Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
35. Saḷāyatana Saṃyutta
§ IV: Paññāsaka Catuttha
3. Samudda Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
35. Kindred Sayings the Sixfold Sphere of Sense
§ IV: The 'Fourth Fifty' Suttas
3. The Chapter on the Ocean
Sutta 190
Khīra-Rukkh'Opama Suttaṃ
The Sap-Tree[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
[1][bodh][than] Thus have I heard:
Once the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren."
"Lord," responded those brethren to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One thus spake:
"If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in objects cognizable by the eye
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling objects,
[100] not to speak of considerable objects,
cognizable by the eye,
come into the range of the eye,[2]
they overspread the heart.[3]
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in sounds cognizable by the ear
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling sounds,
not to speak of considerable sounds,
cognizable by the ear,
come into the range of the ear
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in scents cognizable by the nose
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling scents,
not to speak of considerable scents,
cognizable by the nose,
come into the range of the nose
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in savours cognizable by the tongue
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling savours,
not to speak of considerable savours,
cognizable by the tongue,
come into the range of the tongue
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in tangibles cognizable by the body
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling tangibles,
not to speak of considerable tangibles,
cognizable by the body,
come into the range of the body
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in mind-states cognizable by the mind
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling mind-states,
not to speak of considerable mind-states,
cognizable by the mind,
come into the range of the mind
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
§
Suppose, Brethren, a sap-tree,
either a bo-tree
or a banyan
or fig-tree
or bunched fig-tree
or any tender, young tree.
Then if a man cuts into it
with a sharp axe,
whenever he does so
the sap flows out,
does it not?"
"Yes, lord."
"Why so?"
"Because sap is in it, lord."|| ||
■
"Just so, Brethren, if in any brother or sister,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in objects cognizable by the eye
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling objects,
not to speak of considerable objects,
cognizable by the eye,
come into the range of the eye,
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in sounds cognizable by the ear
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling sounds,
not to speak of considerable sounds,
cognizable by the ear,
come into the range of the ear
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in scents cognizable by the nose
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling scents,
not to speak of considerable scents,
cognizable by the nose,
come into the range of the nose
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in savours cognizable by the tongue
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling savours,
not to speak of considerable savours,
cognizable by the tongue,
come into the range of the tongue
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in tangibles cognizable by the body
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling tangibles,
not to speak of considerable tangibles,
cognizable by the body,
come into the range of the body
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in mind-states cognizable by the mind
exists,
be not abandoned,
then, when even trifling mind-states,
not to speak of considerable mind-states,
cognizable by the mind,
come into the range of the mind
they overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists,
that malice exists,
that infatuation exists,
that lust is not yet abandoned
that malice is not yet abandoned
that infatuation is not yet abandoned.
§
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in objects cognizable by the eye
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable objects,
not to speak of trifling objects,
cognizable by the eye,
come into the range of the eye,
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in sounds cognizable by the ear
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable sounds,
not to speak of trifling sounds,
cognizable by the ear,
come into the range of the ear
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in scents cognizable by the nose
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable scents,
not to speak of trifling scents,
cognizable by the nose,
come into the range of the nose
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in savours cognizable by the tongue
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable savours,
not to speak of trifling savours,
cognizable by the tongue,
come into the range of the tongue
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in tangibles cognizable by the body
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable tangibles,
not to speak of trifling tangibles,
cognizable by the body,
come into the range of the body
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in mind-states cognizable by the mind
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable mind-states,
not to speak of trifling mind-states,
cognizable by the mind,
come into the range of the mind
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
§
Suppose, Brethren, a sap-tree,
either a bo-tree
or banyan
or fig-tree
or bunched fig-tree
that is dried up,
sapless,
past its season,[4]
and a man with a sharp axe
cut into it.
Would sap come out?"
"Surely not, lord."
"Why not?"
"Because no sap is in it, lord."
"Just so, Brethren if in any brother or sister,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in [101] objects cognizable by the eye
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable objects,
not to speak of trifling objects,
cognizable by the eye,
come into the range of the eye,
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in sounds cognizable by the ear
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable sounds,
not to speak of trifling sounds,
cognizable by the ear,
come into the range of the ear
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in scents cognizable by the nose
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable scents,
not to speak of trifling scents,
cognizable by the nose,
come into the range of the nose
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in savours cognizable by the tongue
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable savours,
not to speak of trifling savours,
cognizable by the tongue,
come into the range of the tongue
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in tangibles cognizable by the body
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable tangibles,
not to speak of trifling tangibles,
cognizable by the body,
come into the range of the body
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned.
■
If in any brother or sister, Brethren,
that lust,
that malice,
that infatuation
which is in mind-states cognizable by the mind
exists not,
is abandoned,
then, when even considerable mind-states,
not to speak of trifling mind-states,
cognizable by the mind,
come into the range of the mind
they do not overspread the heart.
Why so?
Because, Brethren, that lust exists not,
that malice exists not,
that infatuation exists not,
that lust is abandoned
that malice is abandoned
that infatuation is abandoned."
[1] Cf. M. i, 429. Caloptris gigantea (Pali Dict.). Here it means any sappy tree.
[2] Cakkhussa āpāthaṇ āgacchanti. Cf. Vin. i, 184; M. i, 190; A. iii, 37; Buddh. Psych Eth., 199 n.
[3] Cittaṇ pariyādiyanti See supra. § 134 n.
[4] Sukkho, koḷāpo, tero(tira)-vassika (for text's thero). 'More than a year old' Infra, § 202.
