Acirapakkantasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 17.35

Linked Discourses 17.35

4. Catutthavagga

Chapter Four

Acirapakkantasutta

Shortly After He Left

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate acirapakkante devadatte.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain, not long after Devadatta had left.

Tatra kho bhagavā devadattaṁ ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha spoke to the mendicants about Devadatta:

“attavadhāya, bhikkhave, devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

“Possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, kadalī attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

It’s like a banana plant …

evameva kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, veḷu attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

or a bamboo …

evameva kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, naḷo attavadhāya phalaṁ deti, parābhavāya phalaṁ deti;

or a reed, all of which bear fruit to their own ruin and downfall …

evameva kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, assatarī attavadhāya gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti, parābhavāya gabbhaṁ gaṇhāti;

It’s like a mule, which becomes pregnant to its own ruin and downfall.

evameva kho, bhikkhave, attavadhāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi, parābhavāya devadattassa lābhasakkārasiloko udapādi.

In the same way, possessions, honor, and popularity came to Devadatta for his own ruin and downfall.

Evaṁ dāruṇo kho, bhikkhave, lābhasakkārasiloko.

So grim are possessions, honor, and popularity.

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Idamavoca bhagavā.

That is what the Buddha said.

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“Phalaṁ ve kadaliṁ hanti,

“The banana plant is destroyed by its own fruit,

phalaṁ veḷuṁ phalaṁ naḷaṁ;

as are the bamboo and the reed.

Sakkāro kāpurisaṁ hanti,

Honor destroys a reprobate,

gabbho assatariṁ yathā”ti.

as pregnancy destroys a mule.”

Pañcamaṁ.