Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
13: Bhaya Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
4. The Book of the Fours
13: Fears
Sutta 128
Tathāgata Acchariya Suttaṃ
Marvels (b)
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, on the manifestation of a Tathāgata,
Arahant,
a Fully Enlightened One,
four wonderful, marvellous things
are manifested.
What four?
Monks, folk take pleasure in the habitual,[1]
delight in the habitual,
are excited thereby.
But when Dhamma contrary to such
is taught by a Tathāgata,
folk are ready to hear it,
they lend an ear,
they apply their minds thereto.
This is the firñt wonderful, marvellous thing
manifested when a Tathāgata,
Arahant,
a Fully Enlightened One
is manifested.
■
Monks, folk take pleasure in pride,
delight in pride,
are excited by pride.
But when Dhamma for controlling pride
is taught by a Tathāgata,
folk are ready to hear it,
they lend an ear,
they apply their minds thereto.
This is the second wonderful, marvellous thing
manifested when a Tathāgata,
Arahant,
a Fully Enlightened One
is manifested.
■
Monks, folk take pleasure in excitement,
delight in it,
are excited thereby.
But when Dhamma that allays excitement
is taught by a Tathāgata,
folk are ready to hear it,
they lend an ear,
they apply their minds thereto.
This is the third wonderful, marvellous thing
manifested when a Tathāgata,
Arahant,
a Fully Enlightened One
is manifested.
■
Monks, folk are come to ignorance,
are become blinded,
overcast by ignorance.
But when Dhamma controlling ignorance
is taught by a Tathāgata,
they are ready to hear it,
they lend an ear to it,
they apply their minds thereto.
This, monks, is the fourth wonderful, marvellous thing
manifested when a Tathāgata,
Arahant,
a Fully Enlightened One
is manifested.
So these are the four wonderful, marvellous things manifested when a Tathāgata,
Arahant,
a Fully Enlightened One
is manifested.
[1] Ālayārāma. Cf. Vin. i, 4; S. i, 136. 'The five sense-pleasures.' Comy. This misses the point in a new gospel. Cf. Sakya, pp. 39, 117.
