sutta » an » an3 » Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.128

Kaṭuviyasutta

Bitter

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Varanasi, in the deer park at Isipatana.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Varanasi for alms.

Addasā kho bhagavā goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.
While the Buddha was walking for alms near the cow-hitching place at the wavy leaf fig, he saw a disgruntled monk who was looking for pleasure in external things, unmindful, without situational awareness or immersion, with straying mind and undisciplined faculties.

Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca:
The Buddha said to him,

“Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.
“Monk, don’t be bitter.

Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī”ti.
If you’re bitter, corrupted by putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.”

Atha kho so bhikkhu bhagavatā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādi.
Hearing this advice of the Buddha, that monk was struck with a sense of urgency.

Atha kho bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto bhikkhū āmantesi:
Then, after the meal, on his return from almsround, the Buddha told the mendicants what had happened. …

“Idhāhaṁ, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bārāṇasiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

Addasaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhikkhave, goyogapilakkhasmiṁ piṇḍāya caramāno aññataraṁ bhikkhuṁ rittassādaṁ bāhirassādaṁ muṭṭhassatiṁ asampajānaṁ asamāhitaṁ vibbhantacittaṁ pākatindriyaṁ.

Disvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavocaṁ:

‘Mā kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, attānaṁ kaṭuviyamakāsi.

Taṁ vata bhikkhu kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, so bhikkhu mayā iminā ovādena ovadito saṁvegamāpādī”ti.

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
When he said this, one of the mendicants asked the Buddha:

“kiṁ nu kho, bhante, kaṭuviyaṁ?
“Sir, what is this ‘bitterness’?

Ko āmagandho?
What is ‘putrefaction’?

Kā makkhikā”ti?
And what are the ‘flies’?”

“Abhijjhā kho, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyaṁ;
“Desire is bitterness;

byāpādo āmagandho;
ill will is the putrefaction;

pāpakā akusalā vitakkā makkhikā.
and bad, unskillful thoughts are the flies.

Taṁ vata, bhikkhu, kaṭuviyakataṁ attānaṁ āmagandhena avassutaṁ makkhikā nānupatissanti nānvāssavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatīti.
If you’re bitter, corrupted by putrefaction, flies will, without a doubt, plague and infest you.

Aguttaṁ cakkhusotasmiṁ,
When your eyes and ears are unguarded,

indriyesu asaṁvutaṁ;
and you’re not restrained in your sense faculties,

Makkhikānupatissanti,
flies—those lustful thoughts—

saṅkappā rāganissitā.
will plague you.

Kaṭuviyakato bhikkhu,
A mendicant who’s bitter,

āmagandhe avassuto;
corrupted by putrefaction,

Ārakā hoti nibbānā,
is far from being extinguished,

vighātasseva bhāgavā.
anguish is their lot.

Gāme vā yadi vāraññe,
Whether in village or wilderness,

aladdhā samathamattano;
if they don’t find serenity in themselves,

Pareti bālo dummedho,
the fool, void of wisdom,

makkhikāhi purakkhato.
is honored only by flies.

Ye ca sīlena sampannā,
But those who have ethics,

paññāyūpasameratā;
lovers of wisdom and peace,

Upasantā sukhaṁ senti,
they, being peaceful, sleep at ease,

nāsayitvāna makkhikā”ti.
since they’ve got rid of the flies.”

Chaṭṭhaṁ.