Codanādipucchāvissajjanā

Parivāra

The Compendium

Aparagāthāsaṅgaṇika

Verses on how to accuse properly

12. Codanādipucchāvissajjanā

Questions and answers on accusing, etc.

Codanā kimatthāya,

“What is the purpose of accusing?

Sāraṇā kissa kāraṇā;

Why is there reminding?

Saṅgho kimatthāya,

What is the purpose of the Sangha?

Matikammaṁ pana kissa kāraṇā.

Why is there the taking of advice?

Codanā sāraṇatthāya,

The purpose of accusing is reminding,

Niggahatthāya sāraṇā;

The purpose of reminding is restraint;

Saṅgho pariggahatthāya,

The purpose of the Sangha is scrutiny,

Matikammaṁ pana pāṭiyekkaṁ.

But taking advice is individual.

Mā kho turito abhaṇi,

Don’t speak hastily,

mā kho caṇḍikato bhaṇi;

Don’t speak fiercely;

Mā kho paṭighaṁ janayi,

Don’t be hostile—

sace anuvijjako tuvaṁ.

If you are an investigator.

Mā kho sahasā abhaṇi,

Don’t speak fast,

Kathaṁ viggāhikaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ;

Argumentative speech is not beneficial.

Sutte vinaye anulome,

In line with the discourses and the Monastic Law,

Paññatte anulomike.

In line with what has been laid down,

Anuyogavattaṁ nisāmaya,

Consider carefully
the proper procedure of examination,

Kusalena buddhimatā kataṁ;

As formulated by the skilled Awakened One,

Suvuttaṁ sikkhāpadānulomikaṁ,

Well-spoken in line with the training rules—

Gatiṁ na nāsento samparāyikaṁ;

Do not ruin your future rebirth.

Hitesī anuyuñjassu,

You should seek what is beneficial,

Kālenatthūpasaṁhitaṁ.

At the right time, what is connected with the goal.

Cuditassa ca codakassa ca,

The statements of the accuser and the accused,

Sahasā vohāraṁ mā padhāresi;

Do not consider them hastily:

Codako āha āpannoti,

If the accuser says the accused has offended,

Cuditako āha anāpannoti.

But the accused says he has not,

Ubho anukkhipanto,

Then, proceeding,

Paṭiññānusandhitena kāraye;

Both should be dealt with
in line with their admission.

Paṭiññā lajjīsu katā,

The conscientious admit their faults,

Alajjīsu evaṁ na vijjati;

But there is no such thing among the shameless;

Bahumpi alajjī bhāseyya,

For even if the shameless should speak a lot,

Vattānusandhitena kāraye.

They should be dealt with in line with their conduct.

Alajjī kīdiso hoti,

What are the shameless like,

Paṭiññā yassa na rūhati;

In that an admission is not effective?

Etañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

I ask you this:

Kīdiso vuccati alajjī puggalo.

What are they like, the people called shameless?

Sañcicca āpattiṁ āpajjati,

They intentionally commit offenses,

Āpattiṁ parigūhati;

Hide their offenses,

Agatigamanañca gacchati,

And follow a wrong course—

Ediso vuccati alajjīpuggalo.

Such people are called shameless.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi,

I too know the truth—

Ediso vuccati alajjīpuggalo;

Such people are called shameless.

Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

And may I ask you something else:

Kīdiso vuccati lajjīpuggalo.

What are they like, the people called conscientious?

Sañcicca āpattiṁ nāpajjati,

They do not intentionally commit offenses,

Āpattiṁ na parigūhati;

Nor do they hide them,

Agatigamanaṁ na gacchati,

Nor do they follow a wrong course—

Ediso vuccati lajjīpuggalo.

Such people are called conscientious.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi,

I too know the truth—

Ediso vuccati lajjīpuggalo;

Such people are called conscientious.

Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

And may I ask you something else:

Kīdiso vuccati adhammacodako.

What are they like, those who accuse illegitimately?

Akālena codeti abhūtena,

They accuse at the wrong time, untruthfully,

Pharusena anatthasaṁhitena;

Harshly, without benefit;

Dosantaro codeti no mettācitto,

They accuse with a mind of ill will,
not a mind of good will—

Ediso vuccati adhammacodako.

Such a person is called
one who accuses illegitimately.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi,

I too know the truth—

Ediso vuccati adhammacodako;

Such a person is called
one who accuses illegitimately.

Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

And may I ask you something else:

Kīdiso vuccati dhammacodako.

What are they like, those who accuse legitimately?

Kālena codeti bhūtena,

They accuse at the right time, truthfully,

Saṇhena atthasaṁhitena;

Gently, beneficially;

Mettācitto codeti no dosantaro,

They accuse with a mind of good will,
not a mind of ill will—

Ediso vuccati dhammacodako.

Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi,

I too know the truth—

Ediso vuccati dhammacodako;

Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.

Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

And may I ask you something else:

Kīdiso vuccati bālacodako.

What are they like,
the people called ignorant accusers?

Pubbāparaṁ na jānāti,

They do not know the right order;

Pubbāparassa akovido;

They are ignorant about it.

Anusandhivacanapathaṁ na jānāti,

They do not know the sequence of statements;

Anusandhivacanapathassa akovido;

They are ignorant about it—

Ediso vuccati bālacodako.

Such people are called ignorant accusers.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi,

I too know the truth—

Ediso vuccati bālacodako;

Such people are called ignorant accusers.

Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

And may I ask you something else:

Kīdiso vuccati paṇḍitacodako.

What are they like,
the people called learned accusers?

Pubbāparampi jānāti,

They know the right order;

Pubbāparassa kovido;

They are knowledgeable about it.

Anusandhivacanapathaṁ jānāti,

They know the sequence of statements;

Anusandhivacanapathassa kovido;

They are knowledgeable about it—

Ediso vuccati paṇḍitacodako.

Such people are called learned accusers.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi,

I too know the truth—

Ediso vuccati paṇḍitacodako;

Such people are called learned accusers.

Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi,

And may I ask you something else:

Codanā kinti vuccati.

What is meant by accusing?

Sīlavipattiyā codeti,

One accuses because of failure in morality,

atho ācāradiṭṭhiyā;

And for failure in conduct and view;

Ājīvenapi codeti,

Also one accuses for failure in livelihood—

codanā tena vuccatīti.

Because of this it is called accusing.”

Aparaṁ gāthāsaṅgaṇikaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

Verses on how to accuse properly are finished.