Parābhava Sutta | Sn I-6

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6. Parābhava Sutta

Discourse on the Causes of Ruin

Thus have I heard.

On one occasion the' Buddha was residing in the Jetavana monastery built by Anāthapiṇḍika the rich householder in Sāvatthī.

It was about mid-night that a certain celestial being, extremely beautiful, illuminating the whole monastic premises with his celestial appearance, approached the Buddha and, standing in worshipping posture at a suitable place, addressed :the Buddha in the following stanza:

91. Venerable Gotama, we have come to ask of the Buddha the following question:

What are the things that lead to the ruination of man? (1)

92. (And the Buddha replied):

It is quite obvious to know who is going to prosper.
It is equally obvious to know who is going to ruin.
He who wishes for the Dhamma is going to prosper.
He who despises the Dhamma is going to his ruin. (2)

93. We have learnt the first cause of man's ruin.
May we be enlightened on the second one? (3)

94. He loves wicked persons, and does not favour the wise.
He approves of evil counsel. Such a one is seeking his ruin. (4)

95. We have learnt the second cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the third? (5)

96. He who is fond of sleep, who is fond of society,
who is sluggish, lazy, and is of fiery temper, is heading for his ruin. (6)

97. We have learnt the -third cause- of man's ruin.
May we also have the forth? (7)

98. He is of supporting his elderly parents,
but he fails to support them in their declining years.
Such a one is on his way to ruin. (8)

99. We have learnt the forth cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the fifth? (9)

100. He has promised to provide for the noble disciple or the religious or any mendicant or beggar.

But when these persons actually turn up he merely employs an oily tongue and sends them away empty-handed.

Such a person is also one who brings his own ruin. (10)

101. We have learnt the fifth cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the sixth?

102. Gold and silver he has in plenty, and plenty of prolific provisions lie at his command. Yet he enjoys the choicest foods and drinks alone.

Such a. one is .also bringing his own ruin. (12)

103. we have learnt the sixth cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the seventh? (13)

104. Haughty and hard-hearted he is, either on account of his birth or his wealth and accomplishments or his lineage. He despises even his kith and kin.

Such a one also is inviting ruin. (14)

105. We have learnt the seventh cause of man’s ruin.
May we also have the eighth? (15)

106. He who is fond of women, wine and wagering and squanders whatever he gets.

Such a one also faces ruin. (16)

107. We have learnt the eighth cause of man’s ruin.
May we also have the ninth? (17)

108. Unsatisfied with his own wife, he goes to the prostitute or to another’s wife.

Such a one also is headed for ruin. (18)

109. We have learnt the ninth cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the tenth? (19)

110. Well past his prime of life, the old man takes as his wife a teen-age girl with breasts hardly the size of a fig.

Jealousy about his juvenile wife keeps him watching and wakeful at night.

Such a one is also creating his own ruin. (20)

111. We have learnt the tenth cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the eleventh? (21)

112. He who entrusts with authority over the management of his estate to a man or a woman who is a gourmet and squanderer is making for his own ruin. (22)

113. We have learnt the eleventh cause of man's ruin.
May we also have the twelfth? (23)

114. He is born in the royalty. He is in straightened circumstances and is avaricious. He aspires to the throne. Such a prince will come to ruin. (24)

115. The wise and prudent person, discerning the significance of the above aphorisms, lives by them and thereby is reborn in the peaceful realms of the devas. (25)

End of the sixth Parābhava Sutta.