Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saɱyutta
3. Saraṇāni (or Sarakāni) Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
3. Sarakāni

Sutta 25

Dutiya Sarakāni or Saraṇāni Suttaɱ

Sarakāni or Saraṇāni (b)

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

[1] Thus have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying among the Sakyans near Kapilavatthu,
in the Banyan Park.

Now at that time Sarakāni the Sakyan,
who had made an end,
was proclaimed by the Exalted One a stream-winner,
not doomed to the Downfall,
assured,
one bound for enlightenment.

Thereupon a number of Sakyans,
whenever they met together in company,
were consumed with indignation,
and spoke angrily and scornfully about him
thus:

"A strange thing indeed!

A wonder indeed!

Nowadays-anyone may become a stream-winner,
inasmuch as Sarakāni the Sakyan,
who bas died,
is proclaimed by the Exalted One a stream-winner,
not doomed to the Downfall,
assured,
one bound for enlightenment.

Why! Sarakāni the Sakyan was one who failed to complete the training!"

[327] Now Mahānāma the Sakyan went to see the Exalted One,
and on coming to him
saluted him
and sat down at one side.

As he thus sat
Mahānāma the Sakyan said this to the Exalted One:

"Here, lord, Sarakāni the Sakyan,
who has died,
was proclaimed by the Exalted One a stream-winner,
not doomed to the Downfall,
assured,
one bound for enlightenment.

Thereupon a number of Sakyans, whenever they meet together in company,
were consumed with indignation,
and spoke angrily and scornfully about him
thus:

'A strange thing indeed!

A wonder indeed!

Why! Sarakāni the Sakyan was one who failed to complete the training!'"

"Mahānāma, a lay-disciple
who has for a long time taken refuge in the Buddha,
taken refuge in the Norm
taken refuge in the Order, -
how could such an one go to the Downfall?

He who would rightly apply the words
'A lay-disciple who has gone for refuge to the Buddha,
who has gone for refuge to the Norm
who has gone for refuge to the Order'
might rightly apply them to Sarakāni the Sakyan.

Mahānāma, Sarakāni the Sakyan is one who
for a long time took refuge in the Buddha,
took refuge in the Norm
took refuge in the Order.

How could such an one go to the Downfall?

Now herein, Mahānāma,
take the case of a certain one
who has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

'He it is the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer
of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Moreover he is one who is joyous
and swift in wisdom,
one who has won release.

Now by the destruction of the āsavas,
in this very life,
by his own understanding
he has realized the heart's release,
the release by insight,
and having attained it
dwells therein.

Such an one, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again, Mahānāma,
a certain one has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Moreover he is one who is joyous
and swift in wisdom,
but he has not won release.^[ed1]

By destroying the five fetters of the lower sort
he wins release midway^[1].

He, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again, Mahānāma,
a certain one has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Moreover he is one who is joyous
and swift in wisdom,
but he has not won release.

By destroying the five fetters of the lower sort
he wins release by reduction of his time.

He, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again, Mahānāma,
a certain one has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Moreover he is one who is joyous
and swift in wisdom,
but he has not won release.

By destroying the five fetters of the lower sort
he wins release with little trouble.

He, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again, Mahānāma,
a certain one has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Moreover he is one who is joyous
and swift in wisdom,
but he has not won release.

By destroying the five fetters of the lower sort he wins release with some trouble.

He, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again, Mahānāma,
a certain one has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Moreover he is one who is joyous
and swift in wisdom,
but he has not won release.

By destroying the five fetters of the lower sort he he is one who goes up stream and goes to the Pure Abodes.

He, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again Mahānāma, in this connexion,
take the case of a certain one who has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

Who has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

Who has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

But he is not joyous and swift in wisdom,
he has not [328] won release.

Yet by destroying three fetters
and weakening lust,
hatred
and delusion
he is a Once-returner.

Once more he comes back to this world
and makes an end of ill.

He too, Mahānāmatoo, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Again Mahānāma, in this connexion,
take the case of a certain one who has reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

Who has reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

Who has reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

But he is neither joyous and swift in wisdom,
nor has he won release:
but by destroying three fetters
he is a Stream-winner,
he is not doomed to the Downfall,
he is assured,
bound for enlightenment.

This man too, Mahānāma,
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Here again, Mahānāma, take the case of one
who has not reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has not reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has not reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

He is neither joyous and swift in wisdom,
nor has he won release.

But he is blessed with
the controlling factor of faith,
the controlling factor of energy,
the controlling factor of mindfulness,
the controlling factor of concentration
the controlling factor of controlling faculty of insight.

Also the things proclaimed by the Tathāgata
are moderately approved by him by insight.

Even this man, Mahānāma
is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Once again, Mahānāma,
take the case of a certain one
who has not reached absolute loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

He has not reached absolute loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has not reached absolute loyalty to the Order,
thus:

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

Nor is he joyous and swift in wisdom,
nor has he won release.

But he has just these conditions:
the controlling factor of faith,
the controlling factor of energy,
the controlling factor of mindfulness,
the controlling factor of concentration
the controlling factor of controlling faculty of insight:
moreover he has merely faith,
merely affection for the Tathāgata.

He, also, Mahānāma is fully released from hell,
from rebirth in an animal's womb,
from the realm of ghosts,
he is fully released from the Waste,
the Woeful Way,
from the Downfall.

■

Suppose now, Mahānāma, a bad field,^[2]
a bad piece of land,
not yet stubbed,
and the seeds (to be sown) are broken,
rotten,
spoiled^[3] by wind and heat;
incapable of sprouting,^[4]
badly planted,^[5]
and the sky-god supplies no suitable rain.^[6]

Would those seeds come to growth,
increase,
abundance?"

"Surely not, lord,"

"Just so, Mahānāma,
in this connexion,
when the Norm is wrongly preached,
ill expounded,
leads to no profit,
does not conduce to tranquillity,
and is not expounded by a Fully Enlightened One,
I declare it like unto a bad field.

The disciple who lives according to that Norm
and walks in accordance therewith,
who walks obedient thereto,
who practises its precepts, -
such I declare to be like that bad seed.

But suppose, Mahānāma,
a good field,
a good piece of land, [329] well stubbed,
and the seeds sown therein are unbroken,
not rotten,
unspoiled by wind and heat,
capable of sprouting,
happily planted,
and the sky-god supplies a constant rain, -
would those seeds come to growth,
increase,
abundance?"

"Surely they would, lord."

"Well, just so, Mahānāma,
here the Norm is rightly preached,
well expounded,
it leads to profit,
it conduces to tranquillity,
it is expounded by a Fully Enlightened One.

I declare it to be like unto a good field.

The disciple who lives according to this Norm,
who walks in accordance therewith,
who walks obedient thereto,
who practises its precepts, -
such I declare to be the good seed.

Much more then do I declare
that Sarakanithe Sakyan is such an one.

Mahānāma, Sarakani the Sakyan
at the time of his death
was one who fulfilled the training to perfection."

^[1] Text, 285, etc.

^[2] Cf. the simile at S. iii, 54 (K.S. iii, 46).

^[3] Text has -hatam for hatāni.

^[4] I read sāradāni for text's sārāni, according to Sinh. MSS. [as at S. ii, loc. cit., where see note].

^[5] Comy. 'ill and irregularly set and wrongly cultivated.'

^[6] Sammādhāraṅ, not as in Dict., a 'heavy' shower.

^[ed1] PTS Pali and the Woodward translation have this still in the positive which does not make sense. CSCD and Bhk. Bodhi have this correctly in the negative: na ca vimuttiyā 'has not attained liberation'.

Saɱyutta Nikāya 5. Mahā-Vagga 55. Sot'Āpatti Saɱyutta 3. Saraṇāni (or Sarakāni) Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings 5. The Great Chapter 55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning 3. Sarakāni

Sutta 25

Dutiya Sarakāni or Saraṇāni Suttaɱ

Sarakāni or Saraṇāni (b)

Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saɱyutta
3. Saraṇāni (or Sarakāni) Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
3. Sarakāni