Saṁyutta Nikāya 22.62
Translators: sujato
Linked Discourses 22.62
6. Upayavagga
6. Involvement
Niruttipathasutta
The Scope of Language
Sāvatthinidānaṁ.
At Sāvatthī.
“Tayome, bhikkhave, niruttipathā adhivacanapathā paññattipathā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti, na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
“Mendicants, there are these three scopes of terminology, labeling, and description. They’re uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now, nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.
Katame tayo?
What three?
Yaṁ, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ atītaṁ niruddhaṁ vipariṇataṁ ‘ahosī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa paññatti;
When form has passed, ceased, and perished, its designation, label, and description is ‘was’.
na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.
It’s not ‘is’ or ‘will be’.
Yā vedanā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā ‘ahosī’ti tassā saṅkhā, ‘ahosī’ti tassā samaññā, ‘ahosī’ti tassā paññatti;
When feeling …
na tassā saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassā saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.
Yā saññā …
perception …
ye saṅkhārā atītā niruddhā vipariṇatā ‘ahesun’ti tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘ahesun’ti tesaṁ samaññā, ‘ahesun’ti tesaṁ paññatti;
choices …
na tesaṁ saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tesaṁ saṅkhā ‘bhavissantī’ti.
Yaṁ viññāṇaṁ atītaṁ niruddhaṁ vipariṇataṁ, ‘ahosī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘ahosī’ti tassa paññatti;
consciousness has passed, ceased, and perished, its designation, label, and description is ‘was’.
na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.
It’s not ‘is’ or ‘will be’.
Yaṁ, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ ajātaṁ apātubhūtaṁ, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa paññatti;
When form is not yet born, and has not yet appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘will be’.
na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti.
It’s not ‘is’ or ‘was’.
Yā vedanā ajātā apātubhūtā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassā saṅkhā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassā samaññā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassā paññatti;
When feeling …
na tassā saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassā saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti.
Yā saññā …
perception …
ye saṅkhārā ajātā apātubhūtā, ‘bhavissantī’ti tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘bhavissantī’ti tesaṁ samaññā, ‘bhavissantī’ti tesaṁ paññatti;
choices …
na tesaṁ saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tesaṁ saṅkhā ‘ahesun’ti.
Yaṁ viññāṇaṁ ajātaṁ apātubhūtaṁ, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘bhavissatī’ti tassa paññatti;
consciousness is not yet born, and has not yet appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘will be’.
na tassa saṅkhā ‘atthī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti.
It’s not ‘is’ or ‘was’.
Yaṁ, bhikkhave, rūpaṁ jātaṁ pātubhūtaṁ, ‘atthī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tassa paññatti;
When form has been born, and has appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘is’.
na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.
It’s not ‘was’ or ‘will be’.
Yā vedanā jātā pātubhūtā, ‘atthī’ti tassā saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tassā samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tassā paññatti;
When feeling …
na tassā saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti, na tassā saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.
Yā saññā …
perception …
ye saṅkhārā jātā pātubhūtā, ‘atthī’ti tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tesaṁ samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tesaṁ paññatti;
choices …
na tesaṁ saṅkhā ‘ahesun’ti, na tesaṁ saṅkhā, ‘bhavissantī’ti.
Yaṁ viññāṇaṁ jātaṁ pātubhūtaṁ, ‘atthī’ti tassa saṅkhā, ‘atthī’ti tassa samaññā, ‘atthī’ti tassa paññatti;
consciousness has been born, and has appeared, its designation, label, and description is ‘is’.
na tassa saṅkhā ‘ahosī’ti, na tassa saṅkhā ‘bhavissatī’ti.
It’s not ‘was’ or ‘will be’.
Ime kho, bhikkhave, tayo niruttipathā adhivacanapathā paññattipathā asaṅkiṇṇā asaṅkiṇṇapubbā, na saṅkīyanti, na saṅkīyissanti, appaṭikuṭṭhā samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
These are the three scopes of terminology, labeling, and description. They’re uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now, nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them.
Yepi te, bhikkhave, ahesuṁ ukkalā vassabhaññā ahetukavādā akiriyavādā natthikavādā, tepime tayo niruttipathe adhivacanapathe paññattipathe na garahitabbaṁ nappaṭikkositabbaṁ amaññiṁsu.
Even those wanderers of the past, Vassa and Bhañña of Ukkalā, who adhered to the doctrines of no-cause, inaction, and nihilism, didn’t imagine that these three scopes of language should be criticized or rejected.
Taṁ kissa hetu?
Why is that?
Nindāghaṭṭanabyārosaupārambhabhayā”ti.
For fear of blame, attack, and condemnation.”
Majjhimapaṇṇāsakassa upayavaggo paṭhamo.
Tassuddānaṁ
Upayo bījaṁ udānaṁ,
Upādānaparivattaṁ;
Sattaṭṭhānañca sambuddho,
Pañcamahāli ādittā;
Vaggo niruttipathena cāti.