Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta
2. Sahassaka or Rājakārama Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
2. Thousandfold or Royal Park
Sutta 17
Dutiya Mitten-ā-maccā Suttaṃ
Intimate Friends (b)
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī,
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:
"Monks, those with whom you have sympathy,
those who think you should be listened to,
whether friends
or intimates
or kinsmen
or blood-relations, -
all such should be advised about,
grounded in,
established in
four limbs of stream-winning.
What four?
They should be advised about,
grounded in,
established in
unwavering loyalty to the Buddha
thus:
'He it is the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer
of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'
There may be change,[1] monks,
in the four great elements of earth,
water,
heat
and air,
but there can be no change
in the Ariyan disciple
blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Buddha;
by change I mean:[2] -
that such an one should be reborn in hell
or the womb of an animal
or in the realm of ghosts
is an utter impossibility.
■
They should be advised about,
grounded in,
established in
unwavering loyalty to the Norm
thus:
'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'
There may be change, monks,
in the four great elements of earth,
water,
heat
and air,
but there can be no change
in the Ariyan disciple
blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Norm;
by change I mean: -
that such an one should be reborn in hell
or the womb of an animal
or in the realm of ghosts
is an utter impossibility.
■
They should be advised about,
grounded in,
established in
unwavering loyalty to the Order
thus:
'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.
That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.
Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'
There may be change, monks,
in the four great elements of earth,
water,
heat
and air,
but there can be no change
in the Ariyan disciple
blessed with unwavering loyalty to the Order;
by change I mean: -
that such an one should be reborn in hell
or the womb of an animal
or in the realm of ghosts
is an utter impossibility.
■
They should be advised about, grounded in, established in the virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise:
virtues untainted (by craving or delusion),
which lead to concentration of the mind.
There may be change, monks,
in the four great elements of earth,
water,
heat
and air,
but there can be no change
in the Ariyan disciple
established in the virtues dear to the Ariyans;
by change I mean: -
that such an one should be reborn in hell
or the womb of an animal
or in the realm of ghosts
is an utter impossibility.
■
So monks, those with whom you have sympathy,
those who think you should be listened to,
whether friends
or intimates
or kinsmen
or blood-relations, -
all such should be advised about,
grounded in,
established in
these four limbs of stream-winning."
[1] Aññatthattaṇ, of the elements, 'otherness' of condition or nature, as a result of change of consistency. Cf. K.S. iv. 39; cf. Ang. i, 152.
[2] 'Here,' says Comy., 'there can be no change of destiny (gati) in such.'
