sutta » sn » sn35 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.240

Kummopamasutta

The Simile of the Tortoise

“Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, kummo kacchapo sāyanhasamayaṁ anunadītīre gocarapasuto ahosi.
“Once upon a time, mendicants, a tortoise was grazing along the bank of a river in the afternoon.

Siṅgālopi kho, bhikkhave, sāyanhasamayaṁ anunadītīre gocarapasuto ahosi.
At the same time, a jackal was also hunting along the river bank.

Addasā kho, bhikkhave, kummo kacchapo siṅgālaṁ dūratova gocarapasutaṁ.
The tortoise saw the jackal off in the distance hunting,

Disvāna soṇḍipañcamāni aṅgāni sake kapāle samodahitvā appossukko tuṇhībhūto saṅkasāyati.
so it drew its limbs and neck inside its shell, and kept passive and silent.

Siṅgālopi kho, bhikkhave, addasa kummaṁ kacchapaṁ dūratova gocarapasutaṁ.
But the jackal also saw the tortoise off in the distance grazing.

Disvāna yena kummo kacchapo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā kummaṁ kacchapaṁ paccupaṭṭhito ahosi:
So it went up to the tortoise and waited nearby, thinking,

‘yadāyaṁ kummo kacchapo soṇḍipañcamānaṁ aṅgānaṁ aññataraṁ vā aññataraṁ vā aṅgaṁ abhininnāmessati, tattheva naṁ gahetvā uddālitvā khādissāmī’ti.
‘When that tortoise sticks one or other of its limbs or neck out from its shell, I’ll grab it right there, rip it out, and eat it!’

Yadā kho, bhikkhave, kummo kacchapo soṇḍipañcamānaṁ aṅgānaṁ aññataraṁ vā aññataraṁ vā aṅgaṁ na abhininnāmi, atha siṅgālo kummamhā nibbijja pakkāmi, otāraṁ alabhamāno.
But when that tortoise didn’t stick one or other of its limbs or neck out from its shell, the jackal left disappointed, since it couldn’t find a vulnerability.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, tumhepi māro pāpimā satataṁ samitaṁ paccupaṭṭhito:
In the same way, Māra the Wicked is always waiting nearby, thinking:

‘appeva nāmāhaṁ imesaṁ cakkhuto vā otāraṁ labheyyaṁ …pe…
‘Hopefully I can find a vulnerability in the eye,

jivhāto vā otāraṁ labheyyaṁ …pe…
ear, nose, tongue, body, or

manato vā otāraṁ labheyyan’ti.
mind.’

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, indriyesu guttadvārā viharatha.
That’s why you should live with sense doors guarded.

Cakkhunā rūpaṁ disvā mā nimittaggāhino ahuvattha, mā anubyañjanaggāhino.
When you see a sight with your eyes, don’t get caught up in the features and details.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ cakkhundriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjatha, rakkhatha cakkhundriyaṁ, cakkhundriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjatha.
If the faculty of sight were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, practice restraint, protecting the faculty of sight, and achieving its restraint.

Sotena saddaṁ sutvā …
When you hear a sound with your ears …

ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā …
When you smell an odor with your nose …

jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā …
When you taste a flavor with your tongue …

kāyena phoṭṭhabbaṁ phusitvā …
When you feel a touch with your body …

manasā dhammaṁ viññāya mā nimittaggāhino ahuvattha, mā anubyañjanaggāhino.
When you know an idea with your mind, don’t get caught up in the features and details.

Yatvādhikaraṇamenaṁ manindriyaṁ asaṁvutaṁ viharantaṁ abhijjhādomanassā pāpakā akusalā dhammā anvāssaveyyuṁ, tassa saṁvarāya paṭipajjatha, rakkhatha manindriyaṁ, manindriye saṁvaraṁ āpajjatha.
If the faculty of mind were left unrestrained, bad unskillful qualities of covetousness and displeasure would become overwhelming. For this reason, practice restraint, protecting the faculty of mind, and achieving its restraint.

Yato tumhe, bhikkhave, indriyesu guttadvārā viharissatha, atha tumhehipi māro pāpimā nibbijja pakkamissati, otāraṁ alabhamāno—
When you live with your sense doors guarded, Māra will leave you disappointed, since he can’t find a vulnerability,

kummamhāva siṅgāloti.
just like the jackal left the tortoise.

Kummova aṅgāni sake kapāle,
A mendicant should collect their thoughts

Samodahaṁ bhikkhu manovitakke;
as a tortoise draws its limbs into its shell.

Anissito aññamaheṭhayāno,
Independent, not disturbing others,

Parinibbuto nūpavadeyya kañcī”ti.
quenched: they wouldn’t blame anyone.”

Tatiyaṁ.