Aṇguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
Mahā Vagga
The Book of Sevens
Sutta 68
Aggi-k-Khandh'Opama Suttaṃ
The Fire
Translated from the Pāḷi
by
Michael M. Olds
Once upon a time the Lucky Man's, walk'n bout Kosala-land on 'es Begga's rouns
with a huge company of Beggars,
when he spots a great bonfire.
At that he steps off the HighWay
and sits down at the root of a tree
on a seat made ready.
Then, to the Beggars gathered round he said:
"See that bonfire there,
a great burning, blazing, mass of flame?
What do you think, Beggars,
which would be better:
to sit or lie down embracing that great burning, blazing, mass of flame
or to sit or lie down embracing the fairest lass in the land,
one whose hands and feet were soft and smooth,
a lady of high birth and great refinement?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you,
it would be better for a bad man,
a man of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to sit or lie down
embracing that great burning, blazing mass of flame.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to sit or lie down
embracing the fairest lass in the land,
one whose hands and feet were soft and smooth,
a lady of high birth and great refinement,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
§
What do you think, Beggars, which would be better:
To have the executioner bind one's legs with a thick rope,
insert a stick and twist
cutting through the skin,
cutting through the subdura,
cutting through the flesh,
cutting through the tendons,
cutting through the bones
and pressing on to the marrow,
or that one should enjoy the respect and deference
of those of position, power and wealth?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you, it would be better for a bad man,
a man of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to have the executioner bind his legs with a thick rope,
insert a stick and twist
cutting through the skin,
cutting through the subdura,
cutting through the flesh,
cutting through the tendons,
cutting through the bones
and pressing on to the marrow.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to enjoy the respect and deference
of those of position, power and wealth,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
§
What do you think, Beggars, which would be better:
To have the executioner,
with newly oiled and sharpened sward,
gleaming, glistening,
stab one through the chest,
or that one should enjoy the respect and deference
of those of position, power and wealth?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you, it would be better for a bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to have the executioner,
with newly oiled and sharpened sward,
gleaming, glistening,
stab him through the chest.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
■
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to enjoy the respect and deference
of those of position, power and wealth,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
§
What do you think, Beggars, which would be better:
To have the executioner wrap one round with iron plates,
red hot, glowing, blazing,
or that one should enjoy the soft robes
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
by those of position, power and wealth?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you, it would be better for a bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to have the executioner wrap him round with iron plates,
red hot, glowing, blazing.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to enjoy the soft robes
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
by those of position, power and wealth,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
§
What do you think, Beggars, which would be better:
To have the executioner pry open one's mouth witha iron j-Jack,
and jam down one's throat a coppa ball,
red hot, glowing, blazing,
so that it burned pastha lips,
burned over one's tongue,
burned past the old Adam's apple,
burned down through the belly
and on out
dragging intestines and bowels with-a,
or that one should enjoy the tasty almsfood,
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
of those of position, power and wealth?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you, it would be better for a bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to have the executioner pry open his mouth with an iron jack
and jam down his throat a copper ball,
red hot, glowing, blazing,
so that it burned past his lips,
burned over his tongue,
burned past his throat,
burned down through his belly
and on out
dragging intestines and bowels withall.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to enjoy the tasty almsfood,
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
of those of position, power and wealth,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
§
What do you think, Beggars, which would be better:
To have the executioner take one by the head
or shoulders
and force one to sit
or lie down
on an iron bed,
red hot, glowing, blazing
or that one should enjoy the comfort
of a soft bed
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
of those of position, power and wealth?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you, it would be better for a bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to have the executioner take him by the head
or shoulders
and force him to sit
or lie down
on an iron bed,
red hot, glowing, blazing.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to enjoy the comfort of a soft bed
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
of those of position, power and wealth,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
§
What do you think, Beggars, which would be better:
To have the executioner bind one up,
up end down,
and toss one into an iron cauldron,
red hot, glowing, blazing,
so that one sank down
and rose up
and was whirled
round and round and round and round
witha scum,
or that one should enjoy the surroundings
of a lodging
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
of those of position, power and wealth?"
"For sure, Bhagava, it would be the latter!"
"Not so, Beggars!
Not so!
I swear to you, it would be better for a bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
to have the executioner bind him up,
up end down,
and toss him into an iron cauldron,
red hot, glowing, blazing,
so that he sank down
and rose up
and was whirled
round and round and round and round
with the scum.
How come?
Because, beggars, although that man might experience death
or excruciating, deadly pains
as a consequence of this,
he would not because of this,
at the breaking up of the elements at death
find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
But beggars, if that bad man
of low, suspect intentions,
impure and secretive in conduct,
no bhikkhu although claiming to be such,
no celibate although claiming to be celibate,
rotten to the core,
full of lust,
a no-good, evil man,
were to enjoy the surroundings
of a lodging
given out of belief in the great fruit of good deeds
of those of position, power and wealth,
he would do so to his own detriment
and to the detriment of others,
to his pain and misery for many a long day,
because on the breaking up of the elements at death
he will find consciousness again
down the drain,
the way of woe,
the Agha,
Niraya Hell.
That's how come!
Therefore, Beggars, train yourselves this way:
'Let those who give us gifts
of food, clothing, bedding, medicines and shelter
enjoy great fruit,
great profit
from their good deeds!
Let our leaving home for the homeless life
not be an empty habit,
but one of great profit,
one of great fruit!'
This is the way to train yourselves, beggars.
Beggars! Thinking of your own best interests,
to strive energetically
is worth the effort.
Beggars! Thinking of the best interests of others,
to strive energetically
is worth the effort.
Beggars! Thinking of both your own best interests
and the best interests of others,
to strive energetically
is worth the effort."
That's what the Bhagava said, So I hear.
I also heard that at that time
some sixty bhikkhus threw up hot blood and died,
sixty more gave up orders and returned to the lower life
saying:
"Too hard! Too hard! Is life under the Bhagava!";
and sixty more were freed without attachment
and destroyed the corrupting influences.
