Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
46. Bojjhanga Saɱyutta
5. Cakka-Vatti Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
46. Kindred Sayings on the Limbs of Wisdom
5. Roller of the Wheel
Sutta 44
Duppañño Suttaɱ
Witless
Translated by F. L. Woodward
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Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
"Now a certain brother came to see the Exalted One
on coming to him greeted him courteously,
and after the exchange of greetings and compliments
sat down at one side.
Seated at one side
he said to the Exalted One: -
"'A witless imbecile!'[1]
A witless imbecile!'
is the saying, lord.
Pray, lord, how far is this name applicable?"
"By the fact, monk, of not cultivating,
not making much of
the seven limbs of wisdom,
one is called 'a witless imbecile.'
What seven?
The limb of wisdom that is mindfulness,
the limb of wisdom that is Norm investigation,
the limb of wisdom that is energy,
the limb of wisdom that is zest,
the limb of wisdom that is tranquillity,
the limb of wisdom that is concentration,
the limb of wisdom that is equinimity.
By the fact, monk, of not cultivating,
not making much of
the seven limbs of wisdom,
one is called 'a witless imbecile.'"
M. i, 527 (App. n.): P.2019 eḷamug- M. elamūg- A, ZZ mostly; eḷamugā ti elamukhā, khakārassa gakāro kato, lālāmukhā ti vuttaɱ hoti, .. elamugā ti pi patho, elamukā ti pi keci paṭhanti, apare elamukhā ti pi, sabbattha eḷamukhā ti attho
— p.p.
[1] Eḷa-mūga (often with dupañño), generally translated 'deaf and dumb,' but, as Rhys Davids shows at Milinda ii, 71 n., there is no authority for this. Cf. M. i, 20: 'dummies,' or eḷamūkā; M. i, 527 (App. n.); A. ii, 252 ('dribbling at the mouth'). Comys. give the literal interpretation (? the meaning of 'drivelling idiot'). Comy. asampanna-vacano (DA. i, 282), of indistinct speech.
