sutta » sn » sn3 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.5

Attarakkhitasutta

Self-Protected Self-Protected

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,
Sitting to one side, King Pasenadi of Kosala said to the Blessed One:

“idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:
“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.
“Here, venerable sir, while I was alone in seclusion, a reflection arose in my mind thus:

‘kesaṁ nu kho rakkhito attā, kesaṁ arakkhito attā’ti?
‘Who are those who protect themselves? And who are those who don’t protect themselves?’
‘Who now protect themselves and who leave themselves unprotected?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:
Then it occurred to me:
Then, venerable sir, it occurred to me:

‘ye kho keci kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti;
‘Those who do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind
‘Those who engage in misconduct of body, speech, and mind

tesaṁ arakkhito attā.
don’t protect themselves.
leave themselves unprotected.

Kiñcāpi te hatthikāyo vā rakkheyya, assakāyo vā rakkheyya, rathakāyo vā rakkheyya, pattikāyo vā rakkheyya;
Even if they’re protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,
Even though a company of elephant troops may protect them, or a company of cavalry, or a company of chariot troops, or a company of infantry,

atha kho tesaṁ arakkhito attā.
they still don’t protect themselves.
still they leave themselves unprotected.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?
For what reason?

Bāhirā hesā rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā;
Because such protection is exterior, not interior.
Because that protection is external, not internal;

tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā.
That’s why they don’t protect themselves.
therefore they leave themselves unprotected.

Ye ca kho keci kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti;
Those who do good things by way of body, speech, and mind
But those who engage in good conduct of body, speech, and mind

tesaṁ rakkhito attā.
do protect themselves.
protect themselves.

Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya;
Even if they’re not protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,
Even though no company of elephant troops protects them, nor a company of cavalry, nor a company of charioteers, nor a company of infantry,

atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā.
they still protect themselves.
still they protect themselves.

Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?
For what reason?

Ajjhattikā hesā rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā;
Because such protection is interior, not exterior.
Because that protection is internal, not external;

tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā’”ti.
That’s why they do protect themselves.’”
therefore they protect themselves. ’”

“Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja.
“That’s so true, great king! That’s so true!” said the Buddha. And he repeated the king’s statement, adding:
“So it is, great king! So it is, great king!”

Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti …pe…

tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Bāhirā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā;

tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti;

tesaṁ rakkhito attā.

Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya;

atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Ajjhattikā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā;

tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā”ti.

Idamavoca …pe…

“Kāyena saṁvaro sādhu,
“Restraint of the body is good;
“Good is restraint with the body,

sādhu vācāya saṁvaro;
restraint of speech is good;
Restraint by speech is also good;

Manasā saṁvaro sādhu,
restraint of mind is good;
Good is restraint with the mind,

sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro;
everywhere, restraint is good.
Restraint everywhere is good.

Sabbattha saṁvuto lajjī,
A sincere person, restrained everywhere,
Conscientious, everywhere restrained,

rakkhitoti pavuccatī”ti.
is said to be ‘protected’.”
One is said to be protected. ”