The Buddha shares the consequences of being overwhelmed by respect, disrespect, or both, and how they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

SN 17.10  Sagāthaka sutta - With Verses

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthi.

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

“Bhikkhus, |acquisitions::gain, money, profit, possessions [lābhā]|, |respect::honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]|, and |popularity::fame, praise [siloka]| are vicious, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ passāmi sakkārena abhibhūtaṁ pariyādiṇṇacittaṁ, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannaṁ.

Here, bhikkhus, I see a certain individual |overwhelmed::overcome, overpowered [abhibhūta]| by respect, with his mind |consumed::obsessed, controlled [pariyādiṇṇa]| by it, who after the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn in a |state of loss::state of misery [apāya]|, in a bad destination, in a |realm of downfall::realm of misery [vinipāta]|, in hell.

Idha panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ passāmi asakkārena abhibhūtaṁ pariyādiṇṇacittaṁ, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannaṁ.

Here, bhikkhus, I see a certain individual overwhelmed by |disrespect::disregard [asakkārena]|, with his mind consumed by it, who after the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of loss, in the lower realms, in hell.

Idha panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ekaccaṁ puggalaṁ passāmi sakkārena ca asakkārena ca tadubhayena abhibhūtaṁ pariyādiṇṇacittaṁ, kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannaṁ.

Here, bhikkhus, I see a certain individual overwhelmed by both respect and disrespect, with his mind consumed by them, who after the breaking up of the body, after death, is reborn in a state of loss, in the lower realms, in hell.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko kaṭuko pharuso antarāyiko anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya.

Thus, bhikkhus, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are vicious, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘uppannaṁ lābhasakkārasilokaṁ pajahissāma, na ca no uppanno lābhasakkārasiloko cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘We will abandon the arisen acquisitions, respect and popularity, and we will not let the arisen acquisitions, respect, and popularity to continue |occupying::obsessing, controlling [pariyādāya]| our minds.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Accomplished One further said this:

“Yassa sakkariyamānassa,
asakkārena cūbhayaṁ;
Samādhi na vikampati,
appamāṇavihārino.

“While being honored,
or shown dishonor, or by both;
For one whose |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| does not waver,
as he dwells with a boundless mind —

Taṁ jhāyinaṁ sātatikaṁ,
sukhumaṁ diṭṭhivipassakaṁ;
Upādānakkhayārāmaṁ,
āhu sappuriso itī”ti.

That one, meditative and |practicing continuously::diligent, persevering, consistent [sātatika]|,
refined in vision and insight;
Delighting in the ending of grasping,
is called a |true person::good person, worthy one, awakened being [sappurisa]|.”

Last updated on February 15, 2026