Aṅguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
V. Rohitassa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
V. Rohitassa
Sutta 50
Upakkilesa Suttaɱ
Stains[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four stains
of moon and sun,
stained by which stains
moon and sun burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
What are the four?
[62] Cloud, monks, is a stain
of moon and sun,
stained by which stain
moon and sun burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
Fog[2], monks, is a stain
of moon and sun,
stained by which stain
moon and sun burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
Smoke-and-dust, monks, is a stain
of moon and sun,
stained by which stain
moon and sun burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
Rahu, monks, is a stain
of moon and sun,
stained by which stain
moon and sun burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
These are the four stains
of moon and sun,
stained by which stains
moon and sun burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
[2][than] Just so, monks, there are four stains
of recluses and brahmins,
stained by which stains
some recluses and brahmins burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
What four?
Monks, there are some recluses and brahmins
who drink fermented liquor,
who drink liquor distilled,
who abstain not from liquor
fermented and distilled.
This, monks, is the first fault
of recluses and brahmins,
stained by which stain
some recluses and brahmins burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.[3]
Monks, there are some recluses and brahmins
who are given to things sexual,
who abstain not from things sexual.
This, monks, is the second stain
of recluses and brahmins,
stained by which stain
some recluses and brahmins burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
Monks, there are some recluses and brahmins
who take[4] gold and silver,
who abstain not from accepting
gold and silver.
This, monks, is the third stain
of recluses and brahmins,
stained by which stain
some recluses and brahmins burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
Monks, there are some recluses and brahmins
who live by a wrong means of living,
who abstain not from a wrong means of living.
This, monks, is the fourth stain
of recluses and brahmins,
stained by which stain
some recluses and brahmins burn not,
shine not,
blaze not.
Some samanas and brahmanas are snared[5]
By lust and ill-will. Clothed in ignorance,
[63] Beings delight in pleasure-giving shapes;
Liquor fermented and distilled they drink;
They follow sexual lust; by folly blinded[6]
Some samaṇas and brahmanas take gifts
Of gold and silver and live wrongfully.
These are called "stains" by the Enlightened One,
The Kinsman of the Sun. Tainted by these
Some samaṇas and brahmanas burn not,
They shine not, tarnished, dust-soiled, utter fools,[7]
Shrouded in darkness; slaves of craving they,
Led by the cord of craving, and they swell
The dreadful charnel-field[8] and reap rebirth.'
[1] This sutta occurs at Vin. ii, 295.
[2] Mahikā. So Comy., Sinh. text and MSS. There seems no authority for mahiyā of text (perhaps a misprint).
[3] It is noticeable that monks are not mentioned. But probably 'recluses' includes them. At S. iv, 325 monks are called 'recluses who are Sakya-putta' in a charge of this sort made against them by laymen. For the effects of drink see Expositor, ii, 487; Asl. 380.
[4] Sādiyanti = gaṇhanti. Comy. Cf. K.S. iv, 230.
[5] Reading -parikkhitta (parikkhipati) for -paṭikkiṭṭhā of our text (-parikkiliṭṭha of Vin. ii) and -parikkiṭṭhā of Sinh. text. (The Sinhalese almost invariably pronounce t as th.) Comy. does not remark. The MS. is probably dictated, which accounts for many errors.
[6] Aviddasū = andhabālā. Comy.
[7] Reading maād = bālā {cf. JA. vi, 206, 209 [both in Jāt 543]) with Vin. ii, 295. Pabhā of text is impossible in the context. Comy. does not notice.
[8] Cf. S. ii, 278; Thag. 456 (which reads ācinanti for our ādiyanti); expl. at UdA. 352.
