Kaliṅgarasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 20.8

Linked Discourses 20.8

1. Opammavagga

1. Similes

Kaliṅgarasutta

Wood Blocks

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

So I have heard.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:

There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,

“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Mendicants!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.

Bhagavā etadavoca:

The Buddha said this:

“Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi licchavī viharanti appamattā ātāpino upāsanasmiṁ.

“Mendicants, these days the Licchavis live using wood blocks as pillows, and they exercise diligently and keenly.

Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ.

King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, finds no vulnerability, he’s got no opportunity.

Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ licchavī sukhumālā mudutalunahatthapādā

But in the future the Licchavis will become delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet.

te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti.

They’ll sleep on soft beds with down pillows until the sun comes up.

Tesaṁ rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.

King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha, will find a vulnerability and get an opportunity.

Kaliṅgarūpadhānā, bhikkhave, etarahi bhikkhū viharanti appamattā ātāpino padhānasmiṁ.

These days the mendicants live using wood blocks as pillows, and they meditate diligently and keenly.

Tesaṁ māro pāpimā na labhati otāraṁ na labhati ārammaṇaṁ.

Māra the Wicked finds no vulnerability, he’s got no opportunity.

Bhavissanti, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ bhikkhū sukhumā mudutalunahatthapādā.

But in the future the mendicants will become delicate, with soft and tender hands and feet.

Te mudukāsu seyyāsu tūlabibbohanāsu yāvasūriyuggamanā seyyaṁ kappissanti.

They’ll sleep on soft beds with down pillows until the sun comes up.

Tesaṁ māro pāpimā lacchati otāraṁ lacchati ārammaṇaṁ.

Māra the Wicked will find a vulnerability and get an opportunity.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ:

So you should train like this:

‘kaliṅgarūpadhānā viharissāma appamattā ātāpino padhānasmin’ti.

‘We will live using wood blocks as pillows, and we will meditate diligently and keenly.’

Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.

That’s how you should train.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.