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Avijjānīvaraṇasutta

The Shroud of Ignorance

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekanīvaraṇampi samanupassāmi yena nīvaraṇena nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsaranti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, avijjānīvaraṇaṁ.
“Mendicants, I do not see a single shroud, shrouded by which people wander and transmigrate for a long time like the shroud of ignorance.

Avijjānīvaraṇena hi, bhikkhave, nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsarantī”ti.
Shrouded by ignorance, people wander and transmigrate for a long time.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.
The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
On this it is said:

“Natthañño ekadhammopi,
“There is no other thing

yenevaṁ nivutā pajā;
that shrouds people like ignorance.

Saṁsaranti ahorattaṁ,
Veiled by delusion,

yathā mohena āvutā.
they transmigrate day and night.

Ye ca mohaṁ pahantvāna,
Those who have given up delusion,

tamokhandhaṁ padālayuṁ;
shattering the mass of darkness,

Na te puna saṁsaranti,
wander no more,

hetu tesaṁ na vijjatī”ti.
the root is not found in them.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Catutthaṁ.