Catukkanipāta

Itivuttaka 109

So It Was Said 109

Catukkanipāta

The Book of the Fours

Brāhmaṇadhammayāgavagga

The Chapter on the Brahmin’s Offering of the Teaching

Nadīsotasutta

A River

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso nadiyā sotena ovuyheyya piyarūpasātarūpena.

“Suppose a person was being carried along by a river current that seemed nice and pleasant.

Tamenaṁ cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito disvā evaṁ vadeyya:

If a person with clear eyes saw them, they’d say:

‘kiñcāpi kho tvaṁ, ambho purisa, nadiyā sotena ovuyhasi piyarūpasātarūpena, atthi cettha heṭṭhā rahado saūmi sāvaṭṭo sagaho sarakkhaso yaṁ tvaṁ, ambho purisa, rahadaṁ pāpuṇitvā maraṇaṁ vā nigacchasi maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhan’ti.

‘My friend, even though the river current carrying you along seems nice and pleasant, downstream there is a lake with waves and whirlpools, saltwater crocodiles and monsters. When you reach there it will result in death or deadly pain.’

Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso tassa purisassa saddaṁ sutvā hatthehi ca pādehi ca paṭisotaṁ vāyameyya.

Then, when they heard what was said, they’d paddle against the stream using their hands and feet.

Upamā kho me ayaṁ, bhikkhave, katā atthassa viññāpanāya.

I’ve made up this simile to make a point.

Ayañcettha attho:

And this is the point.

‘nadiyā soto’ti kho, bhikkhave, taṇhāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘River current’ is a term for craving.

‘Piyarūpaṁ sātarūpan’ti kho, bhikkhave, channetaṁ ajjhattikānaṁ āyatanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Seeming nice and pleasant’ is a term for the six interior sense fields.

‘Heṭṭhā rahado’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannaṁ orambhāgiyānaṁ saṁyojanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘A downstream lake’ is a term for the five lower fetters.

‘Ūmibhayan’ti kho, bhikkhave, kodhupāyāsassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Danger of waves’ is a term for anger and distress.

‘Āvaṭṭan’ti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Whirlpool’ is a term for the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

‘Gaharakkhaso’ti kho, bhikkhave, mātugāmassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Saltwater crocodiles and monsters’ is a term for ladies.

‘Paṭisoto’ti kho, bhikkhave, nekkhammassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Against the stream’ is a term for renunciation.

‘Hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyāmo’ti kho, bhikkhave, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

‘Paddling with hands and feet’ is a term for rousing energy.

‘Cakkhumā puriso tīre ṭhito’ti kho, bhikkhave, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti.

‘A person with clear eyes’ is a term for the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Sahāpi dukkhena jaheyya kāme,

“In pain they’d give up sensual pleasures,

Yogakkhemaṁ āyatiṁ patthayāno;

aspiring to the future sanctuary from the yoke.

Sammappajāno suvimuttacitto,

With deep understanding and heart well freed,

Vimuttiyā phassaye tattha tattha;

they’d experience universal liberation.

Sa vedagū vūsitabrahmacariyo,

That knowledge master <j>who has completed the spiritual journey,

Lokantagū pāragatoti vuccatī”ti.

and gone to the end of the world, <j>is called ‘one who has gone beyond’.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Dasamaṁ.