Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
V. Cūḷa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
V. The Minor Section
Sutta 49
Ātappa-Karaṇīya Suttaṃ
Ardent Energy
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1][bodh][than] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then he addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, Lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said this:
"Monks, on three occasions
ardent energy is to be exerted.
What three?
To prevent the arising of evil,
unprofitable states
not yet arisen:
to cause the arising of good,
profitable states
not yet arisen:
to endure the bodily feelings
that have arisen,
feelings which are painful,
sharp,
bitter,
acute,
distressing
and unwelcome,
which drain the life away.
These are the three occasions
ardent energy is to be exerted.
Now when a monk exerts himself
on these three occasions,
he is called
'strenuous,
shrewd
and mindful
for making an end of Ill.'"
