Synopsis |
SN 35.238 Āsīvis-opama-sutta |
SN 35.238 Poisonous-viper-simile-discourse |
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, |
“Suppose, monks, |
cattāro āsī-visā ugga-tejā ghora-visā |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
. |
. |
Atha puriso āgaccheyya |
Then (a) man would-come |
jīvitu-kāmo a-maritu-kāmo |
{desiring}-to-live, not-{desiring}-to-die, |
sukha-kāmo dukkhap-paṭikūlo. |
{desiring}-happiness, {destests}-suffering. |
Tamenaṃ evaṃ vadeyyuṃ: |
They would say: |
‘ime te, ambho purisa, |
'tis you, hey man, [these] |
cattāro āsī-visā ugga-tejā ghora-visā |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
kālena kālaṃ vuṭṭhāpetabbā, |
from-time to-time (they) must-be-lifted-up; |
kālena kālaṃ nhāpetabbā, |
from-time to-time (they) must-be-bathed; |
kālena kālaṃ bhojetabbā, |
from-time to-time (they) must-be-fed; |
kālena kālaṃ saṃvesetabbā. |
from-time to-time (they) must-be-laid-to-rest. |
Yadā ca kho |
{and} whenever indeed, |
te, ambho purisa, imesaṃ |
you, good man, these |
catunnaṃ āsī-visānaṃ ugga-tejānaṃ ghora-visānaṃ |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
aññataro vā aññataro vā kuppissati, |
, (if) any-one-or another-one ** should-be-provoked, |
tato tvaṃ, ambho purisa, |
then you, good man, |
maraṇaṃ vā nigacchasi, |
death (you) meet, {or} |
maraṇamattaṃ vā dukkhaṃ. |
death-like suffering. |
Yaṃ te, ambho purisa, |
so you, good man, |
karaṇīyaṃ taṃ karohī’ti. |
what-should-be-done, *** [go] do [it]. |
Atha kho so, bhikkhave, |
“Then *** he, *********, |
puriso bhīto |
(the) man, afraid-of |
catunnaṃ āsī-visānaṃ ugga-tejānaṃ ghora-visānaṃ |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
yena vā tena vā palāyetha. |
towards-one-place or another-place would-flee. |
Tamenaṃ evaṃ vadeyyuṃ: |
They would say-to-him: |
‘ime kho, ambho purisa, |
‘these **, Good man, |
pañca vadhakā paccatthikā |
(are) five murderous enemies |
piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhā, |
on-your-back, on-your-back, (they are)closely-pursuing, |
yattheva naṃ passissāma |
(thinking,) “Wherever *** we-see-him, |
tattheva jīvitā voropessāmāti. |
right-there (his) life we-will-take.” |
Yaṃ te, ambho purisa, |
so you, good man, |
karaṇīyaṃ taṃ karohī’ti. |
what-should-be-done, *** [go] do [it]. |
Atha kho so, bhikkhave, |
“Then *** he, *********, |
puriso bhīto |
(the) man, afraid-of |
catunnaṃ āsī-visānaṃ ugga-tejānaṃ ghora-visānaṃ |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
bhīto pañcannaṃ vadhakānaṃ paccatthikānaṃ |
(and) afraid (of the) five murderous enemies, |
yena vā tena vā palāyetha. |
towards-one-place or another-place would-flee. |
Tamenaṃ evaṃ vadeyyuṃ: |
They would say-to-him: |
‘ayaṃ te, ambho purisa, |
‘Good man, |
chaṭṭho antara-caro vadhako |
A-sixth intimate-companion, murderer, |
ukkhittāsiko |
with drawn sword, |
piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandho |
on-your-back, on-your-back, (he is) closely-pursuing, |
yattheva naṃ passissāmi |
(thinking,) “Wherever *** I-see-him, |
tattheva siro pātessāmīti. |
right-there (his) head (I) will-cut-off!” |
Yaṃ te, ambho purisa, |
so you, good man, |
karaṇīyaṃ taṃ karohī’ti. |
what-should-be-done, *** [go] do [it]. |
Atha kho so, bhikkhave, |
“Then *** he, *********, |
puriso bhīto |
(the) man, afraid-of |
catunnaṃ āsī-visānaṃ ugga-tejānaṃ ghora-visānaṃ |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
bhīto pañcannaṃ vadhakānaṃ paccatthikānaṃ |
(and) afraid (of the) five murderous enemies, |
bhīto chaṭṭhassa antaracarassa vadhakassa |
(and) afraid (of the) sixth, intimate-companion, a-murderer |
ukkhittāsikassa |
with drawn sword, |
yena vā tena vā palāyetha. |
towards-one-place or another-place would-flee. |
So passeyya suññaṃ gāmaṃ. |
He would-see (an) empty village. |
Yaññadeva gharaṃ paviseyya |
Whatever house (he) enters, |
ritta-kaññeva paviseyya |
voidness (is) {what} (he) enters, |
tuccha-kaññeva paviseyya |
hollowness (is) {what} (he) enters, |
suñña-kaññeva paviseyya. |
emptiness (is) {what} (he) enters, |
Yaññadeva bhājanaṃ parimaseyya |
Whatever pot (he) grabs-hold-of, |
ritta-kaññeva parimaseyya |
voidness (is) {what} (he) grabs-hold-of, |
Tuccha-kaññeva parimaseyya |
hollowness (is) {what} (he) grabs-hold-of, |
Suñña-kaññeva parimaseyya. |
emptiness (is) {what} (he) grabs-hold-of, |
Tamenaṃ evaṃ vadeyyuṃ: |
They would say-to-him: |
‘idāni, ambho purisa, |
‘now, Good man, |
imaṃ suññaṃ gāmaṃ |
(to) this empty village |
corā gāma-ghātakā pavisanti. |
thieves (who) village-destroy (are) coming. |
Yaṃ te, ambho purisa, |
so you, good man, |
karaṇīyaṃ taṃ karohī’ti. |
what-should-be-done, *** [go] do [it]. |
Atha kho so, bhikkhave, |
“Then *** he, *********, |
puriso bhīto |
(the) man, afraid-of |
catunnaṃ āsī-visānaṃ ugga-tejānaṃ ghora-visānaṃ |
four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom |
bhīto pañcannaṃ vadhakānaṃ paccatthikānaṃ |
(and) afraid (of the) five murderous enemies, |
bhīto chaṭṭhassa antaracarassa vadhakassa |
(and) afraid (of the) sixth, intimate-companion, a-murderer |
bhīto corānaṃ gāma-ghātakānaṃ |
(and) afraid (of the) thieves (who) village-destroy, |
yena vā tena vā palāyetha. |
towards-one-place or another-place would-flee. |
So passeyya mahantaṃ udak-aṇṇavaṃ |
He would-see (a) great water-ocean |
orimaṃ tīraṃ sāsaṅkaṃ sap-paṭi-bhayaṃ, |
(whose) near shore (was) dangerous (and) fearful, |
pārimaṃ tīraṃ khemaṃ ap-paṭi-bhayaṃ. |
(and whose) far shore was safe (and) non-fearful, |
Na cassa nāvā santāraṇī |
[However, there is], no ****** boat that-ferries-across, |
Uttara-setu vā |
{nor a} high-bridge |
apārā pāraṃ gamanāya. |
{that goes from} near (to) far {********}. |
Atha kho, bhikkhave, |
“Then indeed, *********, |
tassa purisassa evamassa: |
that man would-think: |
‘ayaṃ kho mahā-udak-aṇṇavo |
‘(There is) this *** great-water-ocean |
orimaṃ tīraṃ sāsaṅkaṃ sap-paṭi-bhayaṃ, |
(whose) near shore (was) dangerous (and) fearful, |
pārimaṃ tīraṃ khemaṃ ap-paṭi-bhayaṃ. |
(and whose) far shore was safe (and) non-fearful, |
natthi ca nāvā santāraṇī |
[However, there is], no ****** boat that-ferries-across, |
Uttara-setu vā |
{nor a} high-bridge |
apārā pāraṃ gamanāya. |
{that goes from} near (to) far {********}. |
Yannūn-āhaṃ |
Let-me |
tiṇa-kaṭṭha-sākhāpalāsaṃ saṅkaḍḍhitvā |
{collect} grass-timber-branches-foliage, {***********} |
kullaṃ bandhitvā |
{bind-together} [to form] a-raft. |
taṃ kullaṃ nissāya |
that raft, by-relying-on-it, |
hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyamamāno |
using-hands and using-feet **, making-an-effort, |
sotthinā pāraṃ gaccheyyan’ti. |
to-the-safety (of) the-far-shore (I) can-go-to. |
Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso |
“Then the man would |
tiṇa-kaṭṭha-sākhāpalāsaṃ saṅkaḍḍhitvā |
{collect} grass-timber-branches-foliage, {***********} |
kullaṃ bandhitvā |
{bind-together} [to form] a-raft. |
taṃ kullaṃ nissāya |
that raft, by-relying-on-it, |
hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyamamāno |
using-hands and using-feet **, making-an-effort, |
sotthinā pāraṃ gaccheyya, |
to-the-safety (of) the-far-shore (I) can-go-to. |
tiṇṇo pāraṅ-gato |
Crossed-over, {gone}-beyond, |
thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo. |
on-high-ground stands the-brahmin. |
Upamā kho myāyaṃ, bhikkhave, |
This-simile *** of-mine, monks, |
katā atthassa viññāpanāya. |
{was} made [to convey] a-meaning. |
Ayañcettha attho– |
This is the meaning here: |
cattāro āsī-visā ugga-tejā ghora-visāti kho, bhikkhave, |
‘four poisonous-vipers with-fierce-heat (and) terrible-venom’: ********* |
catunn-etaṃ mahā-bhūtānaṃ, adhi-vacanaṃ— |
[represent] four-(of)-these great-elements, (as a) figure-of-speech- |
pathavī-dhātuyā, |
(the) earth element, |
āpo-dhātuyā, |
the water element, |
tejo-dhātuyā, |
the heat element, |
vāyo-dhātuyā. |
the air element. |
Pañca vadhakā paccatthikāti kho, bhikkhave, |
“‘(The) five murderous enemies’: |
pañcann-etaṃ upādānak-khandhānaṃ, adhi-vacanaṃ, |
[represents] five-of-these clingable-aggregates, (as a) figure-(of)-speech. |
seyyathidaṃ— |
that is, |
rūp-upādānak-khandhassa, |
(the) material-form-clingable-aggregate, |
vedan-upādānak-khandhassa, |
the feeling-clingable-aggregate, |
saññ-upādānak-khandhassa, |
the perception-clingable-aggregate, |
saṅkhār-upādānak-khandhassa, |
the volitional-formations-clingable-aggregate, |
viññāṇ-upādānak-khandhassa. |
the consciousness-clingable-aggregate. |
Chaṭṭho antara-caro vadhako |
“‘The-sixth intimate-companion, murderer, |
ukkhittāsikoti kho, bhikkhave, |
with drawn sword, monks, |
nandīrāgassetaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ. |
[represents] delight-(and)-lust as a-figure-of-speech. |
Suñño gāmoti kho, bhikkhave, |
“‘(The) empty village ***, monks,’: |
chann-etaṃ ajjhattikānaṃ āyatanānaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ. |
[represents] {these}-six internal sense-bases, (as a) figure-of-speech. |
Cakkhuto cepi naṃ, bhikkhave, |
the-eye [internal faculty]: suppose ***, monks, |
paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upa-parikkhati |
(a) wise-person, (a) learned-person, (an) intelligent-person, carefully-investigates (it). |
ritta-kaññeva khāyati, |
void (it) seems, |
tuccha-kaññeva khāyati, |
hollow (it) seems, |
suñña-kaññeva khāyati. |
empty (it) seems. |
sotato(?) cepi naṃ, bhikkhave, |
The-ear [internal faculty]: suppose ***, monks, |
paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upa-parikkhati |
(a) wise-person, (a) learned-person, (an) intelligent-person, carefully-investigates (it). |
ritta-kaññeva khāyati, |
void (it) seems, |
tuccha-kaññeva khāyati, |
hollow (it) seems, |
suñña-kaññeva khāyati. |
empty (it) seems. |
ghānato(?) cepi naṃ, bhikkhave, |
The-nose [internal faculty]: suppose ***, monks, |
paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upa-parikkhati |
(a) wise-person, (a) learned-person, (an) intelligent-person, carefully-investigates (it). |
ritta-kaññeva khāyati, |
void (it) seems, |
tuccha-kaññeva khāyati, |
hollow (it) seems, |
suñña-kaññeva khāyati. |
empty (it) seems. |
jivhāto cepi naṃ, bhikkhave, |
The-tongue [internal faculty]: suppose ***, monks, |
paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upa-parikkhati |
(a) wise-person, (a) learned-person, (an) intelligent-person, carefully-investigates (it). |
ritta-kaññeva khāyati, |
void (it) seems, |
tuccha-kaññeva khāyati, |
hollow (it) seems, |
suñña-kaññeva khāyati. |
empty (it) seems. |
kāyato(?) cepi naṃ, bhikkhave, |
The-body [internal faculty]: suppose ***, monks, |
paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upa-parikkhati |
(a) wise-person, (a) learned-person, (an) intelligent-person, carefully-investigates (it). |
ritta-kaññeva khāyati, |
void (it) seems, |
tuccha-kaññeva khāyati, |
hollow (it) seems, |
suñña-kaññeva khāyati. |
empty (it) seems. |
manato cepi naṃ, bhikkhave, |
the-mind [internal faculty]: suppose ***, monks, |
paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upa-parikkhati |
(a) wise-person, (a) learned-person, (an) intelligent-person, carefully-investigates (it). |
ritta-kaññeva khāyati, |
void (it) seems, |
tuccha-kaññeva khāyati, |
hollow (it) seems, |
suñña-kaññeva khāyati. |
empty (it) seems. |
Corā gāma-ghātakāti kho, bhikkhave, |
“‘thieves (who are) Village-destroying, *********,’ |
chann-etaṃ bāhirānaṃ āyatanānaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ. |
[represents] the-six external sense-bases, (as a) figure-of-speech. |
Cakkhu, bhikkhave, |
The eye, *********, |
haññati manāpā-(a)manāpesu rūpesu; |
(is) attacked (by) agreeable-(&)-disagreeable forms. |
sotaṃ, bhikkhave, |
The ear, *********, |
haññati manāpā-(a)manāpesu saddesu; |
(is) attacked (by) agreeable-(&)-disagreeable sounds. |
ghānaṃ, bhikkhave, |
The nose, *********, |
haññati manāpā-(a)manāpesu gandhesu; |
(is) attacked (by) agreeable-(&)-disagreeable odors. |
jivhā, bhikkhave, |
The tongue, *********, |
haññati manāpā-(a)manāpesu rasesu; |
(is) attacked (by) agreeable-(&)-disagreeable tastes. |
kāyo, bhikkhave, |
The body, *********, |
haññati manāpā-(a)manāpesu phoṭṭhabbesu |
(is) attacked (by) agreeable-(&)-disagreeable tactile-sensations. |
mano, bhikkhave, |
The mind, *********, |
haññati manāpā-(a)manāpesu dhammesu. |
(is) attacked (by) agreeable-(&)-disagreeable mental-phenomena. |
Mahā udak-aṇṇavoti kho, bhikkhave, |
“‘(The) great water-ocean ***, *********, |
catunn-etaṃ oghānaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ— |
[represents] these-four floods, (as a) figure-of-speech- |
kām-oghassa, |
(the) sensuality-flood, |
bhav-oghassa, |
the existence-flood, |
diṭṭh-oghassa, |
the views-flood, |
avijj-oghassa. |
the ignorance-flood. |
Orimaṃ tīraṃ |
“‘(The) near shore, |
s-āsaṅkaṃ sap-paṭi-bhayanti kho, bhikkhave, |
dangerous (and) fearful ***, *********’: |
Sak-kāyass-etaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ. |
[represents] self-identity, (as a) figure-of-speech. |
Pārimaṃ tīraṃ |
“‘(The) further shore, |
khemaṃ ap-paṭi-bhayanti kho, bhikkhave, |
safe (and) non-fearful ***, *********’: |
nibbānass-etaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ. |
[represents] Nibbāna, (as a) figure-of-speech. |
Kullanti kho, bhikkhave, |
“‘(The) raft ***, *********’: |
ariyass-etaṃ aṭṭh-aṅgikassa maggassa adhi-vacanaṃ, |
[represents] (The) Noble Eight-fold Path, (as a) figure-of-speech. |
seyyathidaṃ— |
(it is) as-follows - |
sammā-diṭṭhi sammā-saṅkappo |
Right view, right resolve, |
sammā-vācā sammā-kammanto sammā-ājīvo |
right speech, right action, right livelihood, |
sammā-vāyāmo sammā-sati sammā-samādhi. |
right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. |
Tassa hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyāmoti kho, bhikkhave, |
“‘(with)-hands and feet **, Making-effort ***, ********* ’: |
vīriy-ārambhass-etaṃ adhi-vacanaṃ. |
[represents] energy-arousal, (as a) figure-of-speech. |
tiṇṇo pāraṅ-gato |
“‘Crossed-over, {gone}-beyond, |
thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇoti kho, bhikkhave, |
on-high-ground stands the-brahmin ***, *********. |
arahato etaṃ adhi-vacanan”ti. |
[represents] (The) Arahant as (a) figure-of-speech. |
Paṭhamaṃ. |
(end of sutta, marked by number of this section) |