Aṇguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
XIX: Yodhajīva Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
The Book of the Fours
Chapter XIX: Fighting Man
Sutta 182
Pāṭibhoga Suttaṃ
Surety[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,[2] no recluse or brahmin,
no Deva,
no Māra,
no Brahmā
can be surety against four things.
What four?
That what is of a nature to decay
may not decay;[3], -
no recluse, no brahmin,
no Deva,
no Māra,
no Brahmā
can be surety against that.
That what is of a nature to be diseased
may not be diseased, -
no recluse, no brahmin,
no Deva,
no Māra,
no Brahmā
can be surety against that.
That what is of a nature to die
may not die, -
no recluse, no brahmin,
no Deva,
no Māra,
no Brahmā
can be surety against that.
That the fruit of those evil deeds[4]
that defile and lead to again-becoming,
deeds unhappy
whose fruit in future time is pain,
rebirth,
decay
and death,
may not come to pass, -
no recluse, no brahmin,
no Deva,
no Māra,
no Brahmā
can be surety against that.
Against these four things, monks, there can be no surety.'[5]
[1] Quoted at Kvu. 457 = Points of Contr. 260 (where, as in our text, jīrī ti is misprinted jīvī ti). It is expanded at A. iii, 54, where such wishes are termed alabbhanīyāni.
[2] Text misprints bhikkhu.
[3] Both text and Kvu. misprint ma jīrī ti as ma jīvī ti.
[4] Cf. S. iv, 186.
[5] At UdA. 156, 178, where the B. guarantees a bevy of celestial nymphs to Nanda; it is equal to paṭibhūto (Skt. pratibhū, surety) and paṭissava (promise).
