Saɱyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
12. Nidāna Saɱyutta
5. Gahapati Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
Part II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
12. The Kindred Sayings on Cause
5. The Housefather
Sutta 45
Ñātika Suttaɱ
Ñātika[1]
Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward
Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain
The Exalted One was once staying at Ñātika,
in the Brick Hall.[2]
Now the Exalted One, meditating in solitude,
gave utterance to that way
of setting forth the Doctrine:
"Because of sight and visible objects
visual consciousness arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
This is the arising of ill.
■
Because of hearing and audible objects
consciousness of sound arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
This is the arising of ill.
■
Because of nose and odorous objects
consciousness of smell arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
This is the arising of ill.
■
Because of tongue and sapid objects
consciousness of taste arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
This is the arising of ill.
■
Because of body and tangible objects
the tangible consciousness of body arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
This is the arising of ill.
■
Because of mind and things
mind-consciousness arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
This is the arising of ill.
§
And what is the passing away of ill?
Because of sight and visible objects
visual consciousness arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
By the utter fading away and ceasing of the craving,
grasping ceases,
by the ceasing of the grasping,
becoming ceases,
by the ceasing of becoming,
birth ceases,
by the ceasing of birth decay-and-death,
grief,
lamenting,
suffering,
despair cease.
Such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill.
■
Because of hearing and audible objects
consciousness of sound arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
By the utter fading away and ceasing of the craving,
grasping ceases,
by the ceasing of the grasping,
becoming ceases,
by the ceasing of becoming,
birth ceases,
by the ceasing of birth decay-and-death,
grief,
lamenting,
suffering,
despair cease.
Such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill.
■
Because of nose and odorous objects
consciousness of smell arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
By the utter fading away and ceasing of the craving,
grasping ceases,
by the ceasing of the grasping,
becoming ceases,
by the ceasing of becoming,
birth ceases,
by the ceasing of birth decay-and-death,
grief,
lamenting,
suffering,
despair cease.
Such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill.
■
Because of tongue and sapid objects
consciousness of taste arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
By the utter fading away and ceasing of the craving,
grasping ceases,
by the ceasing of the grasping,
becoming ceases,
by the ceasing of becoming,
birth ceases,
by the ceasing of birth decay-and-death,
grief,
lamenting,
suffering,
despair cease.
Such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill.
■
Because of body and tangible objects
the tangible consciousness of body arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
By the utter fading away and ceasing of the craving,
grasping ceases,
by the ceasing of the grasping,
becoming ceases,
by the ceasing of becoming,
birth ceases,
by the ceasing of birth decay-and-death,
grief,
lamenting,
suffering,
despair cease.
Such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill.
■
Because of mind and things
mind-consciousness arises,
contact is the clash of the three;
feeling is conditioned by the contact,
craving by the feeling.
By the utter fading away and ceasing of the craving,
grasping ceases,
by the ceasing of the grasping,
becoming ceases,
by the ceasing of becoming,
birth ceases,
by the ceasing of birth decay-and-death,
grief,
lamenting,
suffering,
despair cease.
Such is the ceasing of this entire mass of ill."
And at that time a certain brother stood overhearing the Exalted One.
Then the Exalted One saw him standing and overhearing,
and seeing him,
he spake thus unto him:
"Didst thou hear, brother,
this our way of setting forth the Doctrine?"
"Even so, lord."
"Do thou learn this way, brother,
do thou master it.
It belongs to thy good, brother,
this way of setting forth the Doctrine,
it is of the rudiments of the divine life."
[1] See below, p. XIV, 2, § 13. On Ñātika, or Nādika, or the Nādikas see Dialogues, ii, 97 f. n. 1, 237; Vin. Texts, ii, 108. Here the Comy. calls it the village of the two kinsmen (Ñātika).
[2] A public resthouse, 'made of "itthaka"s.' Comy.
