“Never before have I seen,” “Na me diṭṭho ito pubbe, said Venerable Sāriputta, (iccāyasmā sāriputto) “or heard from anyone Na suto uda kassaci; about a teacher of such graceful speech, Evaṁ vagguvado satthā, come from Tusita heaven to lead a community. Tusitā gaṇimāgato.

To all the world with its gods Sadevakassa lokassa, he appears as a Clear-eyed One yathā dissati cakkhumā; who has dispelled all darkness, Sabbaṁ tamaṁ vinodetvā, and alone attained to bliss. ekova ratimajjhagā.

On behalf of the many here still bound, Taṁ buddhaṁ asitaṁ tādiṁ, I have come seeking with a question akuhaṁ gaṇimāgataṁ; to that Buddha, unattached and impartial, Bahūnamidha baddhānaṁ, free of deceit, come to lead a community. atthi pañhena āgamaṁ.

Suppose a mendicant who loathes attachment Bhikkhuno vijigucchato, frequents a lonely lodging—bhajato rittamāsanaṁ; the root of a tree, a charnel ground, Rukkhamūlaṁ susānaṁ vā, on mountains, or in caves. pabbatānaṁ guhāsu vā.

In these many different lodgings, Uccāvacesu sayanesu, how many dangers are there kīvanto tattha bheravā; at which a mendicant in their silent lodging Yehi bhikkhu na vedheyya, ought not tremble? nigghose sayanāsane.

On their journey to the untrodden place, Katī parissayā loke, how many adversities are there in the world gacchato agataṁ disaṁ; that must they overcome Ye bhikkhu abhisambhave, in their remote lodging? pantamhi sayanāsane.

What ways of speech should they have? Kyāssa byappathayo assu, Of what kind is their alms resort? kyāssassu idha gocarā; What precepts and vows Kāni sīlabbatānāssu, should a resolute mendicant uphold? pahitattassa bhikkhuno.

Having undertaken what training, Kaṁ so sikkhaṁ samādāya, unified, alert, and mindful, ekodi nipako sato; would they purge their own stains, Kammāro rajatasseva, like a smith smelting silver?” niddhame malamattano”.

“If one who loathes attachment
frequents a lonely lodging,”
“Vijigucchamānassa yadidaṁ phāsu, said the Buddha to Sāriputta, (sāriputtāti bhagavā) “in their search for awakening—
as accords with the teaching—
Rittāsanaṁ sayanaṁ sevato ce; I shall tell you, as I understand it, Sambodhikāmassa yathānudhammaṁ, what is comfortable for them. Taṁ te pavakkhāmi yathā pajānaṁ.

An attentive one, a mindful mendicant
living on the periphery
Pañcannaṁ dhīro bhayānaṁ na bhāye, should not be afraid of five perils: Bhikkhu sato sapariyantacārī; flies, mosquitoes, reptiles, Ḍaṁsādhipātānaṁ sarīsapānaṁ, human contact, or four-legged creatures. Manussaphassānaṁ catuppadānaṁ.

Nor should they fear followers of other teachings, Paradhammikānampi na santaseyya, even having seen the many threats they pose. Disvāpi tesaṁ bahubheravāni; And then one seeking the good Athāparāni abhisambhaveyya, should overcome any other adversities. Parissayāni kusalānuesī.

Afflicted by illness and hunger, Ātaṅkaphassena khudāya phuṭṭho, they should endure cold and excessive heat. Sītaṁ athuṇhaṁ adhivāsayeyya; Though afflicted by many such things,
the homeless one
So tehi phuṭṭho bahudhā anoko, should exert energy, firmly striving. Viriyaṁ parakkammadaḷhaṁ kareyya.

They must not steal or lie; Theyyaṁ na kāre na musā bhaṇeyya, and should touch creatures firm or frail with love. Mettāya phasse tasathāvarāni; If they notice any clouding of the mind, Yadāvilattaṁ manaso vijaññā, they should dispel it as Māra’s ally. Kaṇhassa pakkhoti vinodayeyya.

They must not fall under the sway
of anger or arrogance;
Kodhātimānassa vasaṁ na gacche, having dug them out by the root,
they would stand firm.
Mūlampi tesaṁ palikhañña tiṭṭhe; Then, faced with likes and dislikes, Athappiyaṁ vā pana appiyaṁ vā, they would surely overcome. Addhā bhavanto abhisambhaveyya.

Putting wisdom in the foremost place,
rejoicing in goodness,
Paññaṁ purakkhatvā kalyāṇapīti, they would put an end to those adversities. Vikkhambhaye tāni parissayāni; They’d vanquish discontent in their remote lodging. Aratiṁ sahetha sayanamhi pante, And they’d vanquish the four lamentations: Caturo sahetha paridevadhamme.

‘What will I eat? Where will I eat? Kiṁsū asissāmi kuva vā asissaṁ, Oh, I slept badly! Where will I sleep?’ Dukkhaṁ vata settha kvajja sessaṁ; The trainee, the migrant without abode, Ete vitakke paridevaneyye, would dispel these lamentable thoughts. Vinayetha sekho aniketacārī.

Receiving food and clothes in due season, Annañca laddhā vasanañca kāle, they would know moderation
for the sake of contentment.
Mattaṁ so jaññā idha tosanatthaṁ; Guarded in these things,
walking restrained in the village,
So tesu gutto yatacāri gāme, they wouldn’t speak harshly even when provoked. Rusitopi vācaṁ pharusaṁ na vajjā.

Eyes downcast, not footloose, Okkhittacakkhu na ca pādalolo, devoted to absorption, they’d be very wakeful. Jhānānuyutto bahujāgarassa; Grounded in equanimity, serene, Upekkhamārabbha samāhitatto, they should cut off worrisome habits of thought. Takkāsayaṁ kukkucciyūpachinde.

A mindful one would welcome reproach, Cudito vacībhi satimābhinande, and would dissolve hard-heartedness
toward their spiritual companions.
Sabrahmacārīsu khilaṁ pabhinde; They may utter skillful speech, but not for too long, Vācaṁ pamuñce kusalaṁ nātivelaṁ, and they shouldn’t provoke people to blame. Janavādadhammāya na cetayeyya.

And there are five more taints in the world, Athāparaṁ pañca rajāni loke, for the removal of which
the mindful one should train,
Yesaṁ satīmā vinayāya sikkhe; vanquishing desire for sights, Rūpesu saddesu atho rasesu, sounds, flavors, smells, and touches. Gandhesu phassesu sahetha rāgaṁ.

Having removed desire for these things, Etesu dhammesu vineyya chandaṁ, a mindful mendicant, their heart well freed, Bhikkhu satimā suvimuttacitto; rightly investigating the Dhamma in good time, Kālena so sammā dhammaṁ parivīmaṁsamāno, at one, would banish the darkness.” Ekodibhūto vihane tamaṁ so”ti.

Aṭṭhakavaggo catuttho.

Tassuddānaṁ

Kāmaṁ guhañca duṭṭhā ca, suddhañca paramā jarā; Metteyyo ca pasūro ca, māgaṇḍi purābhedanaṁ.

Kalahaṁ dve ca byūhāni, punadeva tuvaṭṭakaṁ; Attadaṇḍavaraṁ suttaṁ, therapuṭṭhena soḷasa; Iti etāni suttāni, sabbānaṭṭhakavaggikāti.