20. Mahāvagga

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.191

Numbered Discourses 4.191

20. Mahāvagga

20. The Great Chapter

Sotānugatasutta

Followed by Ear

“Sotānugatānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ, vacasā paricitānaṁ, manasānupekkhitānaṁ, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhānaṁ cattāro ānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā.

“Mendicants, you can expect four benefits when the teachings have been followed by ear, consolidated by voice, examined by the mind, and well comprehended theoretically.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

Take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching—

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

They’ve followed those teachings by ear, consolidated them by voice, examined them by the mind, and well comprehended them theoretically.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods.

Tassa tattha sukhino dhammapadā plavanti.

Being happy there, passages of the teaching come back to them.

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha so satto khippaṁyeva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Sotānugatānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ, vacasā paricitānaṁ, manasānupekkhitānaṁ, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhānaṁ ayaṁ paṭhamo ānisaṁso pāṭikaṅkho.

This is the first benefit you can expect when the teachings have been followed by ear, consolidated by voice, examined by the mind, and well comprehended theoretically.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

Furthermore, take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching—

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

They’ve followed those teachings by ear, consolidated them by voice, examined them by the mind, and well comprehended them theoretically.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods.

Tassa tattha na heva kho sukhino dhammapadā plavanti;

Though they’re happy there, passages of the teaching don’t come back to them.

api ca kho bhikkhu iddhimā cetovasippatto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.

However, a mendicant with psychic powers, who has achieved mastery of the mind, teaches Dhamma to the assembly of gods.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

They think:

‘ayaṁ vā so dhammavinayo, yatthāhaṁ pubbe brahmacariyaṁ acarin’ti.

‘I used to lead the spiritual life in this same teaching and training.’

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha so satto khippameva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso kusalo bherisaddassa.

Suppose a person was skilled in the sound of drums.

So addhānamaggappaṭipanno bherisaddaṁ suṇeyya.

While traveling along a road they hear the sound of drums.

Tassa na heva kho assa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā:

They wouldn’t have any doubts or uncertainties about whether

‘bherisaddo nu kho, na nu kho bherisaddo’ti.

that was the sound of drums or not.

Atha kho bherisaddotveva niṭṭhaṁ gaccheyya.

They’d just conclude, ‘That’s the sound of drums.’

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

In the same way, take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching …

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods. …

Tassa tattha na heva kho sukhino dhammapadā plavanti;

api ca kho bhikkhu iddhimā cetovasippatto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

‘ayaṁ vā so dhammavinayo, yatthāhaṁ pubbe brahmacariyaṁ acarin’ti.

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha so satto khippaṁyeva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Sotānugatānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ, vacasā paricitānaṁ, manasānupekkhitānaṁ, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhānaṁ ayaṁ dutiyo ānisaṁso pāṭikaṅkho.

This is the second benefit you can expect when the teachings have been followed by ear, consolidated by voice, examined by the mind, and well comprehended theoretically.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

Furthermore, take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching—

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

They’ve followed those teachings by ear, consolidated them by voice, examined them by the mind, and well comprehended them theoretically.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods.

Tassa tattha na heva kho sukhino dhammapadā plavanti, napi bhikkhu iddhimā cetovasippatto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti;

But passages of the teaching don’t come back to them when they’re happy, nor does a mendicant with psychic powers … teach Dhamma to the assembly of gods.

api ca kho devaputto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.

However, a godling teaches Dhamma to the assembly of gods.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

They think:

‘ayaṁ vā so dhammavinayo, yatthāhaṁ pubbe brahmacariyaṁ acarin’ti.

‘I used to lead the spiritual life in this same teaching and training.’

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha so satto khippaṁyeva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso kusalo saṅkhasaddassa.

Suppose a person was skilled in the sound of horns.

So addhānamaggappaṭipanno saṅkhasaddaṁ suṇeyya.

While traveling along a road they hear the sound of horns.

Tassa na heva kho assa kaṅkhā vā vimati vā:

They wouldn’t have any doubt about whether

‘saṅkhasaddo nu kho, na nu kho saṅkhasaddo’ti.

that was the sound of horns or not.

Atha kho saṅkhasaddotveva niṭṭhaṁ gaccheyya.

They’d just conclude, ‘That’s the sound of horns.’

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

In the same way, take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching …

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods. …

Tassa tattha na heva kho sukhino dhammapadā plavanti, napi bhikkhu iddhimā cetovasippatto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti;

api ca kho devaputto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti.

Tassa evaṁ hoti:

‘ayaṁ vā so dhammavinayo, yatthāhaṁ pubbe brahmacariyaṁ acarin’ti.

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha so satto khippaṁyeva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Sotānugatānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ, vacasā paricitānaṁ, manasānupekkhitānaṁ, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhānaṁ ayaṁ tatiyo ānisaṁso pāṭikaṅkho.

This is the third benefit you can expect when the teachings have been followed by ear, consolidated by voice, examined by the mind, and well comprehended theoretically.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

Furthermore, take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching—

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

statements, mixed prose & verse, discussions, verses, inspired exclamations, legends, stories of past lives, amazing stories, and elaborations.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

They’ve followed those teachings by ear, consolidated them by voice, examined them by the mind, and well comprehended them theoretically.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods.

Tassa tattha na heva kho sukhino dhammapadā plavanti, napi bhikkhu iddhimā cetovasippatto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, napi devaputto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti;

But passages of the teaching don’t come back to them when they’re happy, and neither a mendicant with psychic powers … nor a godling teaches Dhamma to the assembly of gods.

api ca kho opapātiko opapātikaṁ sāreti:

But a being who has been reborn spontaneously reminds another such being:

‘sarasi tvaṁ, mārisa, sarasi tvaṁ, mārisa, yattha mayaṁ pubbe brahmacariyaṁ acarimhā’ti.

‘Do you remember, good fellow? Do you remember where we used to lead the spiritual life?’

So evamāha:

He says:

‘sarāmi, mārisa, sarāmi, mārisā’ti.

‘I remember, good fellow, I remember!’

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha so satto khippaṁyeva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dve sahāyakā sahapaṁsukīḷikā.

Suppose there were two friends who had played together in the sand.

Te kadāci karahaci aññamaññaṁ samāgaccheyyuṁ.

Some time or other they’d meet.

Añño pana sahāyako sahāyakaṁ evaṁ vadeyya:

And one friend would say to the other:

‘idampi, samma, sarasi, idampi, samma, sarasī’ti.

‘Do you remember this, dear? Do you remember that, dear?’

So evaṁ vadeyya:

They’d say:

‘sarāmi, samma, sarāmi, sammā’ti.

‘I remember, dear, I remember!’

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammaṁ pariyāpuṇāti—

In the same way, take a mendicant who memorizes the teaching …

suttaṁ, geyyaṁ, veyyākaraṇaṁ, gāthaṁ, udānaṁ, itivuttakaṁ, jātakaṁ, abbhutadhammaṁ, vedallaṁ.

Tassa te dhammā sotānugatā honti, vacasā paricitā, manasānupekkhitā, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.

So muṭṭhassati kālaṁ kurumāno aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ upapajjati.

But they die unmindful and are reborn in one of the orders of gods. …

Tassa tattha na heva kho sukhino dhammapadā plavanti, napi bhikkhu iddhimā cetovasippatto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti, napi devaputto devaparisāyaṁ dhammaṁ deseti;

api ca kho opapātiko opapātikaṁ sāreti:

‘sarasi tvaṁ, mārisa, sarasi tvaṁ, mārisa, yattha mayaṁ pubbe brahmacariyaṁ acarimhā’ti.

So evamāha:

‘sarāmi, mārisa, sarāmi, mārisā’ti.

Dandho, bhikkhave, satuppādo;

Memory comes up slowly,

atha kho so satto khippaṁyeva visesagāmī hoti.

but then that being quickly reaches distinction.

Sotānugatānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ, vacasā paricitānaṁ, manasānupekkhitānaṁ, diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhānaṁ ayaṁ catuttho ānisaṁso pāṭikaṅkho.

This is the fourth benefit you can expect when the teachings have been followed by ear, consolidated by voice, examined by the mind, and well comprehended theoretically.

Sotānugatānaṁ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṁ, vacasā paricitānaṁ, manasānupekkhitānaṁ diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhānaṁ ime cattāro ānisaṁsā pāṭikaṅkhā”ti.

You can expect these four benefits when the teachings have been followed by ear, consolidated by voice, examined by the mind, and well comprehended theoretically.”

Paṭhamaṁ.