Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
III. Puggala Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
III. On Persons
Sutta 29
Andha Suttaṃ
Blind[1]
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthi at Jeta Grove,
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, there are these three persons
found existing in the world.
What three?
The blind,
the one-eyed,
the two-eyed.
§
And of what sort, monks,
is the blind?
Herein a certain person
has not the eye to acquire wealth unattained,
or to make the wealth he has increase.
He has not the eye
fit to see states that are good and bad,
to see states that are blameworthy and praiseworthy,
states mean and exalted,
states resembling light and darkness.
This one, monks, is called 'the blind.'
■
And of what sort, monks, is the one-eyed?
In this case a certain person has the eye to acquire wealth unattained,
and to make the wealth he has increase,
but has not the eye
to see states that are good and bad,
to see states that are blameworthy and praiseworthy,
states mean and exalted,
states resembling light and darkness.
This one is called 'the one-eyed.'
■
[112] And of what sort, monks, is the two-eyed?
In this case a certain person has both
the eye to acquire wealth unattained
and the eye to make the wealth he has increase,
and the eye to see states that are good and bad,
to see states that are blameworthy and praiseworthy,
states mean and exalted,
states resembling light and darkness.
This one is called 'the two-eyed.'
These are the three persons
found existing in the world."
The blind, of sight bereft, hath no such wealth,
Nor works good deeds, unlucky in both ways.[2]
And then again 'tis said the one-eyed man,
Conjoined[3] with right and wrong, searches for wealth
With tricks and fraud and lies: worldly, purse-proud,[4]
And clever to gain wealth is he, and hence
Departing is afflicted sore in Hell.
But best of all's the being with two eyes:
His wealth, with right exertion rightly won,[5]
He gives away: with best intent, unwavering,[6]
In a blessed home he's born, nor sorrows there.
So from the blind and one-eyed keep aloof,
And join thyself to worthy two-eyed man.
[1] Cf. Pugg., p. 30.
[2] Ubhayattha kaliggaho (throws the unlucky die). Cf. M. i, 403: both in this life and the next acc. to Comy.
[3] Saṇsaṭṭho. Comy. reads saṭṭho = kerāṭka, tricky.
[4] Kāmabhogī ca mānavo.
[5] Dhammaṃ, adverb.
[6] Avyagga-manaso = nibbicikicchā (nis-vicikicchā). Comy. At S. i, 96 Comy. explains it as ekagga-citto.
