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Uttaravipattisutta

Uttara on Failure

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā uttaro mahisavatthusmiṁ viharati saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ.
At one time Venerable Uttara was staying on the Saṅkheyyaka Mountain in the Mahisa region near Dhavajālikā.

Tatra kho āyasmā uttaro bhikkhū āmantesi:
There Uttara addressed the mendicants:

“sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.
“Mendicants, it’s good for a mendicant to check their own failings from time to time.

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.
It’s good for a mendicant to check the failings of others from time to time.

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.
It’s good for a mendicant to check their own successes from time to time.

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī”ti.
It’s good for a mendicant to check the successes of others from time to time.”

Tena kho pana samayena vessavaṇo mahārājā uttarāya disāya dakkhiṇaṁ disaṁ gacchati kenacideva karaṇīyena.
Now at that time the great king Vessavaṇa was on his way from the north to the south on some business.

Assosi kho vessavaṇo mahārājā āyasmato uttarassa mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desentassa:
He heard Venerable Uttara teaching this to the mendicants on Saṅkheyyaka Mountain.

“sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī”ti.

Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi.
Then Vessavaṇa vanished from Saṅkheyyaka Mountain and appeared among the gods of the Thirty-Three, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm.

Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā yena sakko devānamindo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sakkaṁ devānamindaṁ etadavoca:
Then he went up to Sakka, lord of gods, and said to him:

“yagghe, mārisa, jāneyyāsi.
“Please sir, you should know this.

Eso āyasmā uttaro mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ deseti:
Venerable Uttara is teaching the mendicants on Saṅkheyyaka Mountain in this way:

‘sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.
‘It’s good for a mendicant from time to time to check their own failings. …

Sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ …pe…
the failings of others …

attasampattiṁ …
their own successes …

parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī’”ti.
the successes of others.’”

Atha kho sakko devānamindo seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ devesu tāvatiṁsesu antarahito mahisavatthusmiṁ saṅkheyyake pabbate vaṭajālikāyaṁ āyasmato uttarassa sammukhe pāturahosi.
Then, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, Sakka vanished from the gods of the Thirty-Three and reappeared on Saṅkheyyaka Mountain in front of Venerable Uttara.

Atha kho sakko devānamindo yenāyasmā uttaro tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ uttaraṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhito kho sakko devānamindo āyasmantaṁ uttaraṁ etadavoca:
Then Sakka went up to Venerable Uttara, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

“Saccaṁ kira, bhante, āyasmā uttaro bhikkhūnaṁ evaṁ dhammaṁ desesi:
“Is it really true, sir, that you teach the mendicants in this way:

‘sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti,
‘It’s good for a mendicant from time to time to check their own failings …

sādhāvuso, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ …pe…
the failings of others …

attasampattiṁ …
their own successes …

parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hotī’”ti?
the successes of others’?”

“Evaṁ, devānamindā”ti.
“Indeed, lord of gods.”

“Kiṁ panidaṁ, bhante, āyasmato uttarassa sakaṁ paṭibhānaṁ, udāhu tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassā”ti?
“Sir, did this teaching come to you from your own inspiration, or was it spoken by the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha?”

“Tena hi, devānaminda, upamaṁ te karissāmi.
“Well then, lord of gods, I shall give you a simile.

Upamāya m’idhekacce viññū purisā bhāsitassa atthaṁ ājānanti.
For by means of a simile some sensible people understand the meaning of what is said.

Seyyathāpi, devānaminda, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre mahādhaññarāsi.
Suppose there was a large heap of grain not far from a town or village.

Tato mahājanakāyo dhaññaṁ āhareyya—
And a large crowd were to take away grain

kājehipi piṭakehipi ucchaṅgehipi añjalīhipi.
with carrying poles, baskets, hip sacks, or their cupped hands.

Yo nu kho, devānaminda, taṁ mahājanakāyaṁ upasaṅkamitvā evaṁ puccheyya:
If someone were to go to that crowd and ask them

‘kuto imaṁ dhaññaṁ āharathā’ti, kathaṁ byākaramāno nu kho, devānaminda, so mahājanakāyo sammā byākaramāno byākareyyā”ti?
where they got the grain from, how should that crowd rightly reply?”

“‘Amumhā mahādhaññarāsimhā āharāmā’ti kho, bhante, so mahājanakāyo sammā byākaramāno byākareyyā”ti.
“Sir, they should reply that they took it from the large heap of grain.”

“Evamevaṁ kho, devānaminda, yaṁ kiñci subhāsitaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
“In the same way, lord of gods, whatever is well spoken is spoken by the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

Tato upādāyupādāya mayaṁ caññe ca bhaṇāmā”ti.
Both myself and others rely completely on that when we speak.”

“Acchariyaṁ, bhante, abbhutaṁ bhante.
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!

Yāva subhāsitañcidaṁ āyasmatā uttarena:
How well this was said by Venerable Uttara!

‘yaṁ kiñci subhāsitaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ tassa bhagavato vacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.
‘Whatever is well spoken is spoken by the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

Tato upādāyupādāya mayañcaññe ca bhaṇāmā’ti.
Both myself and others rely completely on that when we speak.’

Ekamidaṁ, bhante uttara, samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.
At one time, Honorable Uttara, the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left.

Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:
There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta:

‘Sādhu, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ attavipattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.
‘Mendicants, it’s good for a mendicant from time to time to check their own failings …

Sādhu, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kālena kālaṁ paravipattiṁ …pe…
the failings of others …

attasampattiṁ …
their own successes …

parasampattiṁ paccavekkhitā hoti.
the successes of others.

Aṭṭhahi, bhikkhave, asaddhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho.
Overcome and overwhelmed by eight things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.

Katamehi aṭṭhahi?
What eight?

Lābhena hi, bhikkhave, abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho;
Overcome and overwhelmed by gain …

alābhena, bhikkhave …pe…
loss …

yasena, bhikkhave …
fame …

ayasena, bhikkhave …
disgrace …

sakkārena, bhikkhave …
honor …

asakkārena, bhikkhave …
dishonor …

pāpicchatāya, bhikkhave …
corrupt wishes …

pāpamittatāya, bhikkhave, abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho.
bad friendship, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.

Imehi kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahi asaddhammehi abhibhūto pariyādinnacitto devadatto āpāyiko nerayiko kappaṭṭho atekiccho.
Overcome and overwhelmed by these eight things that oppose the true teaching, Devadatta is going to a place of loss, to hell, there to remain for an eon, irredeemable.

Sādhu, bhikkhave, bhikkhu uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya;
It’s good for a mendicant, whenever they encounter it, to overcome gain …

uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe…
loss …

uppannaṁ yasaṁ …
fame …

uppannaṁ ayasaṁ …
disgrace …

uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ …
honor …

uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ …
dishonor …

uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ …
corrupt wishes …

uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya.
bad friendship.

Kiñca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu atthavasaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya;
What advantage does a mendicant gain by overcoming these eight things?

uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe…

uppannaṁ yasaṁ …

uppannaṁ ayasaṁ …

uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ …

uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ …

uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ …

uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya?

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, uppannaṁ lābhaṁ anabhibhuyya viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.
The distressing and feverish defilements that might arise in someone who lives without overcoming these eight things do not arise when they have overcome them.

Yaṁ hissa, bhikkhave, uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe…

uppannaṁ yasaṁ …

uppannaṁ ayasaṁ …

uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ …

uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ …

uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ …

uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ anabhibhuyya viharato uppajjeyyuṁ āsavā vighātapariḷāhā, uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya viharato evaṁsa te āsavā vighātapariḷāhā na honti.

Idaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu atthavasaṁ paṭicca uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya;
This is the advantage that a mendicant gains by overcoming these eight things.

uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe…

uppannaṁ yasaṁ …

uppannaṁ ayasaṁ …

uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ …

uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ …

uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ …

uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya vihareyya.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:
So you should train like this:

“uppannaṁ lābhaṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya viharissāma,
“Whenever we encounter it, we will overcome gain …

uppannaṁ alābhaṁ …pe…
loss …

uppannaṁ yasaṁ …
fame …

uppannaṁ ayasaṁ …
disgrace …

uppannaṁ sakkāraṁ …
honor …

uppannaṁ asakkāraṁ …
dishonor …

uppannaṁ pāpicchataṁ …
corrupt wishes …

uppannaṁ pāpamittataṁ abhibhuyya abhibhuyya viharissāmā”ti.
bad friendship.”

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban’ti.
That’s how you should train.’

Ettāvatā, bhante uttara, manussesu catasso parisā—
Honorable Uttara, this exposition of the teaching is not established anywhere in the four assemblies—

bhikkhū, bhikkhuniyo, upāsakā, upāsikāyo.
monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.

Nāyaṁ dhammapariyāyo kismiñci upaṭṭhito.

Uggaṇhatu, bhante, āyasmā uttaro imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ.
Sir, learn this exposition of the teaching!

Pariyāpuṇātu, bhante, āyasmā uttaro imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ.
Memorize this exposition of the teaching!

Dhāretu, bhante, āyasmā uttaro imaṁ dhammapariyāyaṁ.
Remember this exposition of the teaching!

Atthasaṁhito ayaṁ, bhante, dhammapariyāyo ādibrahmacariyako”ti.
Sir, this exposition of the teaching is beneficial and relates to the fundamentals of the spiritual life.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.