Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XI: Valāhaka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XI: Rain-Cloud
Sutta 106
Amba Suttaṃ
Mangoes[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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[1] 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, there are these four mangoes.
What four?
The unripe which looks ripe,
the ripe which looks unripe,
[113] the unripe which looks unripe,
and the ripe which looks ripe.
These are the four mangoes.
In like manner, monks, there are these four persons
resembling mangoes
found existing in the world.
What four?
The unripe which looks ripe,
the ripe which looks unripe,
the unripe which looks unripe,
and the ripe which looks ripe.
■
And how, monks, is a person unripe but ripe-looking?
In this case the mien of a certain person
is charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
Yet he understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He understands not,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus, monks, a person
is unripe but ripe-looking.
As is that mango that is unripe but ripe-looking,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person
ripe but looks unripe?
In this case the mien of a certain person is not charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
Yet he does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus a person is ripe but looks unripe.
As is that mangoe ripe but looks unripe,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person unripe and looks unripe?|| ||
In this case the mien of a certain person is not charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
And he does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He does not understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus is a person unripe and looks unripe.
As is that mangoe unripe and looks unripe,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person ripe and look ripe?
In this case the mien of a certain person is charming,
whether he be departing or approaching,
looking forward or backward,
bending or unbending (his arm),
or bearing outer robe,
bowl
and (ordinary) robe.
And he does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the ending of Ill.'
He does understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of:
'This is the practice going to the ending of Ill.'
Thus, monks, is a person ripe and look ripe.
Just as that mangoe is ripe and looks ripe,
even so using this figure
do I speak of this person.
So these, monks, there are these four persons
resembling mangoes
found existing in the world.'
[1] Cf. Pugg. 44.
