Aṅguttara Nikāya
IV. Catukka Nipāta
I. Bhaṇḍagāma Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
IV. The Book of the Fours
I: At Bhaṇḍagāma
Sutta 8
Vesārajja Suttaɱ
Confidence[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
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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, these are the four confidences of a Tathāgata,
possessed of which a Tathāgata knows his place
as leader of the herd,
utters his lion's roar in the companies
and sets rolling the Brahma-wheel.[2]
What are the four?
As to the charge made:
"You who claim to be perfectly enlightened
are not perfectly enlightened in these things," -
I see no grounds, monks,
for showing that any recluse or brahmin,
that any Deva or Mara or Brahma,
that anyone in the whole world
can with justice make this charge.
Since I see no grounds for such a charge,
I abide in the attainment of peace,
of fearlessness,
of confidence.
As to the charge made:
"You who claim to have destroyed the āsavas
have not destroyed these āsavas," -
I see no grounds, monks,
for showing that any recluse or brahmin,
that any Deva or Mara or Brahma,
that anyone in the whole world
can with justice make this charge.
Since I see no grounds for such a charge,
I abide in the attainment of peace,
of fearlessness,
of confidence.
As to the charge made:
"The things declared by you to be hindrances[3]
have no power to hinder him that follows them," -
I see no grounds, monks,
for showing that any recluse or brahmin,
that any Deva or Mara or Brahma,
that anyone in the whole world
can with justice make this charge.
Since I see no grounds for such a charge,
I abide in the attainment of peace,
of fearlessness,
of confidence.
As to the charge made:
"The Dhamma preached by you fails in its aim."
It does not lead him who acts in accordance [10] therewith
to the perfect destruction of Ill, -
I see no grounds, monks,
for showing that any recluse or brahmin,
that any Deva or Mara or Brahma,
that anyone in the whole world
can with justice make this charge.
Since I see no grounds for such a charge,
I abide in the attainment of peace,
of fearlessness,
of confidence.
These, monks, are the four confidences of a Tathāgata,
possessed of which a Tathāgata
knows his place as leader of the herd,
utters his lion's roar in the companies
and sets rolling the Brahma-wheel.
These widespread ways of talk, whate'er they be,
On which recluse and brahmin take their stand, -
When they come near Tathāgata, 'tis said,
Those utterances are not confident.[4]
But he who conquering all[5] set rolling on
The Dhamma-wheel in pity for all creatures, -
To such, the best of Devas and mankind.
All beings bow. He hath passed o'er becoming.'[6]
[1] Vesārajjaɱ. Cf. M. i, 71 (Sīhanāda-sutta), where the ten powers of a T. are detailed.
[2] Brahma-cakka = Dhamma-c. Lit. God-wheel.
[3] Antarāyikā dhammā, M. i, l30 ff.
[4] The reading here is doubtful. Text:
Tathāgataɱ patvana te bhavanti||
Visāradaɱ vādapathā ti vuttaɱ.
But Sinh. ed.:
Tathāgataɱ patvā na te bhavanti||
Visāradaɱ (? visāradā) vādapathā, ti vattitaɱ.
Acc. to this latter I trans. (They are not vesārajjāni like those of the B.) Comy. appears to follow the Sinh. reading, thus: na te bhavanti, 'they are ruined (= bhijjanti, vinassanti),' but does not discuss the second of these lines.
[5] Text kevaliɱ; v.l. kevalo; Comy. kevalī; Sinh. text, which I follow here, kevalaɱ = sabbaɱ (cf. sabbābhibhū of Vin. i, 8, etc.).
[6] Bhavassa pāraguɱ.
