Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
VI. Gotamī Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
VIII. The Book of the Eights
VI: The Gotamid
Sutta 56
Bhaya Suttaɱ
Fear
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks!"
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, 'fear' is a term for the lusts;[1]
'ill' is a term for the lusts;
'disease' is a term for the lusts;
'blain' is a term for the lusts;
'barb' is a term for the lusts;
'bond' is a term for the lusts;
'bog' is a term for the lusts;
'womb' is a term for the lusts.
§
And wherefore, monks, is 'fear' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from fear in this world,
nor free from fear in the world to come;
therefore 'fear' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'ill' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from ill in this world,
nor free from ill in the world to come;
therefore 'ill' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'disease' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from disease in this world,
nor free from disease in the world to come;
therefore 'disease' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'blain' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from blain in this world,
nor free from blain in the world to come;
therefore 'blain' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'barb' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from barbs in this world,
nor free from barbs in the world to come;
therefore 'barb' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'bond' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from bonds in this world,
nor free from bonds in the world to come;
therefore 'bond' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'bog' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from bog in this world,
nor free from bog in the world to come;
therefore 'bog' is a term for the lusts.
■
And wherefore, monks, is 'womb' a term for the lusts?
Monks, since whosoever be bound by the passion of impulse,
infatuated by the passion of lust,
is neither free from the womb in this world,
nor free from the womb in the world to come;
therefore 'womb' is a term for the lusts."
[2]Fear, ill, disease, blain, barb, bond, bog and womb
Alike[3] are lusts, clinging to which the wordling,
Steeped in delights, goes to the womb again:
But when an ardent monk relaxes not
Rapt watchfulness, by crossing o'er the bog
So hard to pass - 'tis such an one beholds[4]
Poor trembling folk o'erwhelmed by birth and eld.'
[1] Cf. A. iii, 310, where this sutta ocours for six, sallaɱ and gabbho being omitted, the first two lines of the gāthā are also similar; cf. also Sn. 51; K.S. iii, 143.
[2] I am indebted to F. L. Woodward for this translation.
[3] Ubhayaɱ both. Comy. Bhayañ ca dukkhañ ca, bhayañ ca rogañ ca ... bhayañ ca gabbho ca' ti evaɱ ubhayaɱ ete kāmā pavuccanti. Ad A. iii: Saṅgo paṇko ca idam pi ubhayaɱ.
