattisaddaṃ vā sutvā bheripaṇavasaṅkhatiṇavaninnādasaddaṃ vā sutvā saṃsīdati visīdati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti saddānaṃ. |
2. “And how is a king’s elephant not resilient to sounds? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, hears the sound of elephants, the sound of cavalry, the sound of chariots, the sound of foot soldiers, the resounding din of drums, cymbals, conchs, & tom-toms, and so he falters, faints, doesn’t steel himself, can’t engage in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is not resilient to sounds. |
3. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti gandhānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato ye te rañño nāgā abhijātā saṅgāmāvacarā tesaṃ muttakarīsassa gandhaṃ ghāyitvā saṃsīdati visīdati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti gandhānaṃ. |
3. “And how is a king’s elephant not resilient to aromas? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, smells the stench of the urine & feces of those pedigreed royal elephants who are at home in the battlefield, and so he falters, faints, doesn’t steel himself, can’t engage in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is not resilient to aromas. |
4. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti rasānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato ekissā vā tiṇodakadattiyā vimānito VAR dvīhi vā tīhi vā catūhi vā pañcahi vā tiṇodakadattīhi vimānito saṃsīdati visīdati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti rasānaṃ. |
4. “And how is a king’s elephant not resilient to flavors? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, goes without his ration of grass & water for one day, two days, three days, four days, five, and so he falters, faints, doesn’t steel himself, can’t engage in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is not resilient to flavors. |
5. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato ekena vā saravegena viddho, dvīhi vā tīhi vā catūhi vā pañcahi vā saravegehi viddho saṃsīdati visīdati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo akkhamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
5. “And how is a king’s elephant not resilient to tactile sensations? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, is pierced by a flight of arrows, two flights, three flights, four flights, five flights of arrows, and so he falters, faints, doesn’t steel himself, can’t engage in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is not resilient to tactile sensations. |
♦ “imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato rañño nāgo na rājāraho hoti na rājabhoggo na rañño aṅgaṃtveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati. |
“Endowed with these five qualities, monks, a king’s elephant is not worthy of a king, is not a king’s asset, does not count as a very limb of his king. |
♦ “evamevaṃ kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu na āhuneyyo hoti na pāhuneyyo na dakkhiṇeyyo na añjalikaraṇīyo na anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassa. katamehi pañcahi? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rūpānaṃ, akkhamo saddānaṃ, akkhamo gandhānaṃ, akkhamo rasānaṃ, akkhamo phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
“In the same way, a monk endowed with five qualities is not deserving of gifts, deserving of hospitality, deserving of offerings, deserving of respect, nor is he an unexcelled field of merit for the world. Which five? There is the case where a monk is not resilient to sights, not resilient to sounds, not resilient to aromas, not resilient to flavors, not resilient to tactile sensations. |
1. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rūpānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṃ disvā rajanīye rūpe sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rūpānaṃ. |
1. “And how is a monk not resilient to sights? There is the case where a monk, on seeing a sight with the eye, feels passion for a sight that incites passion and cannot center his mind. This is how a monk is not resilient to sights. |
2. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti saddānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sotena saddaṃ sutvā rajanīye sadde sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti saddānaṃ. |
2. “And how is a monk not resilient to sounds? There is the case where a monk, on hearing a sound with the ear, feels passion for a sound that incites passion and cannot center his mind. This is how a monk is not resilient to sounds. |
3. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti gandhānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ghānena gandhaṃ ghāyitvā rajanīye gandhe sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti gandhānaṃ. |
3. “And how is a monk not resilient to aromas? There is the case where a monk, on smelling an aroma with the nose, feels passion for an aroma that incites passion and cannot center his mind. This is how a monk is not resilient to aromas. |
4. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rasānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jivhāya rasaṃ sāyitvā rajanīye rase sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rasānaṃ. |
4. “And how is a monk not resilient to flavors? There is the case where a monk, on tasting a flavor with the tongue, feels passion for a flavor that incites passion and cannot center his mind. This is how a monk is not resilient to flavors. |
5. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṃ phusitvā rajanīye phoṭṭhabbe sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
5. “And how is a monk not resilient to tactile sensations? There is the case where a monk, on touching a tactile sensation with the body, feels passion for a tactile sensation that incites passion and cannot center his mind. This is how a monk is not resilient to tactile sensations. |
♦ “imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu na āhuneyyo hoti na pāhuneyyo na dakkhiṇeyyo na añjalikaraṇīyo na anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassa. |
“Endowed with these five qualities, a monk is not deserving of gifts, deserving of hospitality, deserving of offerings, deserving of respect, nor is he an unexcelled field of merit for the world. |
♦ “pañcahi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato rañño nāgo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅgaṃtveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati. katamehi pañcahi? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti rūpānaṃ, khamo saddānaṃ, khamo gandhānaṃ, khamo rasānaṃ, khamo phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
“Now, a king’s elephant endowed with five qualities is worthy of a king, is a king’s asset, counts as a very limb of his king. Which five? There is the case where a king’s elephant is resilient to sights, resilient to sounds, resilient to aromas, resilient to flavors, resilient to tactile sensations. |
1. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti rūpānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato hatthikāyaṃ vā disvā assakāyaṃ vā disvā rathakāyaṃ vā disvā pattikāyaṃ vā disvā na saṃsīdati na visīdati, santhambhati sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti rūpānaṃ. |
1. “And how is a king’s elephant resilient to sights? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, sees a troop of elephants, a troop of cavalry, a troop of chariots, a troop of foot soldiers, but he doesn’t falter or faint, he steels himself and engages in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is resilient to sights. |
2. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti saddānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato hatthisaddaṃ vā sutvā assasaddaṃ vā sutvā rathasaddaṃ vā sutvā pattisaddaṃ vā sutvā bheripaṇavasaṅkhatiṇavaninnādasaddaṃ vā sutvā na saṃsīdati na visīdati, santhambhati sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti saddānaṃ. |
2. “And how is a king’s elephant resilient to sounds? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, hears the sound of elephants, the sound of cavalry, the sound of chariots, the sound of foot soldiers, the resounding din of drums, cymbals, conchs, & tom-toms, but he doesn’t falter or faint, he steels himself and engages in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is resilient to sounds. |
3. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti gandhānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato ye te rañño nāgā abhijātā saṅgāmāvacarā tesaṃ muttakarīsassa gandhaṃ ghāyitvā na saṃsīdati na visīdati, santhambhati sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti gandhānaṃ. |
3. “And how is a king’s elephant resilient to aromas? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, smells the stench of the urine & feces of those pedigreed royal elephants who are at home in the battlefield, but he doesn’t falter or faint, he steels himself and engages in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is not resilient to aromas. |
4. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti rasānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato ekissā vā tiṇodakadattiyā vimānito dvīhi vā tīhi vā catūhi vā pañcahi vā tiṇodakadattīhi vimānito na saṃsīdati na visīdati, santhambhati sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti rasānaṃ. |
4. “And how is a king’s elephant resilient to flavors? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, goes without his ration of grass & water for one day, two days, three days, four days, five, but he doesn’t falter or faint, he steels himself and engages in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is resilient to flavors. |
5. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo saṅgāmagato ekena vā saravegena viddho, dvīhi vā tīhi vā catūhi vā pañcahi vā saravegehi viddho na saṃsīdati na visīdati, santhambhati sakkoti saṅgāmaṃ otarituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, rañño nāgo khamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
5. “And how is a king’s elephant resilient to tactile sensations? There is the case where a king’s elephant, having gone into battle, is pierced by a flight of arrows, two flights, three flights, four flights, five flights of arrows, but he doesn’t falter or faint, he steels himself and engages in the battle. This is how a king’s elephant is resilient to tactile sensations. |
♦ “imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi aṅgehi samannāgato rañño nāgo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅgaṃtveva saṅkhaṃ gacchati. |
“Endowed with these five qualities, monks, a king’s elephant is worthy of a king, is a king’s asset, counts as a very limb of his king. |
♦ “evamevaṃ kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassa. katamehi pañcahi? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rūpānaṃ, khamo saddānaṃ, khamo gandhānaṃ, khamo rasānaṃ, khamo phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
“In the same way, a monk endowed with five qualities is deserving of gifts, deserving of hospitality, deserving of offerings, deserving of respect, an unexcelled field of merit for the world. Which five? There is the case where a monk is resilient to sights, resilient to sounds, resilient to aromas, resilient to flavors, resilient to tactile sensations. |
1. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rūpānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rūpaṃ disvā rajanīye rūpe na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rūpānaṃ. |
1. “And how is a monk resilient to sights? There is the case where a monk, on seeing a sight with the eye, feels no passion for a sight that incites passion and can center his mind. This is how a monk is resilient to sights. |
2. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti saddānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sotena saddaṃ sutvā rajanīye sadde na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti saddānaṃ. |
2. “And how is a monk resilient to sounds? There is the case where a monk, on hearing a sound with the ear, feels no passion for a sound that incites passion and can center his mind. This is how a monk is resilient to sounds. |
3. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti gandhānaṃ. idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ghānena gandhaṃ ghāyitvā rajanīye gandhe na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti gandhānaṃ. |
3. “And how is a monk resilient to aromas? There is the case where a monk, on smelling an aroma with the nose, feels no passion for an aroma that incites passion and can center his mind. This is how a monk is resilient to aromas. |
4. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rasānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jivhāya rasaṃ sāyitvā rajanīye rase na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rasānaṃ. |
4. “And how is a monk resilient to flavors? There is the case where a monk, on tasting a flavor with the tongue, feels no passion for a flavor that incites passion and can center his mind. This is how a monk is resilient to flavors. |
5. ♦ “kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ? idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṃ phusitvā rajanīye phoṭṭhabbe na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṃ samādahituṃ. evaṃ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti phoṭṭhabbānaṃ. |
5. “And how is a monk resilient to tactile sensations? There is the case where a monk, on touching a tactile sensation with the body, feels no passion for a tactile sensation that incites passion and can center his mind. This is how a monk is resilient to tactile sensations. |
♦ “imehi kho, bhikkhave, pañcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassā”ti. |
“Endowed with these five qualities, a monk is deserving of gifts, deserving of hospitality, deserving of offerings, deserving of respect, an unexcelled field of merit for the world.” |
navamaṃ. |
(end of sutta) |
| See also: MN 28; MN 61; AN 4:164—165; AN 5:75—76; AN 8:13—14 |