Catubhāṇavārapāḷi | 6. Dasadhammasuttaṁ
6: Dasadhammasuttaṁ
The Discourse on the Ten Things
Introductory Verse
Bhikkhūnaṁ guṇasaṁyuttaṁ yaṁ desesi Mahāmuni,
This is what the Great Sage preached about the qualities of the monks,
yaṁ sutvā paṭipajjanto, sabbadukkhā pamuccati.
after hearing it, and while practising, he is freed from all suffering.
Sabbalokahitatthāya parittaṁ taṁ bhaṇāmahe.
For the whole world's benefit and welfare we will recite that safeguard.
The Safeguard
Evaṁ me sutaṁ:
Thus I have heard:
ekaṁ samayaṁ Bhagavā Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sāvatthī
Jetavane Anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
at Anāthapiṇḍika's grounds in Jeta's Wood.
Tatra kho Bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi:
There it was that the Gracious One addressed the monks, saying:
“Bhikkhavo!” ti, “Bhadante!” ti te bhikkhū Bhagavato paccassosuṁ,
“Monks!”, “Reverend Sir!” those monks replied to the Gracious One,
Bhagavā etad-avoca:
and the Gracious One said this:
“Dasa ime bhikkhave dhammā
“There are these ten things, monks,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbā.
that one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on.
Katame dasa?
What are the ten?
“Vevaṇṇiyamhi ajjhupagato” ti,
“I have become one who has no class”,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [01]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Parapaṭibaddhā me jīvikā” ti,
“I am bound to others for my livelihood”,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [02]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Añño me ākappo karaṇīyo” ti,
“I should comport myself differently”,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [03]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Kacci nu kho me attā sīlato na upavadatī?” ti
“Can I myself find no fault with my virtue?”
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [04]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Kacci nu kho maṁ anuvicca viññū sabrahmacārī,
“Will my wise companions in the spiritual life, after testing me,
sīlato na upavadantī?” ti
find no fault with my virtue?”,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [05]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo” ti,
“There is alteration in, and separation from, all that is dear and appealing to me”,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [06]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Kammassakomhi, kammadāyādo, kammayoni,
“It is actions that I own, it is actions that I am heir to, it is actions that I am born from,
kammabandhu, kammapaṭisaraṇo -
actions are my kinsfolk, actions are my refuge -
yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi, kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā,
whatever actions I perform, whether good or bad,
tassa dāyādo bhavissāmī” ti,
to that I will be the heir”,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [07]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Kathaṁ bhūtassa me rattiṁdivā vītipatantī?” ti
“In what way do the nights and days pass for me?”
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [08]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Kacci nu khohaṁ suññāgāre abhiramāmī?” ti
“Do I delight in empty places?”
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [09]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
“Atthi nu kho me uttarimanussadhammā -
“Has a state beyond (ordinary) human beings -
alam-ariyañāṇadassanaviseso - adhigato?
the distinction of what is truly noble knowledge and seeing - been attained by me?
Soham pacchime kāle sabrahmacārīhi puṭṭho,
Will I at the end, when questioned by my companions in the spiritual life,
na maṅku bhavissāmī?” ti
not be embarrassed?”
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbaṁ. [10]
one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on this.
Ime kho bhikkhave dasadhammā,
These are the ten things, monks,
pabbajitena abhiṇhaṁ paccavekkhitabbā” ti.
that one who has gone forth should frequently reflect on.”
Idam-avoca Bhagavā,
The Gracious One said this,
attamanā te bhikkhū Bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandun-ti.
and those monks were uplifted and greatly rejoiced in the Gracious One's words.