Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—
¶ 1So I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ yena sālā nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari.
¶ 2At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Sālā.
Assosuṁ kho sāleyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā:
¶ 3The brahmins and householders of Sālā heard:
“samaṇo khalu bho gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ sālaṁ anuppatto.
¶ 4“It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—wandering in the land of the Kosalans has arrived at Sālā, together with a large Saṅgha of mendicants.
Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato:
¶ 5He has this good reputation:
‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.
¶ 6‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’
So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti.
¶ 7He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others.
So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti.
¶ 8He proclaims a teaching that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure.
Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.
¶ 9It’s good to see such perfected ones.”
Atha kho sāleyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā appekacce bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu; sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce bhagavato santike nāmagottaṁ sāvetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Appekacce tuṇhībhūtā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinne kho sāleyyake brāhmaṇagahapatike bhagavā etadavoca:
¶ 10Then the brahmins and householders of Sālā went up to the Buddha. Before sitting down to one side, some bowed, some exchanged greetings and polite conversation, some held up their cupped palms toward the Buddha, some announced their name and clan, while some kept silent. The Buddha said to them:
“atthi pana vo, gahapatayo, koci manāpo satthā yasmiṁ vo ākāravatī saddhā paṭiladdhā”ti?
¶ 11“So, householders, is there any teacher you’re happy with, in whom you have acquired grounded faith?”
“Natthi kho no, bhante, koci manāpo satthā yasmiṁ no ākāravatī saddhā paṭiladdhā”ti.
¶ 12“No, sir.”
“Manāpaṁ vo, gahapatayo, satthāraṁ alabhantehi ayaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo samādāya vattitabbo.
¶ 13“Since you haven’t found a teacher you’re happy with, you should undertake and implement this sure bet teaching.
Apaṇṇako hi, gahapatayo, dhammo samatto samādinno, so vo bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāya.
¶ 14For when the sure bet teaching is undertaken, it will be for your lasting welfare and happiness.
Katamo ca, gahapatayo, apaṇṇako dhammo?
¶ 15And what is the sure bet teaching?
Santi, gahapatayo, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 16There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:
‘natthi dinnaṁ, natthi yiṭṭhaṁ, natthi hutaṁ; natthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko, natthi ayaṁ loko, natthi paro loko; natthi mātā, natthi pitā; natthi sattā opapātikā; natthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammā paṭipannā ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti.
¶ 17‘There’s no meaning in giving, sacrifice, or offerings. There’s no fruit or result of good and bad deeds. There’s no afterlife. There’s no such thing as mother and father, or beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there’s no ascetic or brahmin who is rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describes the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’
Tesaṁyeva kho, gahapatayo, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā ujuvipaccanīkavādā.
¶ 18And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this.
Te evamāhaṁsu:
¶ 19They say:
‘atthi dinnaṁ, atthi yiṭṭhaṁ, atthi hutaṁ; atthi sukatadukkaṭānaṁ kammānaṁ phalaṁ vipāko; atthi ayaṁ loko, atthi paro loko; atthi mātā, atthi pitā; atthi sattā opapātikā; atthi loke samaṇabrāhmaṇā sammaggatā sammā paṭipannā ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti.
¶ 20‘There is meaning in giving, sacrifice, and offerings. There are fruits and results of good and bad deeds. There is an afterlife. There are such things as mother and father, and beings that are reborn spontaneously. And there are ascetics and brahmins who are rightly comported and rightly practiced, and who describe the afterlife after realizing it with their own insight.’
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, gahapatayo:
¶ 21What do you think, householders?
‘nanume samaṇabrāhmaṇā aññamaññassa ujuvipaccanīkavādā’”ti?
¶ 22Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
¶ 23“Yes, sir.”
“Tatra, gahapatayo, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 24“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that
‘natthi dinnaṁ, natthi yiṭṭhaṁ …pe… ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti
¶ 25there’s no meaning in giving, etc.
tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—yamidaṁ kāyasucaritaṁ, vacīsucaritaṁ, manosucaritaṁ—ime tayo kusale dhamme abhinivajjetvā yamidaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ, vacīduccaritaṁ, manoduccaritaṁ—ime tayo akusale dhamme samādāya vattissanti.
¶ 26You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
¶ 27Why is that?
Na hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā passanti akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ vodānapakkhaṁ.
¶ 28Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.
Santaṁyeva pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘natthi paro loko’ tissa diṭṭhi hoti; sāssa hoti micchādiṭṭhi.
¶ 29Moreover, since there actually is another world, their view that there is no other world is wrong view.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘natthi paro loko’ti saṅkappeti; svāssa hoti micchāsaṅkappo.
¶ 30Since there actually is another world, their thought that there is no other world is wrong purpose.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘natthi paro loko’ti vācaṁ bhāsati; sāssa hoti micchāvācā.
¶ 31Since there actually is another world, their speech that there is no other world is wrong speech.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘natthi paro loko’ti āha; ye te arahanto paralokaviduno tesamayaṁ paccanīkaṁ karoti.
¶ 32Since there actually is another world, in saying that there is no other world they contradict those perfected ones who know the other world.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘natthi paro loko’ti paraṁ saññāpeti; sāssa hoti asaddhammasaññatti.
¶ 33Since there actually is another world, in persuading another that there is no other world they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.
Tāya ca pana asaddhammasaññattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti.
¶ 34And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.
Iti pubbeva kho panassa susīlyaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, dussīlyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ—
¶ 35So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.
ayañca micchādiṭṭhi micchāsaṅkappo micchāvācā ariyānaṁ paccanīkatā asaddhammasaññatti attukkaṁsanā paravambhanā. Evamassime aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti micchādiṭṭhipaccayā.
¶ 36And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.
Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati:
¶ 37A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
‘sace kho natthi paro loko evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā sotthimattānaṁ karissati;
¶ 38‘If there is no other world, when this individual person’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.
sace kho atthi paro loko, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 39And if there is another world, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
Kāmaṁ kho pana māhu paro loko, hotu nesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ;
¶ 40But let us grant that those who say that there is no other world are correct.
atha ca panāyaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ gārayho—dussīlo purisapuggalo micchādiṭṭhi natthikavādo’ti.
¶ 41Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, a nihilist.’
Sace kho attheva paro loko, evaṁ imassa bhoto purisapuggalassa ubhayattha kaliggaho—
¶ 42But if there really is another world, they hold a losing hand on both counts.
yañca diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ gārayho, yañca kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 43For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
Evamassāyaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo dussamatto samādinno, ekaṁsaṁ pharitvā tiṭṭhati, riñcati kusalaṁ ṭhānaṁ.
¶ 44They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.
Tatra, gahapatayo, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 45Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that
‘atthi dinnaṁ …pe… ye imañca lokaṁ parañca lokaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedentī’ti
¶ 46there is meaning in giving, etc.
tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—yamidaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ, vacīduccaritaṁ, manoduccaritaṁ—ime tayo akusale dhamme abhinivajjetvā yamidaṁ kāyasucaritaṁ, vacīsucaritaṁ, manosucaritaṁ—ime tayo kusale dhamme samādāya vattissanti.
¶ 47You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
¶ 48Why is that?
Passanti hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ vodānapakkhaṁ.
¶ 49Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘atthi paro loko’ tissa diṭṭhi hoti; sāssa hoti sammādiṭṭhi.
¶ 50Moreover, since there actually is another world, their view that there is another world is right view.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘atthi paro loko’ti saṅkappeti; svāssa hoti sammāsaṅkappo.
¶ 51Since there actually is another world, their thought that there is another world is right purpose.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘atthi paro loko’ti vācaṁ bhāsati; sāssa hoti sammāvācā.
¶ 52Since there actually is another world, their speech that there is another world is right speech.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘atthi paro loko’ti āha; ye te arahanto paralokaviduno tesamayaṁ na paccanīkaṁ karoti.
¶ 53Since there actually is another world, in saying that there is another world they don’t contradict those perfected ones who know the other world.
Santaṁyeva kho pana paraṁ lokaṁ ‘atthi paro loko’ti paraṁ saññāpeti; sāssa hoti saddhammasaññatti.
¶ 54Since there actually is another world, in persuading another that there is another world they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.
Tāya ca pana saddhammasaññattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
¶ 55And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.
Iti pubbeva kho panassa dussīlyaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, susīlyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ—
¶ 56So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.
ayañca sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā ariyānaṁ apaccanīkatā saddhammasaññatti anattukkaṁsanā aparavambhanā. Evamassime aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti sammādiṭṭhipaccayā.
¶ 57And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.
Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati:
¶ 58A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
‘sace kho atthi paro loko, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 59‘If there is another world, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Kāmaṁ kho pana māhu paro loko, hotu nesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ;
¶ 60But let us grant that those who say that there is no other world are correct.
atha ca panāyaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ pāsaṁso—sīlavā purisapuggalo sammādiṭṭhi atthikavādo’ti.
¶ 61Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms a positive teaching.’
Sace kho attheva paro loko, evaṁ imassa bhoto purisapuggalassa ubhayattha kaṭaggaho—
¶ 62So if there really is another world, they hold a winning hand on both counts.
yañca diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ pāsaṁso, yañca kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 63For they are praised by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Evamassāyaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo susamatto samādinno ubhayaṁsaṁ pharitvā tiṭṭhati, riñcati akusalaṁ ṭhānaṁ.
¶ 64They have rightly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of both sides, leaving out the unskillful premise.
Santi, gahapatayo, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 65There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:
‘karoto kārayato, chindato chedāpayato, pacato pācāpayato, socayato socāpayato, kilamato kilamāpayato, phandato phandāpayato, pāṇamatipātayato, adinnaṁ ādiyato, sandhiṁ chindato, nillopaṁ harato, ekāgārikaṁ karoto, paripanthe tiṭṭhato, paradāraṁ gacchato, musā bhaṇato; karoto na karīyati pāpaṁ.
¶ 66‘The one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. They do nothing wrong when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie.
Khurapariyantena cepi cakkena yo imissā pathaviyā pāṇe ekaṁ maṁsakhalaṁ ekaṁ maṁsapuñjaṁ kareyya, natthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, natthi pāpassa āgamo.
¶ 67If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil.
Dakkhiṇañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya hananto ghātento, chindanto chedāpento, pacanto pācento; natthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, natthi pāpassa āgamo.
¶ 68If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, no evil comes of that, and no outcome of evil.
Uttarañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya dadanto dāpento, yajanto yajāpento; natthi tatonidānaṁ puññaṁ, natthi puññassa āgamo.
¶ 69If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, no merit comes of that, and no outcome of merit.
Dānena damena saṁyamena saccavajjena natthi puññaṁ, natthi puññassa āgamo’ti.
¶ 70In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is no merit or outcome of merit.’
Tesaṁyeva kho, gahapatayo, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā ujuvipaccanīkavādā te evamāhaṁsu:
¶ 71And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this. They say:
‘karoto kārayato, chindato chedāpayato, pacato pācāpayato, socayato socāpayato, kilamato kilamāpayato, phandato phandāpayato, pāṇamatipātayato, adinnaṁ ādiyato, sandhiṁ chindato, nillopaṁ harato, ekāgārikaṁ karoto, paripanthe tiṭṭhato, paradāraṁ gacchato, musā bhaṇato; karoto karīyati pāpaṁ.
¶ 72‘The one who acts does a bad deed when they punish, mutilate, torture, aggrieve, oppress, intimidate, or when they encourage others to do the same. They do a bad deed when they kill, steal, break into houses, plunder wealth, steal from isolated buildings, commit highway robbery, commit adultery, and lie.
Khurapariyantena cepi cakkena yo imissā pathaviyā pāṇe ekaṁ maṁsakhalaṁ ekaṁ maṁsapuñjaṁ kareyya, atthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, atthi pāpassa āgamo.
¶ 73If you were to reduce all the living creatures of this earth to one heap and mass of flesh with a razor-edged chakram, evil comes of that, and an outcome of evil.
Dakkhiṇañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya hananto ghātento, chindanto chedāpento, pacanto pācento; atthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, atthi pāpassa āgamo.
¶ 74If you were to go along the south bank of the Ganges killing, mutilating, and torturing, and encouraging others to do the same, evil comes of that, and an outcome of evil.
Uttarañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya dadanto dāpento, yajanto yajāpento; atthi tatonidānaṁ puññaṁ, atthi puññassa āgamo.
¶ 75If you were to go along the north bank of the Ganges giving and sacrificing and encouraging others to do the same, merit comes of that, and an outcome of merit.
Dānena damena saṁyamena saccavajjena atthi puññaṁ, atthi puññassa āgamo’ti.
¶ 76In giving, self-control, restraint, and truthfulness there is merit and outcome of merit.’
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, gahapatayo,
¶ 77What do you think, householders?
nanume samaṇabrāhmaṇā aññamaññassa ujuvipaccanīkavādā”ti?
¶ 78Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
¶ 79“Yes, sir.”
“Tatra, gahapatayo, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 80“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that
‘karoto kārayato, chindato chedāpayato, pacato pācāpayato, socayato socāpayato, kilamato kilamāpayato, phandato phandāpayato, pāṇamatipātayato, adinnaṁ ādiyato, sandhiṁ chindato, nillopaṁ harato, ekāgārikaṁ karoto, paripanthe tiṭṭhato, paradāraṁ gacchato, musā bhaṇato; karoto na karīyati pāpaṁ.
¶ 81the one who acts does nothing wrong when they punish, etc.
Khurapariyantena cepi cakkena yo imissā pathaviyā pāṇe ekaṁ maṁsakhalaṁ ekaṁ maṁsapuñjaṁ kareyya, natthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, natthi pāpassa āgamo.
Dakkhiṇañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya hananto ghātento …pe… dānena damena saṁyamena saccavajjena natthi puññaṁ, natthi puññassa āgamo’ti
tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—yamidaṁ kāyasucaritaṁ, vacīsucaritaṁ, manosucaritaṁ—ime tayo kusale dhamme abhinivajjetvā yamidaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ, vacīduccaritaṁ, manoduccaritaṁ—ime tayo akusale dhamme samādāya vattissanti.
¶ 84You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
¶ 85Why is that?
Na hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā passanti akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ vodānapakkhaṁ.
¶ 86Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘natthi kiriyā’ tissa diṭṭhi hoti; sāssa hoti micchādiṭṭhi.
¶ 87Moreover, since action actually does have an effect, their view that action is ineffective is wrong view.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘natthi kiriyā’ti saṅkappeti; svāssa hoti micchāsaṅkappo.
¶ 88Since action actually does have an effect, their thought that action is ineffective is wrong purpose.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘natthi kiriyā’ti vācaṁ bhāsati; sāssa hoti micchāvācā.
¶ 89Since action actually does have an effect, their speech that action is ineffective is wrong speech.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘natthi kiriyā’ti āha, ye te arahanto kiriyavādā tesamayaṁ paccanīkaṁ karoti.
¶ 90Since action actually does have an effect, in saying that action is ineffective they contradict those perfected ones who teach that action is effective.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘natthi kiriyā’ti paraṁ saññāpeti; sāssa hoti asaddhammasaññatti.
¶ 91Since action actually does have an effect, in persuading another that action is ineffective they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.
Tāya ca pana asaddhammasaññattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti.
¶ 92And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.
Iti pubbeva kho panassa susīlyaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, dussīlyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ—
¶ 93So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.
ayañca micchādiṭṭhi micchāsaṅkappo micchāvācā ariyānaṁ paccanīkatā asaddhammasaññatti attukkaṁsanā paravambhanā. Evamassime aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti micchādiṭṭhipaccayā.
¶ 94And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.
Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati:
¶ 95A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
‘sace kho natthi kiriyā, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā sotthimattānaṁ karissati;
¶ 96‘If there is no effective action, when this individual’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.
sace kho atthi kiriyā evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 97And if there is effective action, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
Kāmaṁ kho pana māhu kiriyā, hotu nesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ;
¶ 98But let us grant that those who say that there is no effective action are correct.
atha ca panāyaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ gārayho—dussīlo purisapuggalo micchādiṭṭhi akiriyavādo’ti.
¶ 99Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, one who denies the efficacy of action.’
Sace kho attheva kiriyā, evaṁ imassa bhoto purisapuggalassa ubhayattha kaliggaho—
¶ 100But if there really is effective action, they hold a losing hand on both counts.
yañca diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ gārayho, yañca kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 101For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
Evamassāyaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo dussamatto samādinno, ekaṁsaṁ pharitvā tiṭṭhati, riñcati kusalaṁ ṭhānaṁ.
¶ 102They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.
Tatra, gahapatayo, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 103Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that
‘karoto kārayato, chindato chedāpayato, pacato pācāpayato, socayato socāpayato, kilamato kilamāpayato, phandato phandāpayato, pāṇamatipātayato, adinnaṁ ādiyato, sandhiṁ chindato, nillopaṁ harato, ekāgārikaṁ karoto, paripanthe tiṭṭhato, paradāraṁ gacchato, musā bhaṇato; karoto karīyati pāpaṁ.
¶ 104the one who acts does a bad deed when they punish, etc.
Khurapariyantena cepi cakkena yo imissā pathaviyā pāṇe ekaṁ maṁsakhalaṁ ekaṁ maṁsapuñjaṁ kareyya, atthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, atthi pāpassa āgamo.
Dakkhiṇañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya hananto ghātento, chindanto chedāpento, pacanto pācento, atthi tatonidānaṁ pāpaṁ, atthi pāpassa āgamo.
Uttarañcepi gaṅgāya tīraṁ gaccheyya dadanto dāpento, yajanto yajāpento, atthi tatonidānaṁ puññaṁ, atthi puññassa āgamo. Dānena damena saṁyamena saccavajjena atthi puññaṁ, atthi puññassa āgamo’ti
tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ yamidaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ, vacīduccaritaṁ, manoduccaritaṁ—ime tayo akusale dhamme abhinivajjetvā yamidaṁ kāyasucaritaṁ, vacīsucaritaṁ, manosucaritaṁ—ime tayo kusale dhamme samādāya vattissanti.
¶ 108You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
¶ 109Why is that?
Passanti hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ vodānapakkhaṁ.
¶ 110Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘atthi kiriyā’ tissa diṭṭhi hoti; sāssa hoti sammādiṭṭhi.
¶ 111Moreover, since action actually does have an effect, their view that action is effective is right view.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘atthi kiriyā’ti saṅkappeti; svāssa hoti sammāsaṅkappo.
¶ 112Since action actually does have an effect, their thought that action is effective is right purpose.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘atthi kiriyā’ti vācaṁ bhāsati; sāssa hoti sammāvācā.
¶ 113Since action actually does have an effect, their speech that action is effective is right speech.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘atthi kiriyā’ti āha; ye te arahanto kiriyavādā tesamayaṁ na paccanīkaṁ karoti.
¶ 114Since action actually does have an effect, in saying that action is effective they don’t contradict those perfected ones who teach that action is effective.
Santaṁyeva kho pana kiriyaṁ ‘atthi kiriyā’ti paraṁ saññāpeti; sāssa hoti saddhammasaññatti.
¶ 115Since action actually does have an effect, in persuading another that action is effective they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.
Tāya ca pana saddhammasaññattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
¶ 116And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.
Iti pubbeva kho panassa dussīlyaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, susīlyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ—
¶ 117So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.
ayañca sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā ariyānaṁ apaccanīkatā saddhammasaññatti anattukkaṁsanā aparavambhanā. Evamassime aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti sammādiṭṭhipaccayā.
¶ 118And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.
Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati:
¶ 119A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
‘sace kho atthi kiriyā, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 120‘If there is effective action, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Kāmaṁ kho pana māhu kiriyā, hotu nesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ;
¶ 121But let us grant that those who say that there is no effective action are correct.
atha ca panāyaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ pāsaṁso—sīlavā purisapuggalo sammādiṭṭhi kiriyavādo’ti.
¶ 122Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms the efficacy of action.’
Sace kho attheva kiriyā, evaṁ imassa bhoto purisapuggalassa ubhayattha kaṭaggaho—
¶ 123So if there really is effective action, they hold a winning hand on both counts.
yañca diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ pāsaṁso, yañca kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 124For they are praised by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Evamassāyaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo susamatto samādinno, ubhayaṁsaṁ pharitvā tiṭṭhati, riñcati akusalaṁ ṭhānaṁ.
¶ 125They have rightly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of both sides, leaving out the unskillful premise.
Santi, gahapatayo, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 126There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:
‘natthi hetu, natthi paccayo sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya;
¶ 127‘There is no cause or reason for the corruption of sentient beings.
ahetū appaccayā sattā saṅkilissanti.
¶ 128Sentient beings are corrupted without cause or reason.
Natthi hetu, natthi paccayo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā;
¶ 129There’s no cause or reason for the purification of sentient beings.
ahetū appaccayā sattā visujjhanti.
¶ 130Sentient beings are purified without cause or reason.
Natthi balaṁ, natthi vīriyaṁ, natthi purisathāmo, natthi purisaparakkamo;
¶ 131There is no power, no energy, no human strength or vigor.
sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā sabbe bhūtā sabbe jīvā avasā abalā avīriyā niyatisaṅgatibhāvapariṇatā chasvevābhijātīsu sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti.
¶ 132All sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy. Molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’
Tesaṁyeva kho, gahapatayo, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā ujuvipaccanīkavādā.
¶ 133And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this.
Te evamāhaṁsu:
¶ 134They say:
‘atthi hetu, atthi paccayo sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya;
¶ 135‘There is a cause and reason for the corruption of sentient beings.
sahetū sappaccayā sattā saṅkilissanti.
¶ 136Sentient beings are corrupted with cause and reason.
Atthi hetu, atthi paccayo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā;
¶ 137There is a cause and reason for the purification of sentient beings.
sahetū sappaccayā sattā visujjhanti.
¶ 138Sentient beings are purified with cause and reason.
Atthi balaṁ, atthi vīriyaṁ, atthi purisathāmo, atthi purisaparakkamo;
¶ 139There is power, energy, human strength and vigor.
na sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā sabbe bhūtā sabbe jīvā avasā abalā avīriyā niyatisaṅgatibhāvapariṇatā chasvevābhijātīsu sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti.
¶ 140It is not the case that all sentient beings, all living creatures, all beings, all souls lack control, power, and energy, or that, molded by destiny, circumstance, and nature, they experience pleasure and pain in the six classes of rebirth.’
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, gahapatayo,
¶ 141What do you think, householders?
nanume samaṇabrāhmaṇā aññamaññassa ujuvipaccanīkavādā”ti?
¶ 142Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
¶ 143“Yes, sir.”
“Tatra, gahapatayo, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 144“Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that
‘natthi hetu, natthi paccayo sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya;
¶ 145there’s no cause or reason for the corruption of sentient beings, etc.
ahetū appaccayā sattā saṅkilissanti.
Natthi hetu, natthi paccayo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā;
ahetū appaccayā sattā visujjhanti.
Natthi balaṁ, natthi vīriyaṁ, natthi purisathāmo, natthi purisaparakkamo; sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā sabbe bhūtā sabbe jīvā avasā abalā avīriyā niyatisaṅgatibhāvapariṇatā chasvevābhijātīsu sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti
tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—yamidaṁ kāyasucaritaṁ, vacīsucaritaṁ, manosucaritaṁ—ime tayo kusale dhamme abhinivajjetvā yamidaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ, vacīduccaritaṁ, manoduccaritaṁ—ime tayo akusale dhamme samādāya vattissanti.
¶ 150You can expect that they will shun good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
¶ 151Why is that?
Na hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā passanti akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ vodānapakkhaṁ.
¶ 152Because those ascetics and brahmins don’t see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, or that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘natthi hetū’ tissa diṭṭhi hoti; sāssa hoti micchādiṭṭhi.
¶ 153Moreover, since there actually is causality, their view that there is no causality is wrong view.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘natthi hetū’ti saṅkappeti; svāssa hoti micchāsaṅkappo.
¶ 154Since there actually is causality, their thought that there is no causality is wrong purpose.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘natthi hetū’ti vācaṁ bhāsati; sāssa hoti micchāvācā.
¶ 155Since there actually is causality, their speech that there is no causality is wrong speech.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘natthi hetū’ti āha; ye te arahanto hetuvādā tesamayaṁ paccanīkaṁ karoti.
¶ 156Since there actually is causality, in saying that there is no causality they contradict those perfected ones who teach that there is causality.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘natthi hetū’ti paraṁ saññāpeti; sāssa hoti asaddhammasaññatti.
¶ 157Since there actually is causality, in persuading another that there is no causality they are persuading them to accept an untrue teaching.
Tāya ca pana asaddhammasaññattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti.
¶ 158And on account of that they glorify themselves and put others down.
Iti pubbeva kho panassa susīlyaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, dussīlyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ—
¶ 159So they give up their former ethical conduct and are established in unethical conduct.
ayañca micchādiṭṭhi micchāsaṅkappo micchāvācā ariyānaṁ paccanīkatā asaddhammasaññatti attānukkaṁsanā paravambhanā. Evamassime aneke pāpakā akusalā dhammā sambhavanti micchādiṭṭhipaccayā.
¶ 160And that is how these many bad, unskillful qualities come to be with wrong view as condition—wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept untrue teachings, and glorifying oneself and putting others down.
Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati:
¶ 161A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
‘sace kho natthi hetu, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sotthimattānaṁ karissati;
¶ 162‘If there is no causality, when this individual’s body breaks up they will keep themselves safe.
sace kho atthi hetu, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 163And if there is causality, when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
Kāmaṁ kho pana māhu hetu, hotu nesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ;
¶ 164But let us grant that those who say that there is no causality are correct.
atha ca panāyaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ gārayho—dussīlo purisapuggalo micchādiṭṭhi ahetukavādo’ti.
¶ 165Regardless, that individual is still criticized by sensible people in this very life as being an immoral individual of wrong view, one who denies causality.’
Sace kho attheva hetu, evaṁ imassa bhoto purisapuggalassa ubhayattha kaliggaho—
¶ 166But if there really is causality, they hold a losing hand on both counts.
yañca diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ gārayho, yañca kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 167For they are criticized by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.
Evamassāyaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo dussamatto samādinno, ekaṁsaṁ pharitvā tiṭṭhati, riñcati kusalaṁ ṭhānaṁ.
¶ 168They have wrongly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of one side only, leaving out the skillful premise.
Tatra, gahapatayo, ye te samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 169Since this is so, consider those ascetics and brahmins whose view is that
‘atthi hetu, atthi paccayo sattānaṁ saṅkilesāya;
¶ 170there is a cause and reason for the corruption of sentient beings, etc.
sahetū sappaccayā sattā saṅkilissanti.
Atthi hetu, atthi paccayo sattānaṁ visuddhiyā;
sahetū sappaccayā sattā visujjhanti.
Atthi balaṁ, atthi vīriyaṁ, atthi purisathāmo, atthi purisaparakkamo; na sabbe sattā sabbe pāṇā sabbe bhūtā sabbe jīvā avasā abalā avīriyā niyatisaṅgatibhāvapariṇatā chasvevābhijātīsu sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedentī’ti
tesametaṁ pāṭikaṅkhaṁ—yamidaṁ kāyaduccaritaṁ, vacīduccaritaṁ, manoduccaritaṁ—ime tayo akusale dhamme abhinivajjetvā yamidaṁ kāyasucaritaṁ, vacīsucaritaṁ, manosucaritaṁ—ime tayo kusale dhamme samādāya vattissanti.
¶ 175You can expect that they will shun bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and undertake and implement good conduct by way of body, speech, and mind.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
¶ 176Why is that?
Passanti hi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ vodānapakkhaṁ.
¶ 177Because those ascetics and brahmins see that unskillful qualities are full of drawbacks, sordidness, and corruption, and that skillful qualities have the benefit and cleansing power of renunciation.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘atthi hetū’ tissa diṭṭhi hoti; sāssa hoti sammādiṭṭhi.
¶ 178Moreover, since there actually is causality, their view that there is causality is right view.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘atthi hetū’ti saṅkappeti; svāssa hoti sammāsaṅkappo.
¶ 179Since there actually is causality, their thought that there is causality is right purpose.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘atthi hetū’ti vācaṁ bhāsati; sāssa hoti sammāvācā.
¶ 180Since there actually is causality, their speech that there is causality is right speech.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘atthi hetū’ti āha, ye te arahanto hetuvādā tesamayaṁ na paccanīkaṁ karoti.
¶ 181Since there actually is causality, in saying that there is causality they don’t contradict those perfected ones who teach that there is causality.
Santaṁyeva kho pana hetuṁ ‘atthi hetū’ti paraṁ saññāpeti; sāssa hoti saddhammasaññatti.
¶ 182Since there actually is causality, in persuading another that there is causality they are persuading them to accept a true teaching.
Tāya ca pana saddhammasaññattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti.
¶ 183And on account of that they don’t glorify themselves or put others down.
Iti pubbeva kho panassa dussīlyaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti, susīlyaṁ paccupaṭṭhitaṁ—
¶ 184So they give up their former unethical conduct and are established in ethical conduct.
ayañca sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā ariyānaṁ apaccanīkatā saddhammasaññatti anattukkaṁsanā aparavambhanā. Evamassime aneke kusalā dhammā sambhavanti sammādiṭṭhipaccayā.
¶ 185And that is how these many skillful qualities come to be with right view as condition—right view, right purpose, right speech, not contradicting the noble ones, persuading others to accept true teachings, and not glorifying oneself or putting others down.
Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘sace kho atthi hetu, evamayaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 186A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way: ‘If there is causality, when this individual’s body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Kāmaṁ kho pana māhu hetu, hotu nesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ;
¶ 187But let us grant that those who say that there is no causality are correct.
atha ca panāyaṁ bhavaṁ purisapuggalo diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ pāsaṁso—sīlavā purisapuggalo sammādiṭṭhi hetuvādo’ti.
¶ 188Regardless, that individual is still praised by sensible people in this very life as being a moral individual of right view, who affirms causality.’
Sace kho atthi hetu, evaṁ imassa bhoto purisapuggalassa ubhayattha kaṭaggaho—
¶ 189So if there really is causality, they hold a winning hand on both counts.
yañca diṭṭheva dhamme viññūnaṁ pāsaṁso, yañca kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjissati.
¶ 190For they are praised by sensible people in this very life, and when their body breaks up, after death, they will be reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
Evamassāyaṁ apaṇṇako dhammo susamatto samādinno, ubhayaṁsaṁ pharitvā tiṭṭhati, riñcati akusalaṁ ṭhānaṁ.
¶ 191They have rightly undertaken this sure bet teaching in such a way that it encompasses the positive outcomes of both sides, leaving out the unskillful premise.
Santi, gahapatayo, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 192There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:
‘natthi sabbaso āruppā’ti.
¶ 193‘There are no totally formless states of meditation.’
Tesaṁyeva kho, gahapatayo, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā ujuvipaccanīkavādā.
¶ 194And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this.
Te evamāhaṁsu:
¶ 195They say:
‘atthi sabbaso āruppā’ti.
¶ 196‘There are totally formless states of meditation.’
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, gahapatayo,
¶ 197What do you think, householders?
nanume samaṇabrāhmaṇā aññamaññassa ujuvipaccanīkavādā”ti?
¶ 198Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
¶ 199“Yes, sir.”
“Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati—
¶ 200“A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
ye kho te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 201‘Some ascetics and brahmins say that
‘natthi sabbaso āruppā’ti, idaṁ me adiṭṭhaṁ;
¶ 202there are no totally formless meditations, but I have not seen that.
yepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 203Some ascetics and brahmins say that
‘atthi sabbaso āruppā’ti, idaṁ me aviditaṁ.
¶ 204there are totally formless meditations, but I have not known that.
Ahañceva kho pana ajānanto apassanto ekaṁsena ādāya vohareyyaṁ—
¶ 205Without knowing or seeing, it would not be appropriate for me to take one side and declare,
idameva saccaṁ, moghamaññanti, na metaṁ assa patirūpaṁ.
¶ 206‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’
Ye kho te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 207If those ascetics and brahmins who say that
‘natthi sabbaso āruppā’ti, sace tesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ, ṭhānametaṁ vijjati—
¶ 208there are no totally formless meditations are correct, it is possible
ye te devā rūpino manomayā, apaṇṇakaṁ me tatrūpapatti bhavissati.
¶ 209that it’s a sure bet I will be reborn among the gods who are formed and made of mind.
Ye pana te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 210If those ascetics and brahmins who say that
‘atthi sabbaso āruppā’ti, sace tesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ, ṭhānametaṁ vijjati—
¶ 211there are totally formless meditations are correct, it is possible
ye te devā arūpino saññāmayā, apaṇṇakaṁ me tatrūpapatti bhavissati.
¶ 212that it’s a sure bet I will be reborn among the gods who are formless and made of perception.
Dissanti kho pana rūpādhikaraṇaṁ daṇḍādānasatthādānakalahaviggahavivādatuvaṁtuvaṁpesuññamusāvādā.
¶ 213Now, owing to form, bad things are seen: taking up the rod and the sword, quarrels, arguments, and disputes, accusations, backbiting, and lies.
‘Natthi kho panetaṁ sabbaso arūpe’ti.
¶ 214But those things don’t exist where it is totally formless.’
So iti paṭisaṅkhāya rūpānaṁyeva nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.
¶ 215Reflecting like this, they simply practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding forms.
Santi, gahapatayo, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 216There are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view:
‘natthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti.
¶ 217‘There is no such thing as the total cessation of continued existence.’
Tesaṁyeva kho, gahapatayo, samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā ujuvipaccanīkavādā.
¶ 218And there are some ascetics and brahmins whose doctrine directly contradicts this.
Te evamāhaṁsu:
¶ 219They say:
‘atthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti.
¶ 220‘There is such a thing as the total cessation of continued existence.’
Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, gahapatayo,
¶ 221What do you think, householders?
nanume samaṇabrāhmaṇā aññamaññassa ujuvipaccanīkavādā”ti?
¶ 222Don’t these doctrines directly contradict each other?”
“Evaṁ, bhante”.
¶ 223“Yes, sir.”
“Tatra, gahapatayo, viññū puriso iti paṭisañcikkhati—
¶ 224“A sensible person reflects on this matter in this way:
ye kho te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 225‘Some ascetics and brahmins say that
‘natthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti, idaṁ me adiṭṭhaṁ;
¶ 226there is no such thing as the total cessation of continued existence, but I have not seen that.
yepi te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 227Some ascetics and brahmins say that
‘atthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti, idaṁ me aviditaṁ.
¶ 228there is such a thing as the total cessation of continued existence, but I have not known that.
Ahañceva kho pana ajānanto apassanto ekaṁsena ādāya vohareyyaṁ—
¶ 229Without knowing or seeing, it would not be appropriate for me to take one side and declare,
idameva saccaṁ, moghamaññanti, na metaṁ assa patirūpaṁ.
¶ 230‘This is the only truth, anything else is futile.’
Ye kho te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 231If those ascetics and brahmins who say that
‘natthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti, sace tesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ, ṭhānametaṁ vijjati—
¶ 232there is no such thing as the total cessation of continued existence are correct, it is possible
ye te devā arūpino saññāmayā apaṇṇakaṁ me tatrūpapatti bhavissati.
¶ 233that it’s a sure bet I will be reborn among the gods who are formless and made of perception.
Ye pana te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 234If those ascetics and brahmins who say that
‘atthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti, sace tesaṁ bhavataṁ samaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ saccaṁ vacanaṁ, ṭhānametaṁ vijjati—
¶ 235there is such a thing as the total cessation of continued existence are correct, it is possible
yaṁ diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyissāmi.
¶ 236that I will be fully extinguished in this very life.
Ye kho te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 237The view of those ascetics and brahmins who say that
‘natthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti, tesamayaṁ diṭṭhi sārāgāya santike, saṁyogāya santike, abhinandanāya santike, ajjhosānāya santike, upādānāya santike.
¶ 238there is no such thing as the total cessation of continued existence is close to greed, yoking, relishing, attachment, and grasping.
Ye pana te bhonto samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino:
¶ 239The view of those ascetics and brahmins who say that
‘atthi sabbaso bhavanirodho’ti, tesamayaṁ diṭṭhi asārāgāya santike, asaṁyogāya santike, anabhinandanāya santike, anajjhosānāya santike, anupādānāya santiketi.
¶ 240there is such a thing as the total cessation of continued existence is close to non-greed, non-yoking, non-relishing, non-attachment, and non-grasping.’
So iti paṭisaṅkhāya bhavānaṁyeva nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya paṭipanno hoti.
¶ 241Reflecting like this, they simply practice for disillusionment, dispassion, and cessation regarding future lives.
Cattārome, gahapatayo, puggalā santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.
¶ 242Householders, these four individuals are found in the world.
Katame cattāro?
¶ 243What four?
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo attantapo hoti attaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto.
¶ 244One individual mortifies themselves, committed to the practice of mortifying themselves.
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo parantapo hoti paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto.
¶ 245One individual mortifies others, committed to the practice of mortifying others.
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo attantapo ca hoti attaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto parantapo ca paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto.
¶ 246One individual mortifies themselves and others, committed to the practice of mortifying themselves and others.
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo nevattantapo hoti nāttaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto na parantapo na paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto;
¶ 247One individual doesn’t mortify either themselves or others, committed to the practice of not mortifying themselves or others.
so anattantapo aparantapo diṭṭheva dhamme nicchāto nibbuto sītībhūto sukhappaṭisaṁvedī brahmabhūtena attanā viharati.
¶ 248They live without wishes in this very life, quenched, cooled, experiencing bliss, with self become divine.
Katamo ca, gahapatayo, puggalo attantapo attaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto?
¶ 249And what individual mortifies themselves, committed to the practice of mortifying themselves?
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo acelako hoti muttācāro hatthāpalekhano …pe…
¶ 250It’s when a person goes naked, ignoring conventions. …
iti evarūpaṁ anekavihitaṁ kāyassa ātāpanaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto viharati.
¶ 251And so they live committed to practicing these various ways of mortifying and tormenting the body.
Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapatayo, puggalo attantapo attaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto.
¶ 252This is called an individual who mortifies themselves, being committed to the practice of mortifying themselves.
Katamo ca, gahapatayo, puggalo parantapo paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto?
¶ 253And what individual mortifies others, committed to the practice of mortifying others?
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo orabbhiko hoti sūkariko …pe… ye vā panaññepi keci kurūrakammantā.
¶ 254It’s when an individual is a butcher of sheep, pigs, poultry, or deer, a hunter or fisher, a bandit, an executioner, a butcher of cattle, a jailer, or has some other cruel livelihood.
Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapatayo, puggalo parantapo paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto.
¶ 255This is called an individual who mortifies others, being committed to the practice of mortifying others.
Katamo ca, gahapatayo, puggalo attantapo ca attaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto parantapo ca paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto?
¶ 256And what individual mortifies themselves and others, being committed to the practice of mortifying themselves and others?
Idha, gahapatayo, ekacco puggalo rājā vā hoti khattiyo muddhāvasitto …pe…
¶ 257It’s when an individual is an anointed aristocratic king or a well-to-do brahmin. He has a new ceremonial hall built to the east of the citadel. He shaves off his hair and beard, dresses in a rough antelope hide, and smears his body with ghee and oil. …
tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karonti.
¶ 258His bondservants, servants, and workers do their jobs under threat of punishment and danger, weeping, with tearful faces.
Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapatayo, puggalo attantapo ca attaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto parantapo ca paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto.
¶ 259This is called an individual who mortifies themselves and others, being committed to the practice of mortifying themselves and others.
Katamo ca, gahapatayo, puggalo nevattantapo nāttaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto na parantapo na paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto;
¶ 260And what individual doesn’t mortify either themselves or others, committed to the practice of not mortifying themselves or others,
so anattantapo aparantapo diṭṭheva dhamme nicchāto nibbuto sītībhūto sukhappaṭisaṁvedī brahmabhūtena attanā viharati?
¶ 261living without wishes in this very life, quenched, cooled, experiencing bliss, with self become divine?
Idha, gahapatayo, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …
¶ 262It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha …
pe…
¶ 263A householder hears that teaching, or a householder’s child, or someone reborn in some good family. …
so ime pañca nīvaraṇe pahāya cetaso upakkilese paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe
¶ 264They give up these five hindrances, corruptions of the heart that weaken wisdom.
vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.
¶ 265Then, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption …
Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe…
¶ 266second absorption …
tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ …pe…
¶ 267third absorption …
catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.
¶ 268fourth absorption.
So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmeti.
¶ 269When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward recollection of past lives. …
So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo …pe… iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarati.
¶ 270They recollect their many kinds of past lives, with features and details.
So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṁ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmeti.
¶ 271When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings.
So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passati cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate …pe… yathākammūpage satte pajānāti.
¶ 272With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, they see sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. … They understand how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.
So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṁ khayañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmeti.
¶ 273When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they extend it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements.
So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe…
¶ 274They truly understand: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’.
‘ayaṁ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.
¶ 275They truly understand: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’.
Tassa evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati.
¶ 276Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.
Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.
¶ 277When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.
‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.
¶ 278They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’
Ayaṁ vuccati, gahapatayo, puggalo nevattantapo nāttaparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto na parantapo na paraparitāpanānuyogamanuyutto;
¶ 279This is called an individual who neither mortifies themselves or others, being committed to the practice of not mortifying themselves or others.
so anattantapo aparantapo diṭṭheva dhamme nicchāto nibbuto sītībhūto sukhappaṭisaṁvedī brahmabhūtena attanā viharatī”ti.
¶ 280They live without wishes in this very life, quenched, cooled, experiencing bliss, with self become divine.”
Evaṁ vutte, sāleyyakā brāhmaṇagahapatikā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:
¶ 281When he had spoken, the brahmins and householders of Sālā said to the Buddha,
“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama.
¶ 282“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent!
Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito.
¶ 283As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways.
Ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca.
¶ 284We go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.
Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gate”ti.
¶ 285From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”
Apaṇṇakasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.
Gahapativaggo niṭṭhito paṭhamo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Kandaranāgarasekhavato ca,
Potaliyo puna jīvakabhacco;
Upālidamatho kukkuraabhayo,
Bahuvedanīyāpaṇṇakato dasamo.