sutta » sn » sn1 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.17

Dukkarasutta

Difficult to Practise Hard to Do

“Dukkaraṁ duttitikkhañca,
“Hard to practise, hard to endure,
“Hard to do, hard to endure,

abyattena ca sāmaññaṁ;
for the inept, is the ascetic life,
is the ascetic life for the inept,

Bahūhi tattha sambādhā,
For many are the obstructions there
for it has many narrow passes

yattha bālo visīdatī”ti.
In which the fool founders. ”
where the fool founders.”

“Katihaṁ careyya sāmaññaṁ,
“How many days can one practise the ascetic life
“How many days could an ascetic live

cittañce na nivāraye;
If one does not rein in one’s mind?
without controlling the mind?

Pade pade visīdeyya,
One would founder with each step
They’d founder with each step,

saṅkappānaṁ vasānugoti.
Under the control of one’s intentions.
under the sway of thoughts.

Kummova aṅgāni sake kapāle,
“As a tortoise draws its limbs into its shell,
A mendicant should collect their thoughts

Samodahaṁ bhikkhu manovitakke;
Drawing in the mind’s thoughts
as a tortoise draws its limbs into its shell.

Anissito aññamaheṭhayāno,
Independent, not harassing others,
Independent, not disturbing others,

Parinibbuto nūpavadeyya kañcī”ti.
fully quenched, A bhikkhu would not blame anyone. ”
quenched: they wouldn’t blame anyone.”