Saṁyutta Nikāya 45.151
Translators: sujato
Linked Discourses 45.151
12. Balakaraṇīyavagga
12. Hard Work
Nāgasutta
Dragons
“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, himavantaṁ pabbatarājaṁ nissāya nāgā kāyaṁ vaḍḍhenti, balaṁ gāhenti;
“Mendicants, dragons grow and wax strong supported by the Himalayas, the king of mountains.
te tattha kāyaṁ vaḍḍhetvā balaṁ gāhetvā kusobbhe otaranti, kusobbhe otaritvā mahāsobbhe otaranti, mahāsobbhe otaritvā kunnadiyo otaranti, kunnadiyo otaritvā mahānadiyo otaranti, mahānadiyo otaritvā mahāsamuddaṁ otaranti, te tattha mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ āpajjanti kāyena;
When they’re strong they dive into the pools. Then they dive into the lakes, the streams, the rivers, and finally the ocean. There they acquire a great and abundant body.
evameva kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti dhammesu.
In the same way, a mendicant develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path depending on and grounded on ethics, acquiring great and abundant good qualities.
Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti dhammesu?
And how does a mendicant develop the noble eightfold path depending on and grounded on ethics, acquiring great and abundant good qualities?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sammādiṭṭhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …pe… sammāsamādhiṁ bhāveti vivekanissitaṁ virāganissitaṁ nirodhanissitaṁ vossaggapariṇāmiṁ …
It’s when a mendicant develops right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion, which rely on seclusion, fading away, and cessation, and ripen as letting go.
evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlaṁ nissāya sīle patiṭṭhāya ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bhāvento ariyaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ bahulīkaronto mahantattaṁ vepullattaṁ pāpuṇāti dhammesū”ti.
That’s how a mendicant develops and cultivates the noble eightfold path depending on and grounded on ethics, acquiring great and abundant good qualities.”
Tatiyaṁ.