• Numbered Discourses 8.20 Aį¹…guttara Nikāya 8.20
  • 2. The Great Chapter 2. Mahāvagga

Sabbath Uposathasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near SāvatthÄ« in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

Now, at that time it was the sabbath, and the Buddha was sitting surrounded by the Saį¹…gha of monks. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe bhikkhusaį¹…ghaparivuto nisinno hoti. And then, as the night was getting late, in the first watch of the night, Venerable Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said, Atha kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante paį¹­hame yāme, uį¹­į¹­hāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaį¹…gaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenaƱjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ā€œSir, the night is getting late. It is the first watch of the night, and the Saį¹…gha of monks has been sitting long. ā€œabhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto paį¹­hamo yāmo, ciranisinno bhikkhusaį¹…gho. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.ā€ Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhÅ«naṁ pātimokkhanā€ti.

But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhÄ« ahosi.

For a second time, as the night was getting late, in the middle watch of the night, Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said, Dutiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante majjhime yāme, uį¹­į¹­hāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaį¹…gaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenaƱjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ā€œSir, the night is getting late. It is the middle watch of the night, and the Saį¹…gha of monks has been sitting long. ā€œabhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto majjhimo yāmo, ciranisinno bhikkhusaį¹…gho. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.ā€ Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhÅ«naṁ pātimokkhanā€ti.

But for a second time the Buddha kept silent. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhÄ« ahosi.

For a third time, as the night was getting late, in the last watch of the night, as dawn stirred, bringing joy to the night, Ānanda got up from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his joined palms toward the Buddha and said, Tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante pacchime yāme, uddhaste aruṇe, nandimukhiyā rattiyā uį¹­į¹­hāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaį¹…gaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenaƱjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ā€œSir, the night is getting late. It is the last watch of the night and dawn stirs, bringing joy to the night. ā€œabhikkantā, bhante, ratti, nikkhanto pacchimo yāmo, uddhastaṁ aruṇaṁ, nandimukhÄ« ratti; And the Saį¹…gha has been sitting long. ciranisinno bhikkhusaį¹…gho. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.ā€ Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhÅ«naṁ pātimokkhanā€ti.

ā€œÄ€nanda, the assembly is not pure.ā€ ā€œAparisuddhā, ānanda, parisÄā€ti.

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought, Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi: ā€œWho is the Buddha talking about?ā€ ā€œkaṁ nu kho bhagavā puggalaṁ sandhāya evamāha: ā€˜aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisÄā€™ā€ti?

Then he focused on encompassing the minds of everyone in the Saį¹…gha. Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sabbāvantaṁ bhikkhusaį¹…ghaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasākāsi. He saw that unethical individual, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, festering, and depraved, sitting in the middle of the Saį¹…gha. Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ dussÄ«laṁ pāpadhammaṁ asuciṁ saį¹…kassarasamācāraṁ paį¹­icchannakammantaṁ assamaṇaṁ samaṇapaį¹­iƱƱaṁ abrahmacāriṁ brahmacāripaį¹­iƱƱaṁ antopÅ«tiṁ avassutaṁ kasambujātaṁ majjhe bhikkhusaį¹…ghassa nisinnaṁ;

When he saw him he got up from his seat, went up to him and said, disvāna uį¹­į¹­hāyāsanā yena so puggalo tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: ā€œGet up, reverend. The Buddha has seen you. ā€œuį¹­į¹­hehāvuso, diį¹­į¹­hosi bhagavatā. You can’t live in communion with the monks.ā€ Natthi te bhikkhÅ«hi saddhiṁ saṁvāsoā€ti.

But when he said this, that individual kept silent. Evaṁ vutte, so puggalo tuṇhÄ« ahosi.

For a second time Dutiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: ā€œuį¹­į¹­hehāvuso, diį¹­į¹­hosi bhagavatā. Natthi te bhikkhÅ«hi saddhiṁ saṁvāsoā€ti. Dutiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhÄ« ahosi.

and a third time, Tatiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: he asked that monk to leave. ā€œuį¹­į¹­hehāvuso, diį¹­į¹­hosi bhagavatā. Natthi te bhikkhÅ«hi saddhiṁ saṁvāsoā€ti.

But for a third time that individual kept silent. Tatiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhÄ« ahosi.

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna took that individual by the arm, ejected him out the gate, and bolted the door. Then he went up to the Buddha, and said to him, Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ bāhāyaṁ gahetvā bahidvārakoį¹­į¹­hakā nikkhāmetvā sÅ«cighaį¹­ikaṁ datvā yena bhagavā tenupasaį¹…kami; upasaį¹…kamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: ā€œI have ejected that individual. ā€œnikkhāmito so, bhante, puggalo mayā. The assembly is pure. Parisuddhā parisā. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.ā€ Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhÅ«naṁ pātimokkhanā€ti.

ā€œIt’s incredible, Moggallāna, it’s amazing, ā€œAcchariyaṁ, moggallāna, abbhutaṁ, moggallāna. how that futile man waited to be taken by the arm!ā€ Yāva bāhā gahaṇāpi nāma so moghapuriso āgamissatÄ«ā€ti.

Then the Buddha said to the monks: Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

ā€œNow, monks, you should perform the sabbath and recite the monastic code. ā€œtumheva dāni, bhikkhave, uposathaṁ kareyyātha, pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyyātha. From this day forth, I will not perform the sabbath or recite the monastic code. Na dānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ajjatagge uposathaṁ karissāmi, pātimokkhaṁ uddisissāmi. It’s impossible, monks, it can’t happen that a Realized One could recite the monastic code in an impure assembly. Aį¹­į¹­hānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ tathāgato aparisuddhāya parisāya pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyya.

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean. Aį¹­į¹­hime, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. What eight? Katame aį¹­į¹­ha? The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice. Mahāsamuddo, bhikkhave, anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; This is the first thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde paį¹­hamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti (yathā purime tathā vitthāro.)

(Tell in full as in the previous discourse.) …pe…

Furthermore, many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhÅ«tānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhÅ«tā—timi timiį¹…galo timirapiį¹…galo asurā nāgā gandhabbā. Vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… paƱcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhÅ«tānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhÅ«tā—timi timiį¹…galo timirapiį¹…galo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… paƱcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; This is the eighth thing the titans love about the ocean. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aį¹­į¹­hamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean. Ime kho, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aį¹­į¹­ha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

In the same way, seeing eight incredible and amazing things, mendicants, the mendicants love this teaching and training. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. What eight? Katame aṭṭha?

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; In the same way in this teaching and training the penetration to enlightenment comes from gradual training, progress, and practice, not abruptly. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaį¹­ipadā, na āyatakeneva aƱƱāpaį¹­ivedho. Yampi, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaį¹­ipadā, na āyatakeneva aƱƱāpaį¹­ivedho; This is the first thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training. … ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paį¹­hamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhÅ« imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti …pe…

Many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long. seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhÅ«tānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhÅ«tā—timi timiį¹…galo timirapiį¹…galo asurā nāgā gandhabbā, vasanti mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… paƱcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; In the same way, great beings live in this teaching and training, and these are those beings. The stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. The once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. The non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. The perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhÅ«tānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhÅ«tā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paį¹­ipanno …pe… arahā arahattāya paį¹­ipanno. Yampi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhÅ«tānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhÅ«tā—sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paį¹­ipanno …pe… arahā arahattāya paį¹­ipanno; This is the eighth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training. ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aį¹­į¹­hamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhÅ« imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things, the mendicants love this teaching and training.ā€ Ime kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aį¹­į¹­ha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhÅ« imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantÄ«ā€ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Mahāvaggo dutiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

VeraƱjo sÄ«ho ājaƱƱaṁ, khaįø·uį¹…kena malāni ca; DÅ«teyyaṁ dve ca bandhanā, pahārādo uposathoti.