Aṅguttara Nikāya
IX. Navaka Nipāta
I. Sambodha Vagga

Sutta 7

Sutavā-Paribbājaka Suttaɱ

To Sutavan

Translated from the Pali
by Sister Upalavanna

 

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[1][pts][than][olds] At one time The Blessed One was living among the Gijjha peaks in Rajagaha.

Then the wandering ascetic Sutava approached The Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:

Venerable sir, at one time The Blessed One was living among the Gijjha peaks in Rajagaha and I heard this in the presence of The Blessed One and it was accepted by The Blessed One:

Sutava, it is not possible for the bhikkhu who is worthy, destroyed desires, lived the holy life, done what should be done, has put the load down, have come to the highest good, has destroyed the bond 'to be', is released rightfully knowing, to go beyond five things —

It is not possible for the bhikkhu who has destroyed desires,
to destroy living things knowing,
to take the not given with a thievish mind,
to enjoy sexual intercourse,
to say lies knowingly,
to partake sensual things accumulating them as they have done in a household.

Venerable sir, does The Blessed One recall it and remember it completely?"

Sutava, I recall it and remember it completely, not only earlier, even now I tell, Sutava,
it is not possible for the bhikkhu who is worthy,
destroyed desires,
lived the holy life,
done what should be done,
has put the load down,
have come to the highest good,
has destroyed the bond 'to be',
is released rightfully knowing,
to go beyond nine things —

It is not possible for the bhikkhu who has destroyed desires,
to destroy living things knowing,
to take the not given with a thievish mind,
to enjoy sexual intercourse,
to say lies knowingly,
to partake sensual things accumulating them as they have done in a household,
to follow the wrong course of action out of interest,
to follow the wrong course of action through anger,
to follow the wrong course of action through delusion,
to follow the wrong course of action out of fear.

Sutava, earlier and now also I tell, it is not possible for the bhikkhu who is worthy,
destroyed desires,
lived the holy life,
done what should be done,
has put the load down,
have come to the highest good,
has destroyed the bond 'to be',
is released rightfully knowing,
to go beyond these nine things.