Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi, in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus.”
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Venerable sir,” those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
“Aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato, bhikkhave, uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro. Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro?
“Bhikkhus, when the |Uposatha::Occurring on specific lunar days such as the full moon, new moon, and quarter moons, this is a time for renewing virtue, deepening practice, and purifying the mind. [uposatha]| is observed endowed with the eight factors, it is of great fruit, of great benefit, superbly bright, and far-reaching. How, bhikkhus, is the Uposatha observed endowed with the eight factors, of great fruit, of great benefit, superbly bright, and far-reaching?
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
1.) Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones reflects thus: ‘For as long as they live, the |Arahants::fully awakened ones, free from all mental defilements; worthy of offerings and veneration; also an epithet of the Buddha [arahant]|, having abandoned the taking of life, refrain from taking life, having laid aside sticks and weapons, are |conscientious::sensitive, with an internal sense of carefulness and concern for the welfare of others [lajjī]|, compassionate, and dwell with sympathy for the welfare of all living beings. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned the taking of life, will refrain from taking life, will lay aside sticks and weapons, will be conscientious, compassionate, and dwell with sympathy for the welfare of all living beings. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the first factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratā dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharanti. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā dutiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
2.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having abandoned the taking of what is not given, refrain from taking what is not given, accept what is given, and expect only what is given. They dwell with a pure, blameless mind. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned the taking of what is not given, will refrain from taking what is not given, will accept what is given, and expect only what is given. I will dwell with a pure, blameless mind. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the second factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārino ārācārino viratā methunā gāmadhammā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārī ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā tatiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
3.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having abandoned unchastity, are celibate, living apart, and refrain from |sexual activity::sexual intercourse [methuna]|, the common person’s practice. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned unchastity, will be celibate, living apart, and will refrain from sexual activity, the common person’s practice. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the third factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratā saccavādino saccasandhā thetā paccayikā avisaṁvādako lokassa. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato saccavādī saccasandho theto paccayiko avisaṁvādako lokassa. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā catutthena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
4.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having abandoned false speech, refrain from false speech, are |truthful::honest [saccavādī]|, |adheres to truth::united with truth [saccasandha]|, trustworthy::honest, lit. stable [theta]|, |dependable::reliable [paccayika]|, and |do not deceive::to not break one’s word, to keep one’s promises [avisaṃvādaka]| the world. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned false speech, will refrain from false speech, will be truthful, adhere to truth, will be trustworthy, dependable, and will not deceive the world. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the fourth factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā pañcamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
5.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having abandoned spirits, alcoholic beverages, drugs and |states of negligence::dwelling in heedlessness, remaining intoxicated [pamādaṭṭhāna]|, refrain from intoxicants that cause negligence. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned wine, spirits, drugs and states of negligence, will refrain from intoxicants that cause negligence. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the fifth factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto ekabhattikā rattūparatā viratā vikālabhojanā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ ekabhattiko rattūparato virato vikālabhojanā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā chaṭṭhena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
6.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having become ones who eat only one meal a day, |abstain from eating at night::stopped the evening meal [rattūparata]|, refraining from |untimely eating::eating outside the proper time, typically observed from afternoon until dawn [vikālabhojana]|. Today, for this night and day, I too, having become one who eats only one meal a day, will abstain from eating at night, and will refrain from untimely eating. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the sixth factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā sattamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
7.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having abandoned dancing, singing, music, and watching shows, as well as wearing garlands, using perfumes, oils, and beautifying the body with ornaments, refrain from these activities. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned dancing, singing, music, and watching shows, as well as wearing garlands, using perfumes, oils, and beautifying the body with ornaments, will refrain from these activities. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the seventh factor.
‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappenti—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemi—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.
8.) ‘For as long as they live, the arahants, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, refrain from high and luxurious beds and make use of low beds, whether a simple cot or a spread of grass. Today, for this night and day, I too, having abandoned high and luxurious beds, will refrain from high and luxurious beds and will make use of a low bed, whether a simple cot or a spread of grass. In this way, I shall follow the example of the arahants, and the Uposatha will be observed by me.’ Thus, one is endowed with the eighth factor.
Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro”ti.
Thus observed, bhikkhus, the Uposatha endowed with the eight factors is of great fruit, of great benefit, superbly bright, and far-reaching.”