Verses in the Little Chapter (With Rāhula) on ethical conduct, devotion, and the supreme value of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha.

SNP 2.11 With Rāhula

“Kacci abhiṇhasaṁvāsā,
nāvajānāsi paṇḍitaṁ;
Ukkādhāro manussānaṁ,
kacci apacito tayā”.

“Nāhaṁ abhiṇhasaṁvāsā,
avajānāmi paṇḍitaṁ;
Ukkādhāro manussānaṁ,
niccaṁ apacito mayā”.

“Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,
piyarūpe manorame;
Saddhāya gharā nikkhamma,
dukkhassantakaro bhava.

Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe,
pantañca sayanāsanaṁ;
Vivittaṁ appanigghosaṁ,
mattaññū hohi bhojane.

Cīvare piṇḍapāte ca,
paccaye sayanāsane;
Etesu taṇhaṁ mākāsi,
lokaṁ punarāgami.

Saṁvuto pātimokkhasmiṁ,
indriyesu ca pañcasu;
Sati kāyagatā tyatthu,
nibbidābahulo bhava.

Nimittaṁ parivajjehi,
subhaṁ rāgūpasañhitaṁ;
Asubhāya cittaṁ bhāvehi,
ekaggaṁ susamāhitaṁ.

Animittañca bhāvehi,
Mānānusayamujjaha;
Tato mānābhisamayā,
Upasanto carissatī”ti.

Itthaṁ sudaṁ bhagavā āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ imāhi gāthāhi abhiṇhaṁ ovadatīti.

Rāhulasuttaṁ ekādasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Kacci abhiṇhasaṁvāsā,

“Does familiarity breed contempt,

nāvajānāsi paṇḍitaṁ;

even for the man of wisdom?

Ukkādhāro manussānaṁ,

Do you honor he who holds aloft

kacci apacito tayā”.

the torch for all humanity?”

“Nāhaṁ abhiṇhasaṁvāsā,

“Familiarity breeds no contempt

avajānāmi paṇḍitaṁ;

for the man of wisdom.

Ukkādhāro manussānaṁ,

I always honor he who holds aloft

niccaṁ apacito mayā”.

the torch for all humanity.”

“Pañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,

“One who’s given up the five sensual stimulations,

piyarūpe manorame;

so pleasing and delightful,

Saddhāya gharā nikkhamma,

and who’s left the home life out of faith—

dukkhassantakaro bhava.

let them make an end to suffering!

Mitte bhajassu kalyāṇe,

Mix with spiritual friends,

pantañca sayanāsanaṁ;

stay in remote lodgings,

Vivittaṁ appanigghosaṁ,

secluded and quiet,

mattaññū hohi bhojane.

and eat in moderation.

Cīvare piṇḍapāte ca,

Robes, almsfood,

paccaye sayanāsane;

requisites and lodgings:

Etesu taṇhaṁ mākāsi,

don’t crave such things;

lokaṁ punarāgami.

don’t come back to this world again.

Saṁvuto pātimokkhasmiṁ,

Be restrained in the monastic code

indriyesu ca pañcasu;

and the five sense faculties.

Sati kāyagatā tyatthu,

With mindfulness immersed in the body,

nibbidābahulo bhava.

be full of disillusionment.

Nimittaṁ parivajjehi,

Turn away from the sign

subhaṁ rāgūpasañhitaṁ;

that’s attractive, provoking lust.

Asubhāya cittaṁ bhāvehi,

With mind unified and serene,

ekaggaṁ susamāhitaṁ.

meditate on the ugly aspects of the body.

Animittañca bhāvehi,

Meditate on the signless,

Mānānusayamujjaha;

give up the tendency to conceit;

Tato mānābhisamayā,

and when you comprehend conceit,

Upasanto carissatī”ti.

you will live at peace.”

Itthaṁ sudaṁ bhagavā āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ imāhi gāthāhi abhiṇhaṁ ovadatīti.

That is how the Buddha regularly advised Venerable Rāhula with these verses.

Rāhulasuttaṁ ekādasamaṁ.

Qualities:

Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
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Contempt

Contempt

A dismissive or belittling attitude that refuses to acknowledge worth or goodness. It closes the heart, undermines gratitude, and prepares the ground for ill will.

Also known as: ungratefulness, depreciation, denigration, disrespect, belittlement, disparagement
Pāli: makkha, vambhaka
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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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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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026