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Saɱyutta Nikāya
II. Nidāna Vagga
15. Anamat'agga-Saɱyuttaɱ
I. Paṭhama Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
II. The Book Called the Nidāna-Vagga
Containing Kindred sayings on Cause
and Other Subjects
15. Kindred Sayings on the Incalculable Beginning
1. [Untitled]

Sutta 4

Khīram Suttaɱ

Milk

Translated by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Assisted by F. L. Woodward

Originally Published by
The Pali Text Society
Public Domain

 


[121]

[1] Thus have I heard:

The Exalted One was once staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

And there the Exalted One addressed the brethren, saying:

"Brethren!"

"Master!" responded those brethren.

The Exalted One said:

"Incalculable is the beginning, brethren,
of this faring on.

The earliest point is not revealed
of the running on, the faring on,
of beings cloaked in ignorance,
tied to craving.

As to that what think ye brethren?

Which is greater:

- the mother's milk[1]
that ye have drunk
as ye have fared on,
run on this long while,
or the water in the four seas?"

"As we allow, lord,
that we have been taught by the Exalted One,
it is this, lord, that is greater:
the mother's milk drunk by us
as we have fared on,
run on this long while,
and not the water in the four seas."

"Well said!

Well said, brethren!

Well do ye allow that
so has the doctrine been taught by me.

Truly the mother's milk that ye have drunk
as ye have fared on,
run on this long while is greater,
and not the water in the four seas.

Why is this?

Incalculable is the beginning, brethren,
of this faring on.

The earliest point is not revealed
of the faring on, running on,
of beings cloaked in ignorance,
tied to craving.

Thus many a day, brethren,
have ye been suffering ill,
have ye been suffering pain,
have ye been suffering disaster,
have the charnel-fields been growing.

Thus far enough is there, brethren,
for you to be repelled
by all the things of this world,
enough to lose all passion for them,
enough to be delivered therefrom."

 


[1] Lit.: mother's breast.


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