Aṇguttara Nikāya
IX. Navaka Nipāta
I. Sambodha Vagga
Sutta 7
Sutavā-Paribbājaka Suttaṃ
To Sutavantt
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
Provenance, terms and conditons
[1][pts][upal][olds] I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha,
on Vulture Peak Mountain.
Then Sutavant the wanderer went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him.
After an exchange of friendly greetings and courtesies, he sat to one side.
As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One:
"One day recently when I was staying right here in Rājagaha, at Giribbaja, I heard it in the Blessed One's presence, learned it in the Blessed One's presence:
'Sutavant, an arahant monk whose effluents are ended, who has reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is released through right gnosis, cannot possibly transgress these five principles.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to intentionally deprive a living being of life.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to take, in the manner of stealing, what is not given.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to engage in sexual intercourse.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to tell a conscious lie.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to consume stored-up sensual things as he did before, when he was a householder.'
Now, did I hear this rightly from the Blessed One?
Did I learn it rightly, attend to it rightly, understand it rightly?"
"Yes, Sutavant, you heard it rightly, learned it rightly, attended to it rightly, and understood it rightly.
Both before and now I say to you that an arahant monk whose effluents are ended, who has reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is released through right gnosis, cannot possibly transgress these nine principles:
"It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to intentionally deprive a living being of life.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to take, in the manner of stealing, what is not given.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to engage in sexual intercourse.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to tell a conscious lie.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to consume stored-up sensual things as he did before, when he was a householder.
"It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to follow a bias based on desire.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to follow a bias based on aversion.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to follow a bias based on fear.
It is impossible for a monk whose effluents are ended to follow a bias based on delusion.
"Both before and now I say to you that an arahant monk whose effluents are ended, who has reached fulfillment, done the task, laid down the burden, attained the true goal, totally destroyed the fetter of becoming, and who is released through right gnosis, cannot possibly transgress these nine principles."
Of Related Interest:
MN 1;
SN 22:122;
AN 4:19;
AN 6:13;
AN 6:43;
AN 8:6;
AN 9:62;
AN 10:13;
AN 10:81
