Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
I. Bāla Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
I. The Fool
Honour to that Exalted One, Arahant, the Fully Enlightenend One
Sutta 1
Bhaya Suttaṃ
The Fool (1)
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
[1.1][bodh][upal] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī, at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, whatsoever fears arise,
all of them arise as to the fool,
not the wise man.[1]
Whatsoever dangers arise,
all of them arise as to the fool,
not the wise man.
Whatsoever oppressions of mind arise,
all of them arise as to the fool,
not the wise man.
In this translation "... arise as to ..." must be read: "arises becauxe of" not "arises to" for it to line up with the simile. See Bhk. Bodhi's translation for a clearer rendition.
—p.p.
Just as, monks, a spark of fire[2]
from a hut of reeds or grass
burns up houses with gabled roofs,
houses plastered inside and out
that admit to no wind,[3]
houses with well-fitting doors and casements,[4]
even so whatsoever fears arise,
all of them arise as to the fool,
not the wise man.
Whatsoever dangers arise,
all of them arise as to the fool,
not the wise man.
Whatsoever oppressions of mind arise,
all of them arise as to the fool, not the wise man.
Thus, monks, it is the fool
who is haunted by fears,
dread of dangers,
oppression of mind,
not the wise man.
Not as to the wise man cometh fear:
not as to the wise man cometh dread of anger:
not as to the wise man cometh oppression of mind.
Wherefore, monks, thus must ye train yourselves:
Abandoning those three conditions
by which the fool is to be known, [88]
we will acquire and practice
those three conditions
by which the wise man is to be known.
That is how ye must train yourselves, monks."
[1] Bālato, no paṇḍitato. Cf. M. iii, 62. Abl. of reference.
[2] = M. iii, 61 (Dialog. vi, 188); aggi-mukko (v.l. mutto).
[3] Nivātāni
[4] Phussit'aggalāni. Comy. piṭṭha-sanghātasmiṇ suṭṭhu-phassitaka-vātāni. Cf. Vin. ii, 120.
