Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṃyutta
10. Bahutarā Sattā
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
10. More Numerous
Suttas 91-101
Translated by F. L. Woodward
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Sutta 91
Khetta Suttaṃ
Fields
[91.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from accepting fields, whether cultivated or waste:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 92
Kayavikkaya Suttaṃ
Buying and Selling
[92.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from buying and selling:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 93
Dūteyya Suttaṃ
Errands
[93.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from sending messengers or going as such:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 94
Tulākūṭa Suttaṃ
Giving False Measue
[94.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks, few are those beings that abstain from cheating with scales, copper vessels or measures[1]:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 95
Ukkoṭana Suttaṃ
Perverting Justice
[95.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from taking bribes to pervert justice, cheating and crooked ways[2]:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 96
Chedana Suttaṃ
Cutting
[96.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain that abstain from cutting:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 97
Vadha Suttaṃ
Flogging
[97.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain that abstain from flogging:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 98
Bandhana Suttaṃ
Binding
[98.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain that abstain from binding:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 99
Viparāmosa Suttaṃ
Highway Robbery
[99.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain that abstain from highway robbery:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 100
Ālopa Suttaṃ
Plundering
[100.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain that abstain from plundering:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 101
Sāhasākārā Suttaṃ
Violent Deeds
[101.1] THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain that abstain from violent deeds:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
[1] Tūla-, kaṇsa-, māna-kūṭā. Comy. takes kaṇsa-k. [as at DA.] as 'passing off bronze vessels as gold ones'; Dialog. i, 6, 'bronzes,' perhaps copper coins. I think the context requires the meaning to be 'pots for measuring,' e.g., liquor.
[2] Ukkotaṇa-vañcana,; nikati-sāci-yogā. Cf. PuggA. 240. The first is taken to mean 'taking bribes in giving a verdict about landownership, etc.' Text misprints sāvi-y.
