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#### Aṅguttara Nikāya
4. Catukka Nipāta
V. Rohitassa Vagga

#### Sutta 50

#### Upakkilesa Sutta

# Obscurations

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Proofed against and modified in accordance with the revised edition at dhammatalks.org
For free distribution only.

[1][pts] "Monks, there are these four obscurations of the sun and moon, obscured by which the sun and moon don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

Which four?

"Clouds are an obscuration of the sun and moon, obscured by which the sun and moon don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"Fog is an obscuration of the sun and moon, obscured by which the sun and moon don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"Smoke and dust is an obscuration of the sun and moon, obscured by which the sun and moon don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"Rahu, the king of the asuras, [believed to be the cause of an eclipse] is an obscuration of the sun and moon, obscured by which the sun and moon don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"These are the four obscurations of the sun and moon, obscured by which the sun and moon don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

■

[2][pts] "In the same way, there are four obscurations of contemplatives and brahmans, obscured by which some contemplatives and brahmans don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

Which four?

"There are some contemplatives and brahmans who drink alcohol and fermented liquor, who don't refrain from drinking alcohol and fermented liquor.

This is the first obscuration of contemplatives and brahmans, obscured by which some contemplatives and brahmans don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"There are some contemplatives and brahmans who engage in sexual intercourse, who don't refrain from sexual intercourse.

This is the second obscuration of contemplatives and brahmans, obscured by which some contemplatives and brahmans don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"There are some contemplatives and brahmans who consent to gold and silver, who don't refrain from accepting gold and silver.

This is the third obscuration of contemplatives and brahmans, obscured by which some contemplatives and brahmans don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"There are some contemplatives and brahmans who maintain life through wrong livelihood, who don't refrain from wrong livelihood.

This is the fourth obscuration of contemplatives and brahmans, obscured by which some contemplatives and brahmans don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle.

"These are the four obscurations, obscured by which some contemplatives and brahmans don't glow, don't shine, don't dazzle."

Obscured by passion and aversion
— some brahmans and contemplatives —
people entrenched in ignorance,
delighting in endearing forms,
drink alcohol and fermented liquor,
engage in sexual intercourse,
unwise, consent to gold and silver,
live by means of wrong livelihood
— some brahmans and contemplatives.
These are said to be obscurations
by the Awakened One,
kinsman of the Sun.

Because of these obscurations
some brahmans and contemplatives
don't glow,
don't shine,
are impure,
dusty,
dead.[1]

Covered with darkness,
slaves to craving, led on,
they swell the terrible charnel ground,
they grab at further becoming.

[1] Reading matā with the Thai edition. The Burmese edition has magā, "stupid."

Of Related Interest:

SN 42:10

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