9. Samaṇavagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.83

Numbered Discourses 3.83

9. Samaṇavagga

9. Ascetics

Khettasutta

Fields

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, kassakassa gahapatissa pubbe karaṇīyāni.

“Mendicants, a farmer has three primary duties.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Idha, bhikkhave, kassako gahapati paṭikacceva khettaṁ sukaṭṭhaṁ karoti sumatikataṁ.

A farmer first of all makes sure the field is well ploughed and tilled.

Paṭikacceva khettaṁ sukaṭṭhaṁ karitvā sumatikataṁ kālena bījāni patiṭṭhāpeti.

Next they plant seeds in season.

Kālena bījāni patiṭṭhāpetvā samayena udakaṁ abhinetipi apanetipi.

When the time is right, they irrigate the field and then drain it.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi kassakassa gahapatissa pubbe karaṇīyāni.

These are the three primary duties of a farmer.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīṇimāni bhikkhussa pubbe karaṇīyāni.

In the same way, a mendicant has three primary duties.

Katamāni tīṇi?

What three?

Adhisīlasikkhāsamādānaṁ, adhicittasikkhāsamādānaṁ, adhipaññāsikkhāsamādānaṁ—

Undertaking the training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.

imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi bhikkhussa pubbe karaṇīyāni.

These are the three primary duties of a mendicant.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

‘tibbo no chando bhavissati adhisīlasikkhāsamādāne, tibbo no chando bhavissati adhicittasikkhāsamādāne, tibbo no chando bhavissati adhipaññāsikkhāsamādāne’ti.

‘We will have keen enthusiasm for undertaking the training in the higher ethics, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom.’

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Tatiyaṁ.