The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding sineru, king of mountains (2nd), urging mendicants to practice for direct knowledge of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

SN 56.50 Sineru, King of Mountains (2nd)

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sinerupabbatarājāyaṁ parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁyaṁ sinerussa pabbatarājassa parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā”ti?

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ sinerussa pabbatarājassa yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattikā satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā. Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti sinerussa pabbatarājassa parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā”ti.

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa diṭṭhisampannassa puggalassa abhisametāvino etadeva bahutaraṁ dukkhaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ. Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti, purimaṁ dukkhakkhandhaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya yadidaṁ sattakkhattuparamatā; yo ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Papātavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cintā papāto pariḷāho,
kūṭaṁ vālandhakāro ca;
Chiggaḷena ca dve vuttā,
sineru apare duveti.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, sinerupabbatarājāyaṁ parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā.

“Mendicants, suppose Sineru, the king of mountains, was worn away and eroded except for seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds.

Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,

What do you think, mendicants?

katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁyaṁ sinerussa pabbatarājassa parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ, satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā”ti?

Which is more: the portion of Sineru, the king of mountains, that has been worn away and eroded? Or the seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds that are left?”

“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ sinerussa pabbatarājassa yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ;

“Sir, the portion of Sineru, the king of mountains, that has been worn away and eroded is certainly more.

appamattikā satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā.

The seven pebbles the size of mustard seeds are tiny.

Saṅkhampi na upenti, upanidhampi na upenti, kalabhāgampi na upenti sinerussa pabbatarājassa parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya satta muggamattiyo pāsāṇasakkharā avasiṭṭhā”ti.

Compared to Sineru, they don’t count, there’s no comparison, they’re not worth a fraction.”

“Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvakassa diṭṭhisampannassa puggalassa abhisametāvino etadeva bahutaraṁ dukkhaṁ yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ; appamattakaṁ avasiṭṭhaṁ.

“In the same way, for an individual with comprehension, a noble disciple accomplished in view, the suffering that’s over and done with is more, what’s left is tiny.

Saṅkhampi na upeti, upanidhampi na upeti, kalabhāgampi na upeti, purimaṁ dukkhakkhandhaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādinnaṁ upanidhāya yadidaṁ sattakkhattuparamatā;

Compared to the mass of suffering in the past that’s over and done with, it doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, it’s not worth a fraction, since there are at most seven more lives.

yo ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti.

Such an individual truly understands about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Dasamaṁ.

Papātavaggo pañcamo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Cintā papāto pariḷāho,

kūṭaṁ vālandhakāro ca;

Chiggaḷena ca dve vuttā,

sineru apare duveti.

Topics & Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
View all discourses →
Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Wrong view

Wrong view

A distorted understanding that sees permanence in the impermanent, satisfaction in the unsatisfactory, or self in the not-self. Wrong view guides action by delusion, obscuring cause and effect, and closes the door to wisdom and release.

Also known as: distorted or inverted perception, untrue view, false belief
Pāli: micchādiṭṭhi
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Last updated on July 27, 2026