sutta » sn » sn56 » Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.45

Vālasutta

Splitting Hairs

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.
At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.
Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Vesālī for alms.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte, dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente, poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ.
He saw several Licchavi youths practicing archery near the town hall. They were shooting arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shot after shot without missing.

Disvānassa etadahosi:
When he saw this he thought,

“sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā;
“These Licchavi youths really are trained, so well trained,

yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan”ti.
in that they shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shot after shot without missing.”

Atha kho āyasmā ānando vesāliṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
Then Ānanda wandered for alms in Vesālī. After the meal, on his return from almsround, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what had happened.

“idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya vesāliṁ piṇḍāya pāvisiṁ.

Addasaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, sambahule licchavikumārake santhāgāre upāsanaṁ karonte dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātente poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ.

Disvāna me etadahosi:

‘sikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā, susikkhitā vatime licchavikumārakā;

yatra hi nāma dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipātessanti poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitan’”ti.

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ānanda,
“What do you think, Ānanda?

katamaṁ nu kho dukkarataraṁ vā durabhisambhavataraṁ vā—
Which is harder and more challenging:

yo dūratova sukhumena tāḷacchiggaḷena asanaṁ atipāteyya poṅkhānupoṅkhaṁ avirādhitaṁ, yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti?
to shoot arrows from a distance through a small keyhole, shot after shot without missing? Or to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip?”

“Etadeva, bhante, dukkaratarañceva durabhisambhavatarañca yo vā sattadhā bhinnassa vālassa koṭiyā koṭiṁ paṭivijjheyyā”ti.
“It’s more difficult and challenging, sir, to take a horsehair split into seven strands and penetrate one tip with another tip.”

“Atha kho, ānanda, duppaṭivijjhataraṁ paṭivijjhanti, ye ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ paṭivijjhanti.
“Still, Ānanda, those who truly penetrate suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path penetrate something tougher than that.

Tasmātihānanda, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.
That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Pañcamaṁ.