1. Paṭhamavagga
1. Shackles
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Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,
“idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:
“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.
‘kesaṁ nu kho rakkhito attā, kesaṁ arakkhito attā’ti?
‘Who are those who protect themselves? And who are those who don’t protect themselves?’
‘ye kho keci kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti;
‘Those who do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind
Kiñcāpi te hatthikāyo vā rakkheyya, assakāyo vā rakkheyya, rathakāyo vā rakkheyya, pattikāyo vā rakkheyya;
Even if they’re protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,
Ye ca kho keci kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti;
Those who do good things by way of body, speech, and mind
Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya;
Even if they’re not protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,
“Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja.
“That’s so true, great king! That’s so true!” said the Buddha. And he repeated the king’s statement, adding:
Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti …pe…
tesaṁ arakkhito attā.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Bāhirā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā;
tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā.
Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti;
tesaṁ rakkhito attā.
Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya;
atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Ajjhattikā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā;
tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā”ti.
Idamavoca …pe…