Aṇguttara Nikāya
Catukka Nipāta
XI: Valāhaka Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XI: Rain-Cloud
Sutta 108
Balivadda Suttaṃ
Oxen[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 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 oxen.
What four?
The one that is fierce to the cows of its own herd,
but not to the cows of another herd,
the one that is fierce to the cows of another herd,
but not to those of its own herd,
the one that is fierce to both the cows of its own heard,
and the cows of another heard,
and the one that is fierce to neither the cows of its own heard,
nor the cows of another heard.
[114] In like manner, monks, these four persons resembling oxen
are to be found existing in the world.
What four?
The one that is fierce to the cows of its own herd,
but not to the cows of another herd,
the one that is fierce to the cows of another herd,
but not to those of its own herd,
the one that is fierce to both the cows of its own heard,
and the cows of another heard,
and the one that is fierce to neither the cows of its own heard,
nor the cows of another heard.
■
And how, monks, is a person (like) an ox
fierce to the cows of its own herd,
but not to the cows of another herd?
In this case a certain person is a terror to his own company,[2]
but not to another's company.
Thus a person is (like) an ox
fierce to the cows of its own herd,
but not to the cows of another herd
Just as, monks, an ox is fierce to the cows of its own herd,
but not to the cows of another herd,
so using this figure do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person (like) an ox
that is fierce to the cows of another herd
but not to those of its own?
In this case a certain person is a terror to another's company,
not to his own.
Thus a person (like) an ox
that is fierce to the cows of another herd
but not to those of its own.
Just as an ox is fierce to the cows of another herd
but not to those of its own,
so do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person (like) an ox
fierce to both the cows of its own heard,
and the cows of another heard?
In this case a certain person is a terror both to his own company and another's.
Thus a person is (like) an ox
fierce to both the cows of its own heard,
and the cows of another heard
Just as an ox is fierce to both the cows of its own heard,
and the cows of another heard,
even so do I speak of this person.
■
And how, monks, is a person (like) an ox
fierce neither to the cows of its own herd,
nor to the cows of another herd?
In this case a certain person is a terror neither to his own company
nor to another's company.
Thus a person is (like) an ox
fierce neither to the cows of its own herd
nor to the cows of another herd.
Just as an ox is fierce
neither to the cows of its own herd
nor to the cows of another herd
even so do I speak of this person.
These four persons, monks, resembling oxen,
are found existing in the world.'
[1] Cf. Pugg. 47.
[2] Parisā is the retinue of a wandering teacher or a monk's fellow-residents.
