Mahāvibhaṅga
The Great Analysis
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Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,
Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo uyyānapālaṁ āṇāpesi—“gaccha, bhaṇe, uyyānaṁ sodhehi. Uyyānaṁ gamissāmā”ti.
King Pasenadi of Kosala told his park-keeper, “Go and clean up the park; I’ll be going there.”
“Evaṁ, devā”ti kho so uyyānapālo rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā uyyānaṁ sodhento addasa bhagavantaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ.
“Yes, sir.” While cleaning the park, he saw the Buddha seated at the foot of a tree.
Disvāna yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca—“suddhaṁ, deva, uyyānaṁ. Api ca bhagavā tattha nisinno”ti.
He then went to King Pasenadi and said, “The park is clean, sir, but the Buddha is sitting there.”
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo uyyānaṁ gantvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro upāsako bhagavantaṁ payirupāsanto nisinno hoti.
The king went to the park and approached the Buddha, but just then a lay follower was seated there.
Addasā kho rājā pasenadi kosalo taṁ upāsakaṁ bhagavantaṁ payirupāsantaṁ nisinnaṁ. Disvāna bhīto aṭṭhāsi.
When the king saw him, he became fearful and stopped.
Atha kho rañño pasenadissa kosalassa etadahosi—“nārahatāyaṁ puriso pāpo hotuṁ, yathā bhagavantaṁ payirupāsatī”ti. Yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
But he considered, “This man isn’t likely to be bad, since he’s visiting the Buddha,” and so he approached the Buddha, bowed, and sat down.
Atha kho so upāsako bhagavato gāravena rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ neva abhivādesi na paccuṭṭhāsi. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo anattamano ahosi—“kathañhi nāmāyaṁ puriso mayi āgate neva abhivādessati na paccuṭṭhessatī”ti.
But when that lay follower, because of his respect for the Buddha, neither bowed down to the king nor stood up for him, the king became annoyed.
Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ anattamanaṁ viditvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca—“eso kho, mahārāja, upāsako bahussuto āgatāgamo kāmesu vītarāgo”ti.
The Buddha realized what was happening and said to the king, “Great king, this lay follower is learned, a master of the tradition, and he’s free from sensual desire.”
Atha kho rañño pasenadissa kosalassa etadahosi—“nārahatāyaṁ upāsako orako hotuṁ, bhagavāpi imassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsatī”ti.
The king thought, “This lay follower doesn’t deserve to be in an inferior position, since even the Buddha praises him.”
Taṁ upāsakaṁ etadavoca—“vadeyyāsi, upāsaka, yena attho”ti.
And he said to that lay follower, “Please say what you want.”
Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassito samādapito samuttejito sampahaṁsito uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
The Buddha then instructed, inspired, and gladdened King Pasenadi with a teaching, after which the king got up from his seat, bowed down, circumambulated the Buddha with his right side toward him, and left.
Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo uparipāsādavaragato hoti. Addasā kho rājā pasenadi kosalo taṁ upāsakaṁ rathikāya chattapāṇiṁ gacchantaṁ.
Soon afterwards King Pasenadi was up in his finest stilt house, when he saw that lay follower walking along the street, holding a sunshade.
Disvāna pakkosāpetvā etadavoca—“tvaṁ kira, upāsaka, bahussuto āgatāgamo.
He summoned him and said, “You are a learned Buddhist, a master of the tradition.
“Yamahaṁ, deva, jānāmi ayyānaṁ vāhasā, ayyāva devassa itthāgāraṁ dhammaṁ vācessantī”ti.
“Whatever I know, sir, I know because of the monks. They should teach the harem.”
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo—“saccaṁ kho upāsako āhā”ti yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca—
Knowing that the lay follower was right, the king went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down, and said,
“sādhu, bhante, bhagavā ekaṁ bhikkhuṁ āṇāpetu yo amhākaṁ itthāgāraṁ dhammaṁ vācessatī”ti.
“Sir, please ask a monk to teach my harem.”
Atha kho bhagavā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi …pe… padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
The Buddha then instructed, inspired, and gladdened King Pasenadi with a teaching, after which the king got up from his seat, paid his respects as before, and left.
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ āmantesi—“tenahānanda, rañño itthāgāraṁ dhammaṁ vācehī”ti.
Soon afterwards, the Buddha said to Venerable Ānanda, “Well then, Ānanda, teach the king’s harem.”
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato paṭissutvā kālena kālaṁ pavisitvā rañño itthāgāraṁ dhammaṁ vāceti.
“Yes, sir.” And from time to time he would enter the harem and teach.
Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami.
Then, after robing up in the morning, Ānanda took his bowl and robe and went to King Pasenadi’s house.
Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo mallikāya deviyā saddhiṁ sayanagato hoti.
On that occasion the king was in bed with Queen Mallikā.
Addasā kho mallikā devī āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvāna sahasā vuṭṭhāsi; pītakamaṭṭhaṁ dussaṁ pabhassittha.
The queen saw Ānanda coming and she quickly got up, but her burnished golden dressing gown fell off.
Atha kho āyasmā ānando tatova paṭinivattitvā ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.
Ānanda turned around right there and returned to the monastery. And he told the monks what had happened.
Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The monks of few desires complained and criticized him,
“kathañhi nāma āyasmā ānando pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito rañño antepuraṁ pavisissatī”ti …pe…
“How could Venerable Ānanda enter the royal compound without first being announced?” …
“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, ānanda, pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito rañño antepuraṁ pavisasī”ti?
“Is it true, Ānanda, that you did this?”
kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, ānanda, pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito rañño antepuraṁ pavisissasi.
“Ānanda, how could you do this?
“Dasayime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā rājantepurappavesane.
“Monks, there are these ten dangers of entering a royal compound.
Idha, bhikkhave, rājā mahesiyā saddhiṁ nisinno hoti, tattha bhikkhu pavisati.
It may be that a monk enters where the king is sitting with his queen.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepure aññataraṁ ratanaṁ nassati.
Again, a gem disappears from the royal compound.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepure abbhantarā guyhamantā bahiddhā sambhedaṁ gacchanti.
Again, secret discussions in the royal compound are spread outside.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño antepure putto vā pitaraṁ pattheti pitā vā puttaṁ pattheti.
Again, in the royal compound a father longs for his son, or a son longs for his father.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā nīcaṭṭhāniyaṁ ucce ṭhāne ṭhapeti.
Again, the king promotes someone.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho ādīnavo, rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā uccaṭṭhāniyaṁ nīce ṭhāne ṭhapeti.
Again, the king demotes someone.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā akāle senaṁ uyyojeti.
Again, the king sends out the army at an inappropriate time.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rājā kāle senaṁ uyyojetvā antarāmaggato nivattāpeti.
Again, after sending out the army at an appropriate time, the king orders it to turn back while still en route.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, navamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño rājantepuraṁ hatthisammaddaṁ assasammaddaṁ rathasammaddaṁ rajanīyāni rūpasaddagandharasaphoṭṭhabbāni, yāni na pabbajitassa sāruppāni.
Again, a royal compound is crowded with elephants, horses, and chariots, as well as enticing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tangibles that are not suitable for a monk.
Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dasamo ādīnavo rājantepurappavesane.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, dasa ādīnavā rājantepurappavesane”ti.
Monks, these are the ten dangers of entering a royal compound.”
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe…
Then, after rebuking Ānanda in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support …
evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
“Yo pana bhikkhu rañño khattiyassa muddhāvasittassa anikkhantarājake aniggataratanake pubbe appaṭisaṁvidito indakhīlaṁ atikkāmeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a monk, without first being announced, crosses the threshold to the bedroom of a consecrated aristocrat king, when both the king and the queen are present, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”
…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.
ubhato sujāto hoti, mātito ca pitito ca saṁsuddhagahaṇiko, yāva sattamā pitāmahayugā akkhitto anupakuṭṭho jātivādena.
well-born on both his mother’s side and his father’s side, pure in descent, irreproachable and impeccable with respect to birth going back eight generations of male ancestors.
mahesī sayanigharā anikkhantā hoti, ubho vā anikkhantā honti.
the queen has not left the bedroom. Or both have not left.
yattha katthaci rañño sayanaṁ paññattaṁ hoti, antamaso sāṇipākāraparikkhittampi.
wherever a king’s bed is prepared, even if just enclosed by a cloth screen.
paṭhamaṁ pādaṁ ummāraṁ atikkāmeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
if he crosses the threshold with the first foot, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Dutiyaṁ pādaṁ atikkāmeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he crosses with the second foot, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Appaṭisaṁvidite appaṭisaṁviditasaññī indakhīlaṁ atikkāmeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he has not been announced, and he perceives that he has not, and he crosses the threshold to the bedroom, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Appaṭisaṁvidite vematiko indakhīlaṁ atikkāmeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he has not been announced, but he is unsure of it, and he crosses the threshold to the bedroom, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Appaṭisaṁvidite paṭisaṁviditasaññī indakhīlaṁ atikkāmeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If he has not been announced, but he perceives that he has, and he crosses the threshold to the bedroom, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Paṭisaṁvidite appaṭisaṁviditasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If he has been announced, but he perceives that he has not, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Paṭisaṁvidite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If he has been announced, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Paṭisaṁvidite paṭisaṁviditasaññī, anāpatti.
If he has been announced, and he perceives that he has, there is no offense.
na khattiyābhisekena abhisitto hoti,
if the king has not been consecrated with the aristocratic consecration;
Antepurasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.
The training rule on royal compounds, the first, is finished.