Aṇguttara Nikāya
VIII. Aṭṭhaka Nipāta
II: Mahā Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Eights
II. The Great Chapter
Sutta 15
Mala Suttaṃ
The Stains
Translated from the Pali by E.M. Hare.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
2. 'Monks, there are these eight stains.
What eight?
Monks, non-repeating is the mantras' stain;
not rising[1] is the stain of houses;
sluggishness is the stain of beauty;
carelessness is the stain of a guard;
misconduct is the stain of a woman;
stint is the stain in giving;
evil and unrighteous states
are stains in this world and the next;
but there is a greater stain than these,
ignorance is the greatest stain.
Monks, these are the eight stains.
In non-repeating lies the mantras' stain;
Not rising, that of homes; and sluggishness
Is beauty's stain; a guard's is carelessness;
Misconduct is a woman's stain; in gifts
The stain is stint. In sooth, all sins are stains
Hereafter and on earth. But greater stain
Than these is ignorance, the greatest stain.[2]
Aniṭṭhā. Probably 'not finishing' or 'incompleteness' would be better; but also possibly 'lack of a foundation'.
— p.p.
[1] Aniṭṭhāna.
[2] These verses recur at Dhp. 241 f. (S.B.B. vii); cf. also K.S. i, 53; v, 46 for other stains.
