• Numbered Discourses 5.139 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 5.139
  • 14. Kings 14. Rājavagga

Cannot Endure Akkhamasutta

ā€œMendicants, a royal bull elephant with five factors is not worthy of a king, not fit to serve a king, and is not reckoned a factor of kingship. ā€œPaƱcahi, bhikkhave, aį¹…gehi samannāgato raƱƱo nāgo na rājāraho hoti na rājabhoggo, na raƱƱo aį¹…gaṁtveva saį¹…khaṁ gacchati. What five? Katamehi paƱcahi? It’s when a royal bull elephant can’t endure sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ, akkhamo saddānaṁ, akkhamo gandhānaṁ, akkhamo rasānaṁ, akkhamo phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can’t endure sights? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle falters and founders at the sight of a division of elephants, of cavalry, of chariots, or of infantry. It doesn’t stay firm, and fails to plunge into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato hatthikāyaṁ vā disvā assakāyaṁ vā disvā rathakāyaṁ vā disvā pattikāyaṁ vā disvā saṁsÄ«dati visÄ«dati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can’t endure sights. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can’t endure sounds? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti saddānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle falters and founders at the sound of a division of elephants, of cavalry, of chariots, or of infantry, or the thunder of the drums, kettledrums, horns, and cymbals. It doesn’t stay firm, and fails to plunge into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato hatthisaddaṁ vā sutvā assasaddaṁ vā sutvā rathasaddaṁ vā sutvā pattisaddaṁ vā sutvā bheripaṇavasaį¹…khatiṇavaninnādasaddaṁ vā sutvā saṁsÄ«dati visÄ«dati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can’t endure sounds. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti saddānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can’t endure smells? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti gandhānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle falters and founders when it smells the odor of the feces and urine of battle-hardened, pedigree royal bull elephants. It doesn’t stay firm, and fails to plunge into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato ye te raƱƱo nāgā abhijātā saį¹…gāmāvacarā tesaṁ muttakarÄ«sassa gandhaṁ ghāyitvā saṁsÄ«dati visÄ«dati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can’t endure smells. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti gandhānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can’t endure tastes? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti rasānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle falters and founders when it misses a meal of grass and water, or it misses two, three, four, or five meals. It doesn’t stay firm, and fails to plunge into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato ekissā vā tiṇodakadattiyā vimānito dvÄ«hi vā tÄ«hi vā catÅ«hi vā paƱcahi vā tiṇodakadattÄ«hi vimānito saṁsÄ«dati visÄ«dati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can’t endure tastes. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti rasānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can’t endure touches? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle falters and founders when struck by a swift arrow, or by two, three, four, or five swift arrows. It doesn’t stay firm, and fails to plunge into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato ekena vā saravegena viddho, dvÄ«hi vā tÄ«hi vā catÅ«hi vā paƱcahi vā saravegehi viddho saṁsÄ«dati visÄ«dati, na santhambhati na sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can’t endure touches. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo akkhamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

A royal bull elephant with these five factors is not worthy of a king, not fit to serve a king, and is not reckoned a factor of kingship. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, paƱcahi aį¹…gehi samannāgato raƱƱo nāgo na rājāraho hoti na rājabhoggo na raƱƱo aį¹…gaṁtveva saį¹…khaṁ gacchati.

In the same way, a mendicant with five qualities is not worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, not worthy of hospitality, not worthy of a religious donation, not worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is not the supreme field of merit for the world. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, paƱcahi aį¹…gehi samannāgato bhikkhu na āhuneyyo hoti na pāhuneyyo na dakkhiṇeyyo na aƱjalikaraṇīyo na anuttaraṁ puƱƱakkhettaṁ lokassa. What five? Katamehi paƱcahi? It’s when a mendicant can’t endure sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ, akkhamo saddānaṁ, akkhamo gandhānaṁ, akkhamo rasānaṁ, akkhamo phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can’t endure sights? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, seeing a sight with their eyes, is aroused by a desirable sight, so is not able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rÅ«paṁ disvā rajanÄ«ye rÅ«pe sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can’t endure sights. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can’t endure sounds? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti saddānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, hearing a sound with their ears, is aroused by a desirable sound, so is not able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sotena saddaṁ sutvā rajanÄ«ye sadde sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can’t endure sounds. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti saddānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can’t endure smells? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti gandhānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, smelling an odor with their nose, is aroused by a desirable smell, so is not able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā rajanÄ«ye gandhe sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can’t endure smells. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti gandhānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can’t endure tastes? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rasānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, tasting a flavor with their tongue, is aroused by desirable tastes, so is not able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā rajanÄ«ye rase sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can’t endure tastes. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti rasānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can’t endure touches? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, feeling a touch with their body, is aroused by a desirable touch, so is not able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāyena phoį¹­į¹­habbaṁ phusitvā rajanÄ«ye phoį¹­į¹­habbe sārajjati, na sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can’t endure touches. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

A mendicant with these five qualities is not worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, not worthy of hospitality, not worthy of a religious donation, not worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is not the supreme field of merit for the world. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, paƱcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu na āhuneyyo hoti na pāhuneyyo na dakkhiṇeyyo na aƱjalikaraṇīyo na anuttaraṁ puƱƱakkhettaṁ lokassa.

A royal bull elephant with five factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship. PaƱcahi, bhikkhave, aį¹…gehi samannāgato raƱƱo nāgo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, raƱƱo aį¹…gaṁtveva saį¹…khaṁ gacchati. What five? Katamehi paƱcahi? It’s when a royal bull elephant can endure sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ, khamo saddānaṁ, khamo gandhānaṁ, khamo rasānaṁ, khamo phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can endure sights? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle does not falter or founder at the sight of a division of elephants, of cavalry, of chariots, or of infantry. It stays firm, and plunges into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato hatthikāyaṁ vā disvā assakāyaṁ vā disvā rathakāyaṁ vā disvā pattikāyaṁ vā disvā na saṁsÄ«dati na visÄ«dati, santhambhati sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can endure sights. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can endure sounds? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti saddānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant does not falter or founder at the sound of a division of elephants, of cavalry, of chariots, or of infantry, or the thunder of the drums, kettledrums, horns, and cymbals. It stays firm, and plunges into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato hatthisaddaṁ vā sutvā assasaddaṁ vā sutvā rathasaddaṁ vā sutvā pattisaddaṁ vā sutvā bheripaṇavasaį¹…khatiṇavaninnādasaddaṁ vā sutvā na saṁsÄ«dati na visÄ«dati, santhambhati sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can endure sounds. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti saddānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can endure smells? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti gandhānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle does not falter or founder when it smells the odor of the feces and urine of battle-hardened, pedigree royal bull elephants. It stays firm, and plunges into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato ye te raƱƱo nāgā abhijātā saį¹…gāmāvacarā tesaṁ muttakarÄ«sassa gandhaṁ ghāyitvā na saṁsÄ«dati na visÄ«dati, santhambhati sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can endure smells. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti gandhānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can endure tastes? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti rasānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle does not falter or founder when it misses a meal of grass and water, or it misses two, three, four, or five meals. It stays firm, and plunges into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato ekissā vā tiṇodakadattiyā vimānito dvÄ«hi vā tÄ«hi vā catÅ«hi vā paƱcahi vā tiṇodakadattÄ«hi vimānito na saṁsÄ«dati na visÄ«dati, santhambhati sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can endure tastes. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti rasānaṁ.

And how is it that a royal bull elephant can endure touches? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ? It’s when a royal bull elephant gone to battle does not falter or founder when struck by a swift arrow, or by two, three, four, or five swift arrows. It stays firm, and plunges into battle. Idha, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo saį¹…gāmagato ekena vā saravegena viddho, dvÄ«hi vā tÄ«hi vā catÅ«hi vā paƱcahi vā saravegehi viddho na saṁsÄ«dati na visÄ«dati, santhambhati sakkoti saį¹…gāmaṁ otarituṁ. That’s how a royal bull elephant can endure touches. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, raƱƱo nāgo khamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

A royal bull elephant with these five factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned a factor of kingship. Imehi kho, bhikkhave, paƱcahi aį¹…gehi samannāgato raƱƱo nāgo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, raƱƱo aį¹…gaṁtveva saį¹…khaṁ gacchati.

In the same way, a mendicant with five qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, paƱcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo aƱjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puƱƱakkhettaṁ lokassa. What five? Katamehi paƱcahi? It’s when a mendicant can endure sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ, khamo saddānaṁ, khamo gandhānaṁ, khamo rasānaṁ, khamo phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can endure sights? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, seeing a sight with their eyes, is not aroused by a desirable sight, so is able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu cakkhunā rÅ«paṁ disvā rajanÄ«ye rÅ«pe na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can endure sights. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rÅ«pānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can endure sounds? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti saddānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, hearing a sound with their ears, is not aroused by desirable sounds, so is able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sotena saddaṁ sutvā rajanÄ«ye sadde na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can endure sounds. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti saddānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can endure smells? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti gandhānaṁ. It’s when a mendicant, smelling an odor with their nose, is not aroused by a desirable smell, so is able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ghānena gandhaṁ ghāyitvā rajanÄ«ye gandhe na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can endure smells. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti gandhānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can endure tastes? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rasānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, tasting a flavor with their tongue, is not aroused by desirable tastes, so is able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu jivhāya rasaṁ sāyitvā rajanÄ«ye rase na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can endure tastes. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti rasānaṁ.

And how is it that a mendicant can endure touches? KathaƱca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, feeling a touch with their body, is not aroused by a desirable touch, so is able to still the mind. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāyena phoį¹­į¹­habbaṁ phusitvā rajanÄ«ye phoį¹­į¹­habbe na sārajjati, sakkoti cittaṁ samādahituṁ. That’s how a mendicant can endure touches. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu khamo hoti phoį¹­į¹­habbānaṁ.

A mendicant with these five qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.ā€ Imehi kho, bhikkhave, paƱcahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo aƱjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puƱƱakkhettaṁ lokassÄā€ti.

Navamaṁ.