Aṅguttara Nikāya
IV. Catukka Nipāta
I. Bhaṇḍagāma Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
IV. The Book of the Fours
I: At Bhaṇḍagāma
Sutta 9
Taṇhā Suttaɱ
Craving[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four grounds
for the arising of craving,
whereby craving,
if it does so,
arises in a monk.
What four?
Because of robes, monks,
arises craving in a monk,
if it does arise;
because of alms-food, monks,
arises craving in a monk,
if it does arise;
because of lodging, monks,
arises craving in a monk,
if it does arise;
[11] because of success or failure
in this or that[2]
arises craving in a monk,
if it does arise.
These are the four grounds.
Whoso hath craving as his mate[3]
To age-long wandering is bound.
He cannot cross saṅsāra's stream,
Existence thus or otherwise.
Knowing the danger of it all,
Knowing how craving beareth woe,
Freed from all craving let the monk,
Ungrasping, mindful, wander forth.'
[1] This sutta occurs at Itiv., p. 109, the gāthās at p. 9. Cf. Pts. of Contr. 69; D. iii, 228.
[2] Itibhavābhava; infra, § 254. Cf. D. i, 8 (-khathā, 'talk of this or that'). Acc. to Comy. it refers to loss or gain in food, but in the fuller Comy. at Sn. 6 bhava is contrasted with vibhava thus: 'becoming is success, not-becoming failure; becoming is etenality, not-becoming is annihilation; becoming is good, not-becoming is evil; vibhava and abhava are the same in meaning.' However, the corresponding word in the gathas is ittha-bhāvaññathābhāvaɱ, 'thus-state or otherwise-state.'
[3] Taṇhā-dutiyo. Cf. S. iv, 37.
