Cālāsutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 5.6

Linked Discourses 5.6

1. Bhikkhunīvagga

1. Nuns

Cālāsutta

With Cālā

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Atha kho cālā bhikkhunī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā …pe…

Then the nun Cālā robed up in the morning …

aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle divāvihāraṁ nisīdi.

and sat at the root of a tree for the day’s meditation.

Atha kho māro pāpimā yena cālā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā cālaṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca:

Then Māra the Wicked went up to Cālā and said to her,

“kiṁ nu tvaṁ, bhikkhuni, na rocesī”ti?

“Nun, what don’t you approve of?”

“Jātiṁ khvāhaṁ, āvuso, na rocemī”ti.

“I don’t approve of rebirth, sir.”

“Kiṁ nu jātiṁ na rocesi,

“Why don’t you approve of rebirth?

jāto kāmāni bhuñjati;

When you’re born, you get to enjoy sensual pleasures.

Ko nu taṁ idamādapayi,

Who put this idea in your head:

jātiṁ mā roca bhikkhunī”ti.

‘Nun, don’t approve of rebirth’?”

“Jātassa maraṇaṁ hoti,

“Death comes to those who are born,

jāto dukkhāni phussati;

when you’re born you undergo sufferings—

Bandhaṁ vadhaṁ pariklesaṁ,

killing, caging, misery—

tasmā jātiṁ na rocaye.

that’s why you shouldn’t approve of rebirth.

Buddho dhammamadesesi,

The Buddha taught me the Dhamma

jātiyā samatikkamaṁ;

for transcending rebirth,

Sabbadukkhappahānāya,

for giving up all suffering;

so maṁ sacce nivesayi.

he settled me in the truth.

Ye ca rūpūpagā sattā,

There are beings in the realm of luminous form,

ye ca arūpaṭṭhāyino;

and others stuck in the formless.

Nirodhaṁ appajānantā,

Not understanding cessation,

āgantāro punabbhavan”ti.

they return in future lives.”

Atha kho māro pāpimā “jānāti maṁ cālā bhikkhunī”ti dukkhī dummano tatthevantaradhāyīti.

Then Māra the Wicked, thinking, “The nun Cālā knows me!” miserable and sad, vanished right there.