Aṇguttara Nikāya
Pañcaka Nipāta
XXI. Kimbila-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fives
Chapter XXI: Kimbila
Sutta 208
Danta-Kaṭṭha Suttaṃ
The Tooth-Stick[1]
Translated by E. M. Hare
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Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these five disadvantages from not chewing a tooth-stick.
What five?
The eyes become affected;[2]
the mouth becomes bad-smelling;
the channels of taste[3] are not purified;
phlegm and mucus[4] get on food;
and one does not enjoy food.
[184] Verily, monks, these are the five disadvantages from not chewing a tooth-stick.'
§
"Monks, there are these five advantages[ed1] from chewing a tooth-stick.
What five?
The eyes do not become affected;
the mouth does not become bad-smelling;
the channels of taste are purified;
phlegm and mucus do not get on food;
and one enjoys food.
Verily, monks, these are the five advantages from chewing a tooth-stick.'
[1] See Vin ii, 137 (S.B.E. xx, 147), also [VP.CV.5.31. Horner] where this recurs.
[2] Acakkhussaṃ. Comy. na cakkhūnaṃ hitaṃ; cakkhuṃ visuddhaṃ na karoti. Cf. Rhys Davids' note at S.B.E. loc. cit.
[3] Rasa-haraṇiyo.
[4] Pittaṃ semhaṃ.
[ed1] Hare abridges, see the Horner Vinaya translation for a translation of the 'opposites'
