Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saɱyutta
9. Āmaka-Dhañña Peyyālaɱ
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
9. Uncooked-Grain Repetition[1]
Suttas 81-90
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Sutta 81
Nacca Suttaɱ
Nautch
[81.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from going to see exhibitions[2] of nautch-dancing and singing:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 82
Sayaṇa Suttaɱ
Bed
[82.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from from high and broad beds:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 83
Rajata Suttaɱ
Silver
[83.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from accepting gold[3] and silver:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 84
Dhañña Suttaɱ
Uncooked Grain
[84.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks, few are those beings that abstain from accepting gifts of uncooked grain:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 85
Maṅsa Suttaɱ
Uncooked Flesh
[85.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting gifts of uncooked flesh:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 86
Kumāriya Suttaɱ
Girls
[86.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting women or girls:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 87
Dāsī Suttaɱ
Female and Male Slaves
[87.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting female and male slaves:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 88
Ajelaka Suttaɱ
Goats and Sheep
[88.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting goats and sheep:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 89
Kukkuṭasūkara Suttaɱ
Fowls and Swine
[89.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting fowls and swine:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 90
Hatthina Suttaɱ
Elephants
[90.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting elephants,
cattle,
horses
and mares:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
[1] As at D. i, 5. this chapter is merely a continuation of the previous list from which Comy. does not separate it.
[2] Visūka-dassanā. Comy. (as at DA. i, 77) explains as patāni-bhūtā (? exhibited) and includes peacock-dancing.
[3] Jātarūpa is uncoined gold.
