Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
V. Rohitassa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
V. Rohitassa
Sutta 47
Suvidūra-vidūra Suttaṃ
Very Far Away[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, these four things
are very far away from each other.
What four?
The sky,[2] monks,
and the earth;
this is the first pair of things
very far away from each other.
This shore of ocean, monks,
and that shore of ocean:
this is the second pair.
The place, monks, where the blazing one[3] comes up
and the place where [59] he goes to setting:
this is the third pair.
Dhamma of the good, monks,
and dhamma[4] of the bad:
that is the fourth pair of things
very far away from each other.
These are the four things
are very far away from each other.
Far is the sky from earth and far, men say,
The further side of ocean; far the place
Where the blazing one, light-maker, riseth
From where he goeth down; but further still
Are dhamma of the good and of the bad.[5]
Not transient is union of the good:
As long as it remains it is just so.
Soon wanes[6] the union of the bad. Wherefore
Far from the bad is dhamma of the good.'
[1] This sutta is quoted at KV. 344 = Pts. of Contr. 203, to prove that opposite things or qualities are side by side.
[2] Text nabhā, but all the rest nabhaṃ; so also gāthas.
[3] Verocana, the sun. 'Son of Agni (fire).'
[4] Here apparently the same as saddhamma ('own way'), as in § 43 above.
[5] Gāthas quoted at JA. v, pp. 483 and 508 [both in Jāt 537].
[6] Veti. Cf. Dialog, ii, 251 n.
