Aṅguttara Nikāya 10.17
Translators: sujato
Numbered Discourses 10.17
2. Nāthavagga
2. A Protector
Paṭhamanāthasutta
A Protector (1st)
“Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā.
“Mendicants, you should live with a protector, not without one.
Dukkhaṁ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati.
Living without a protector is suffering.
Dasayime, bhikkhave, nāthakaraṇā dhammā.
There are ten qualities that serve as protector.
Katame dasa?
What ten?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu.
Firstly, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and seeking alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā.
Furthermore, a mendicant is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, rehearsing them, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko.
Furthermore, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato, khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ.
Furthermore, a mendicant is easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re patient, and take instruction respectfully.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu suvaco hoti …pe… anusāsaniṁ,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho hoti analaso tatrūpāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ.
Furthermore, a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ …pe… alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro, abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo.
Furthermore, a mendicant loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro, abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.
Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena.
Furthermore, a mendicant is content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā.
Furthermore, a mendicant is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.
Furthermore, a mendicant is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.
Yampi, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā,
ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.
This too is a quality that serves as protector.
Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā.
You should live with a protector, not without one.
Dukkhaṁ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati.
Living without a protector is suffering.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, dasa nāthakaraṇā dhammā”ti.
These are the ten qualities that serve as protector.”
Sattamaṁ.