Jīvikasutta

Itivuttaka 91

So It Was Said 91

Tikanipāta

The Book of the Threes

Pañcamavagga

Chapter Five

Jīvikasutta

Lifestyle

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Antamidaṁ, bhikkhave, jīvikānaṁ yadidaṁ piṇḍolyaṁ.

“This is the last of lifestyles, mendicants, namely relying on alms.

Abhisāpoyaṁ, bhikkhave, lokasmiṁ: ‘piṇḍolo vicarasi pattapāṇī’ti.

The world curses you: ‘You beggar, walking bowl in hand!’

Tañca kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputtā upenti atthavasikā, atthavasaṁ paṭicca;

Yet earnest gentlemen take it up for a good reason.

neva rājābhinītā, na corābhinītā, na iṇaṭṭā, na bhayaṭṭā, na ājīvikāpakatā.

Not to escape a summons by a king or a summons for a bandit, or because you were in debt or in fear, or in order to make a living.

Api ca kho ‘otiṇṇamhā jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi dukkhotiṇṇā dukkhaparetā,

Rather, because they think: ‘I’m swamped by rebirth, old age, and death; by sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. I’m swamped by suffering, mired in suffering.

appeva nāma imassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa antakiriyā paññāyethā’ti.

Hopefully I can make an end to this entire mass of suffering.’

Evaṁ pabbajito cāyaṁ, bhikkhave, kulaputto.

That’s how this gentleman has gone forth.

So ca hoti abhijjhālu kāmesu tibbasārāgo, byāpannacitto paduṭṭhamanasaṅkappo, muṭṭhassati asampajāno asamāhito vibbhantacitto pākatindriyo.

Yet they covet sensual pleasures; they’re infatuated, full of ill will and malicious intent. They are unmindful, lacking situational awareness and immersion, with straying minds and undisciplined faculties.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, chavālātaṁ ubhatopadittaṁ majjhe gūthagataṁ neva gāme kaṭṭhatthaṁ pharati na araññe;

Suppose there was a firebrand for lighting a funeral pyre, burning at both ends, and smeared with dung in the middle. It couldn’t be used as timber either in the village or the wilderness.

tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi gihibhogā parihīno sāmaññatthañca na paripūretī”ti.

I say that individual is just like this. They’ve missed out on the pleasures of the lay life, and haven’t fulfilled the goal of the ascetic life.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

The Buddha spoke this matter.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

On this it is said:

“Gihibhogā parihīno,

“They’ve left behind the pleasures of the lay life,

Sāmaññatthañca dubbhago;

and miss out on the goal of the ascetic life.

Paridhaṁsamāno pakireti,

Ruining it, they throw it away,

Chavālātaṁva nassati.

and perish like a funeral firebrand.

Kāsāvakaṇṭhā bahavo,

Many who wear a scrap of ocher cloth

pāpadhammā asaññatā;

are unrestrained and wicked.

Pāpā pāpehi kammehi,

Being wicked, they are reborn in hell

nirayaṁ te upapajjare.

due to their bad deeds.

Seyyo ayoguḷo bhutto,

It’d be better for the immoral and unrestrained

tatto aggisikhūpamo;

to eat an iron ball,

Yañce bhuñjeyya dussīlo,

scorching, like a burning flame,

raṭṭhapiṇḍamasaññato”ti.

than to eat the nation’s alms.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.

Dutiyaṁ.