Attarakkhitasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.5

Linked Discourses 3.5

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. Shackles

Attarakkhitasutta

Self-Protected

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Seated to one side, King Pasenadi said to the Buddha,

“idha mayhaṁ, bhante, rahogatassa paṭisallīnassa evaṁ cetaso parivitakko udapādi:

“Just now, sir, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind.

‘kesaṁ nu kho rakkhito attā, kesaṁ arakkhito attā’ti?

‘Who are those who protect themselves? And who are those who don’t protect themselves?’

Tassa mayhaṁ, bhante, etadahosi:

Then it occurred to me:

‘ye kho keci kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti, vācāya duccaritaṁ caranti, manasā duccaritaṁ caranti;

‘Those who do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind

tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

don’t protect themselves.

Kiñcāpi te hatthikāyo vā rakkheyya, assakāyo vā rakkheyya, rathakāyo vā rakkheyya, pattikāyo vā rakkheyya;

Even if they’re protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,

atha kho tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

they still don’t protect themselves.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Bāhirā hesā rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā;

Because such protection is exterior, not interior.

tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

That’s why they don’t protect themselves.

Ye ca kho keci kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti;

Those who do good things by way of body, speech, and mind

tesaṁ rakkhito attā.

do protect themselves.

Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya;

Even if they’re not protected by a company of elephants, cavalry, chariots, or infantry,

atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā.

they still protect themselves.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Ajjhattikā hesā rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā;

Because such protection is interior, not exterior.

tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā’”ti.

That’s why they do protect themselves.’”

“Evametaṁ, mahārāja, evametaṁ, mahārāja.

“That’s so true, Great King! That’s so true!” said the Buddha. And he repeated the king’s statement, adding:

Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena duccaritaṁ caranti …pe…

tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Bāhirā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā ajjhattikā;

tasmā tesaṁ arakkhito attā.

Ye hi keci, mahārāja, kāyena sucaritaṁ caranti, vācāya sucaritaṁ caranti, manasā sucaritaṁ caranti;

tesaṁ rakkhito attā.

Kiñcāpi te neva hatthikāyo rakkheyya, na assakāyo rakkheyya, na rathakāyo rakkheyya, na pattikāyo rakkheyya;

atha kho tesaṁ rakkhito attā.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Ajjhattikā hesā, mahārāja, rakkhā, nesā rakkhā bāhirā;

tasmā tesaṁ rakkhito attā”ti.

Idamavoca …pe…

“Kāyena saṁvaro sādhu,

“Restraint of the body is good;

sādhu vācāya saṁvaro;

restraint of speech is good;

Manasā saṁvaro sādhu,

restraint of mind is good;

sādhu sabbattha saṁvaro;

everywhere, restraint is good.

Sabbattha saṁvuto lajjī,

A sincere person, restrained everywhere,

rakkhitoti pavuccatī”ti.

is said to be ‘protected’.”