Rajjusutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 17.29

Linked Discourses 17.29

3. Tatiyavagga

Chapter Three

Rajjusutta

A Rope

Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

At Sāvatthī.

“Dāruṇo, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity are grim …

Lābhasakkārasiloko, bhikkhave, chaviṁ chindati, chaviṁ chetvā cammaṁ chindati, cammaṁ chetvā maṁsaṁ chindati, maṁsaṁ chetvā nhāruṁ chindati, nhāruṁ chetvā aṭṭhiṁ chindati, aṭṭhiṁ chetvā aṭṭhimiñjaṁ āhacca tiṭṭhati.

They cut through the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, sinews, and bones, until they reach the marrow and keep pressing.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, balavā puriso daḷhāya vāḷarajjuyā jaṅghaṁ veṭhetvā ghaṁseyya.

Suppose a strong man was to twist a strong horse-hair rope around your shin and tighten it.

Sā chaviṁ chindeyya, chaviṁ chetvā cammaṁ chindeyya, cammaṁ chetvā maṁsaṁ chindeyya, maṁsaṁ chetvā nhāruṁ chindeyya, nhāruṁ chetvā aṭṭhiṁ chindeyya, aṭṭhiṁ chetvā aṭṭhimiñjaṁ āhacca tiṭṭheyya.

It would cut through the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, sinews, and bones, until it reached the marrow and kept pressing.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko chaviṁ chindati, chaviṁ chetvā cammaṁ chindati, cammaṁ chetvā maṁsaṁ chindati, maṁsaṁ chetvā nhāruṁ chindati, nhāruṁ chetvā aṭṭhiṁ chindati, aṭṭhiṁ chetvā aṭṭhimiñjaṁ āhacca tiṭṭhati.

In the same way, possessions, honor, and popularity cut through the outer skin, the inner skin, the flesh, sinews, and bones, until they reach the marrow and keep pressing.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko …pe…

So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity. …”

evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

Navamaṁ.