Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṃyutta
5. Papāta Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
56. Kindred Sayings about the Truths
5. The Precipice
Sutta 42
Papāta Suttaṃ
The Precipice
Translated by F. L. Woodward
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[1][bodh][than] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Rājagaha,
on the hill Vulture's Peak.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks, let us go to Splendid Spur[1]
for the noonday rest."
"So be it, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
So the Exalted One with a number of monks came to [379] Splendid Spur.
Now a certain monk saw the great precipice
and on seeing it
said to the Exalted One:
"Lord, this is indeed a great precipice!
This is indeed a fearsome precipice, lord!
Pray, lord, is there anywhere
a precipice greater
and more frightful?"
"Yes, monk.
There is indeed a precipice
greater
and more frightful.
§
And what is that?
Monks, whatsoever recluses or brahmins
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is Ill;'
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the arising of Ill;'
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the ceasing of Ill;'
understand not,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill;'
such delight in activities
delight in activities that lead to rebirth,
delight in activities that lead to old age,
delight in activities that lead to death,
delight in activities that lead to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Thus taking delight in activities
delight in activities that lead to rebirth,
delight in activities that lead to old age,
delight in activities that lead to death,
delight in activities that lead to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair,
they compose a compound[2] of activities that conduce to rebirth,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to old age,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to death,
they compose a compound of activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Thus composing a compound of activities
that conduce to rebirth,
composing a compound of activities that lead to old age,
composing a compound of activities that lead to death,
composing a compound of activities that lead to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair,
they fall down the precipice of rebirth,
they fall down the precipice of old age,
they fall down the precipice of death,
they fall down the precipice of sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Such are not released from rebirth,
old age,
death,
sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
They are not released from Ill,
I declare.
§
But, monks, those recluses or brahmins who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is Ill;'
who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the arising of Ill;'
who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the ceasing of Ill;'
who do understand,
as it really is,
the meaning of
'This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of ill;'
such take not delight in activities that conduce to rebirth,
take not delight in activities that conduce to old age,
take not delight in activities that conduce to death,
take not delight in activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Not taking delight in activities that conduce to rebirth,
not taking delight in activities that conduce to old age,
not taking delight in activities that conduce to death,
not taking delight in activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to rebirth
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to old age,
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to death,
they compose not a compound of activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
Not composing a compound of activities that conduce to rebirth,
not composing a compound of activities that conduce to old age,
not composing a compound of activities that conduce to death,
not composing a compound of activities that conduce to sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair,
they fall not down the precipice of rebirth,
they fall not down the precipice of old age,
they fall not down the precipice of death,
they fall not down the precipice of sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
They are utterly released from rebirth,
old age,
death,
sorrow,
grief,
woe,
lamentation
and despair.
They are released from Ill,
I declare.
§
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
[1] Paṭibhāna-kūto (? prati-bhā 'splendour'). Not mentioned elsewhere. Comy. 'a great mountain-like perforated rook.'
[2] Sankhāre abhisaṇkharonti. Cf. S. iii, 87; K.S. iii, 73.
