DN 25 · The Lion’s Roar at the Monastery of Lady Udumbarikā
DN 25 · Udumbarikasutta
1. The Story of the Wanderer Nigrodha
1. Nigrodhaparibbājakavatthu
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.
Now at that time the wanderer Nigrodha was residing in the lady Udumbarikā’s monastery for wanderers, together with a large assembly of three thousand wanderers. Then the householder Sandhāna left Rājagaha in the middle of the day to see the Buddha.
Tena kho pana samayena nigrodho paribbājako udumbarikāya paribbājakārāme paṭivasati mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ tiṁsamattehi paribbājakasatehi. Atha kho sandhāno gahapati divā divassa rājagahā nikkhami bhagavantaṁ dassanāya.
Then it occurred to him, “It’s the wrong time to see the Buddha, as he’s in retreat. And it’s the wrong time to see the esteemed mendicants, as they’re in retreat. Why don’t I visit the wanderer Nigrodha at the lady Udumbarikā’s monastery for wanderers?” So he went to the monastery for the wanderers.
Atha kho sandhānassa gahapatissa etadahosi: “akālo kho bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Paṭisallīno bhagavā. Manobhāvanīyānampi bhikkhūnaṁ asamayo dassanāya. Paṭisallīnā manobhāvanīyā bhikkhū. Yannūnāhaṁ yena udumbarikāya paribbājakārāmo, yena nigrodho paribbājako tenupasaṅkameyyan”ti. Atha kho sandhāno gahapati yena udumbarikāya paribbājakārāmo, tenupasaṅkami.
Now at that time, Nigrodha was sitting together with a large assembly of wanderers making an uproar, a colossal racket. They engaged in all kinds of low talk, such as talk about kings, bandits, and chief ministers; talk about armies, threats, and wars; talk about food, drink, clothes, and beds; talk about garlands and fragrances; talk about family, vehicles, villages, towns, cities, and countries; talk about women and heroes; talk at the street market and the place for water pots; talk about the departed; motley talk; tales of land and sea; and talk about being reborn in this or that place.
Tena kho pana samayena nigrodho paribbājako mahatiyā paribbājakaparisāya saddhiṁ nisinno hoti unnādiniyā uccāsaddamahāsaddāya anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ kathentiyā. Seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ corakathaṁ mahāmattakathaṁ senākathaṁ bhayakathaṁ yuddhakathaṁ annakathaṁ pānakathaṁ vatthakathaṁ sayanakathaṁ mālākathaṁ gandhakathaṁ ñātikathaṁ yānakathaṁ gāmakathaṁ nigamakathaṁ nagarakathaṁ janapadakathaṁ itthikathaṁ sūrakathaṁ visikhākathaṁ kumbhaṭṭhānakathaṁ pubbapetakathaṁ nānattakathaṁ lokakkhāyikaṁ samuddakkhāyikaṁ itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā.
Nigrodha saw Sandhāna coming off in the distance, and hushed his own assembly: “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. The householder Sandhāna, a disciple of the ascetic Gotama, is coming. He is included among the white-clothed lay disciples of the ascetic Gotama, who is residing near Rājagaha. Such venerables like the quiet, are educated to be quiet, and praise the quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach.” Then those wanderers fell silent.
Addasā kho nigrodho paribbājako sandhānaṁ gahapatiṁ dūratova āgacchantaṁ. Disvā sakaṁ parisaṁ saṇṭhāpesi: “appasaddā bhonto hontu, mā bhonto saddamakattha. Ayaṁ samaṇassa gotamassa sāvako āgacchati sandhāno gahapati. Yāvatā kho pana samaṇassa gotamassa sāvakā gihī odātavasanā rājagahe paṭivasanti, ayaṁ tesaṁ aññataro sandhāno gahapati. Appasaddakāmā kho panete āyasmanto appasaddavinītā, appasaddassa vaṇṇavādino. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyyā”ti. Evaṁ vutte, te paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.
Then Sandhāna went up to the wanderer Nigrodha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Nigrodha, “The way the wanderers make an uproar as they sit together and talk about all kinds of low topics is one thing. It’s quite different to the way the Buddha frequents remote lodgings in the wilderness and the forest that are quiet and still, far from the madding crowd, remote from human settlements, and fit for retreat.”
Atha kho sandhāno gahapati yena nigrodho paribbājako tenupasaṅkami, upasaṅkamitvā nigrodhena paribbājakena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho sandhāno gahapati nigrodhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca: “aññathā kho ime bhonto aññatitthiyā paribbājakā saṅgamma samāgamma unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā anekavihitaṁ tiracchānakathaṁ anuyuttā viharanti. Seyyathidaṁ—rājakathaṁ …pe… itibhavābhavakathaṁ iti vā. Aññathā kho pana so bhagavā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevati appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppānī”ti.
When Sandhāna said this, Nigrodha said to him, “Surely, householder, you should know better! With whom does the ascetic Gotama converse? With whom does he engage in discussion? With whom does he achieve lucidity of wisdom? Staying in empty huts has destroyed the ascetic Gotama’s wisdom. Not frequenting assemblies, he is unable to hold a discussion. He just lurks on the periphery. He’s just like a one-eyed cow, circling around and lurking on the periphery. Go on, householder! Were the ascetic Gotama to come to this assembly, I’d sink him with just one question! I’d tie him up like a hollow pot!”
Evaṁ vutte, nigrodho paribbājako sandhānaṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca: “yagghe, gahapati, jāneyyāsi, kena samaṇo gotamo saddhiṁ sallapati, kena sākacchaṁ samāpajjati, kena paññāveyyattiyaṁ samāpajjati? Suññāgārahatā samaṇassa gotamassa paññā aparisāvacaro samaṇo gotamo nālaṁ sallāpāya. So antamantāneva sevati. Seyyathāpi nāma gokāṇā pariyantacārinī antamantāneva sevati. Evameva suññāgārahatā samaṇassa gotamassa paññā; aparisāvacaro samaṇo gotamo; nālaṁ sallāpāya. So antamantāneva sevati. Iṅgha, gahapati, samaṇo gotamo imaṁ parisaṁ āgaccheyya, ekapañheneva naṁ saṁsādeyyāma, tucchakumbhīva naṁ maññe orodheyyāmā”ti.
With clairaudience that is purified and superhuman, the Buddha heard this discussion between the householder Sandhāna and the wanderer Nigrodha. Then the Buddha descended from Vulture’s Peak Mountain and went to the peacocks’ feeding ground on the bank of the Sumāgadhā, where he walked mindfully in the open air.
Assosi kho bhagavā dibbāya sotadhātuyā visuddhāya atikkantamānusikāya sandhānassa gahapatissa nigrodhena paribbājakena saddhiṁ imaṁ kathāsallāpaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā gijjhakūṭā pabbatā orohitvā yena sumāgadhāya tīre moranivāpo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sumāgadhāya tīre moranivāpe abbhokāse caṅkami.
Nigrodha saw him, and hushed his own assembly: “Be quiet, good fellows, don’t make a sound. Here, the ascetic Gotama is walking mindfully on the bank of the Sumāgadhā. The venerable likes quiet and praises quiet. Hopefully if he sees that our assembly is quiet he’ll see fit to approach. If he comes, I’ll ask him this question: ‘Sir, what teaching do you use to guide your disciples, through which they claim solace in the fundamental goal of the spiritual life?’” Then those wanderers fell silent.
Addasā kho nigrodho paribbājako bhagavantaṁ sumāgadhāya tīre moranivāpe abbhokāse caṅkamantaṁ. Disvāna sakaṁ parisaṁ saṇṭhāpesi: “appasaddā bhonto hontu, mā bhonto saddamakattha, ayaṁ samaṇo gotamo sumāgadhāya tīre moranivāpe abbhokāse caṅkamati. Appasaddakāmo kho pana so āyasmā, appasaddassa vaṇṇavādī. Appeva nāma appasaddaṁ parisaṁ viditvā upasaṅkamitabbaṁ maññeyya. Sace samaṇo gotamo imaṁ parisaṁ āgaccheyya, imaṁ taṁ pañhaṁ puccheyyāma: ‘ko nāma so, bhante, bhagavato dhammo, yena bhagavā sāvake vineti, yena bhagavatā sāvakā vinītā assāsappattā paṭijānanti ajjhāsayaṁ ādibrahmacariyan’”ti? Evaṁ vutte, te paribbājakā tuṇhī ahesuṁ.
2. Mortification in Disgust of Sin
2. Tapojigucchāvāda
Then the Buddha went up to the wanderer Nigrodha, who said to him, “Let the Blessed One come, sir! Welcome to the Blessed One, sir! It’s been a long time since you took the opportunity to come here. Please, sir, sit down, here, a seat is ready.” The Buddha sat down on the seat spread out, while Nigrodha took a low seat and sat to one side. The Buddha said to him, “Nigrodha, what were you sitting talking about just now? What conversation was left unfinished?”
Atha kho bhagavā yena nigrodho paribbājako tenupasaṅkami. Atha kho nigrodho paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “etu kho, bhante, bhagavā, svāgataṁ, bhante, bhagavato. Cirassaṁ kho, bhante, bhagavā imaṁ pariyāyamakāsi yadidaṁ idhāgamanāya. Nisīdatu, bhante, bhagavā, idamāsanaṁ paññattan”ti. Nisīdi bhagavā paññatte āsane. Nigrodhopi kho paribbājako aññataraṁ nīcāsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho nigrodhaṁ paribbājakaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: “kāya nuttha, nigrodha, etarahi kathāya sannisinnā, kā ca pana vo antarākathā vippakatā”ti?
Nigrodha said, “Well, sir, I saw you walking mindfully and said: ‘If the ascetic Gotama comes, I’ll ask him this question: “Sir, what teaching do you use to guide your disciples, through which they claim solace in the fundamental goal of the spiritual life?”’ This is the conversation that was unfinished when the Buddha arrived.”
Evaṁ vutte, nigrodho paribbājako bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idha mayaṁ, bhante, addasāma bhagavantaṁ sumāgadhāya tīre moranivāpe abbhokāse caṅkamantaṁ, disvāna evaṁ avocumhā: ‘sace samaṇo gotamo imaṁ parisaṁ āgaccheyya, imaṁ taṁ pañhaṁ puccheyyāma: “ko nāma so, bhante, bhagavato dhammo, yena bhagavā sāvake vineti, yena bhagavatā sāvakā vinītā assāsappattā paṭijānanti ajjhāsayaṁ ādibrahmacariyan”’ti? Ayaṁ kho no, bhante, antarākathā vippakatā; atha bhagavā anuppatto”ti.
“It’s hard for you to understand this, Nigrodha, since you have a different view, creed, and belief, and another discipline and denomination. Please ask me a question about the higher disgust of sin in your own denomination: ‘How are the conditions for the fervent mortification in disgust of sin completed, and how are they incomplete?’”
“Dujjānaṁ kho etaṁ, nigrodha, tayā aññadiṭṭhikena aññakhantikena aññarucikena aññatrāyogena aññatrācariyakena, yenāhaṁ sāvake vinemi, yena mayā sāvakā vinītā assāsappattā paṭijānanti ajjhāsayaṁ ādibrahmacariyaṁ. Iṅgha tvaṁ maṁ, nigrodha, sake ācariyake adhijegucche pañhaṁ puccha: ‘kathaṁ santā nu kho, bhante, tapojigucchā paripuṇṇā hoti, kathaṁ aparipuṇṇā’”ti?
When he said this, those wanderers made an uproar, “Oh lord, how incredible, how amazing! The ascetic Gotama has such power and might! For he sets aside his own doctrine and invites discussion on the doctrine of others!”
Evaṁ vutte, te paribbājakā unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā ahesuṁ: “acchariyaṁ vata bho, abbhutaṁ vata bho, samaṇassa gotamassa mahiddhikatā mahānubhāvatā, yatra hi nāma sakavādaṁ ṭhapessati, paravādena pavāressatī”ti.
Then Nigrodha, having quieted those wanderers, said to the Buddha, “Sir, we teach fervent mortification in disgust of sin, regarding it as essential and sticking to it. How are the conditions for the fervent mortification in disgust of sin completed, and how are they incomplete?”
Atha kho nigrodho paribbājako te paribbājake appasadde katvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “mayaṁ kho, bhante, tapojigucchāvādā tapojigucchāsārā tapojigucchāallīnā viharāma. Kathaṁ santā nu kho, bhante, tapojigucchā paripuṇṇā hoti, kathaṁ aparipuṇṇā”ti?
“Nigrodha, it’s when a mortifier goes naked, ignoring conventions. They lick their hands, and don’t come or wait when called. They don’t consent to food brought to them, or food prepared on their behalf, or an invitation for a meal. They don’t receive anything from a pot or bowl; or from someone who keeps sheep, or who has a weapon or a shovel in their home; or where a couple is eating; or where there is a woman who is pregnant, breast-feeding, or who lives with a man; or where there’s a hound waiting or flies buzzing. They accept no fish or meat or beer or wine, and drink no fermented gruel. They go to just one house for alms, taking just one mouthful, or two houses and two mouthfuls, up to seven houses and seven mouthfuls. They feed on one saucer a day, two saucers a day, up to seven saucers a day. They eat once a day, once every second day, up to once a week, and so on, even up to once a fortnight. They live committed to the practice of eating food at set intervals. They eat herbs, millet, wild rice, poor rice, water lettuce, rice bran, scum from boiling rice, sesame flour, grass, or cow dung. They survive on forest roots and fruits, or eating fallen fruit. They wear robes of sunn hemp, mixed hemp, corpse-wrapping cloth, rags, lodh tree bark, antelope hide (whole or in strips), kusa grass, bark, wood-chips, human hair, horse-tail hair, or owls’ wings. They tear out their hair and beard, committed to this practice. They constantly stand, turning down seats. They squat, committed to the endeavor of squatting. They lie on a mat of thorns, making a mat of thorns their bed. They make their bed on a plank, or the bare ground. They lie only on one side. They wear dust and dirt. They stay in the open air. They sleep wherever they lay their mat. They eat unnatural things, committed to the practice of eating unnatural foods. They don’t drink, committed to the practice of not drinking liquids. They’re devoted to ritual bathing three times a day, including at dusk.
“Idha, nigrodha, tapassī acelako hoti muttācāro, hatthāpalekhano, naehibhaddantiko, natiṭṭhabhaddantiko, nābhihaṭaṁ, na uddissakataṁ, na nimantanaṁ sādiyati, so na kumbhimukhā paṭiggaṇhāti, na kaḷopimukhā paṭiggaṇhāti, na eḷakamantaraṁ, na daṇḍamantaraṁ, na musalamantaraṁ, na dvinnaṁ bhuñjamānānaṁ, na gabbhiniyā, na pāyamānāya, na purisantaragatāya, na saṅkittīsu, na yattha sā upaṭṭhito hoti, na yattha makkhikā saṇḍasaṇḍacārinī, na macchaṁ, na maṁsaṁ, na suraṁ, na merayaṁ, na thusodakaṁ pivati, so ekāgāriko vā hoti ekālopiko, dvāgāriko vā hoti dvālopiko, sattāgāriko vā hoti sattālopiko, ekissāpi dattiyā yāpeti, dvīhipi dattīhi yāpeti, sattahipi dattīhi yāpeti; ekāhikampi āhāraṁ āhāreti, dvīhikampi āhāraṁ āhāreti, sattāhikampi āhāraṁ āhāreti, iti evarūpaṁ addhamāsikampi pariyāyabhattabhojanānuyogamanuyutto viharati. So sākabhakkho vā hoti, sāmākabhakkho vā hoti, nīvārabhakkho vā hoti, daddulabhakkho vā hoti, haṭabhakkho vā hoti, kaṇabhakkho vā hoti, ācāmabhakkho vā hoti, piññākabhakkho vā hoti, tiṇabhakkho vā hoti, gomayabhakkho vā hoti; vanamūlaphalāhāro yāpeti pavattaphalabhojī. So sāṇānipi dhāreti, masāṇānipi dhāreti, chavadussānipi dhāreti, paṁsukūlānipi dhāreti, tirīṭānipi dhāreti, ajinampi dhāreti, ajinakkhipampi dhāreti, kusacīrampi dhāreti, vākacīrampi dhāreti, phalakacīrampi dhāreti, kesakambalampi dhāreti, vāḷakambalampi dhāreti, ulūkapakkhampi dhāreti, kesamassulocakopi hoti kesamassulocanānuyogamanuyutto, ubbhaṭṭhakopi hoti āsanapaṭikkhitto, ukkuṭikopi hoti ukkuṭikappadhānamanuyutto, kaṇṭakāpassayikopi hoti kaṇṭakāpassaye seyyaṁ kappeti, phalakaseyyampi kappeti, thaṇḍilaseyyampi kappeti, ekapassayikopi hoti rajojalladharo, abbhokāsikopi hoti yathāsanthatiko, vekaṭikopi hoti vikaṭabhojanānuyogamanuyutto, apānakopi hoti apānakattamanuyutto, sāyatatiyakampi udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharati.
What do you think, Nigrodha? If this is so, is the fervent mortification in disgust of sin complete, or incomplete?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha, yadi evaṁ sante tapojigucchā paripuṇṇā vā hoti aparipuṇṇā vā”ti?
“Clearly, sir, if that is so the fervent mortification in disgust of sin is complete, not incomplete.”
“Addhā kho, bhante, evaṁ sante tapojigucchā paripuṇṇā hoti, no aparipuṇṇā”ti.
“But even such a completed mortification has many defects, I say.”
“Evaṁ paripuṇṇāyapi kho ahaṁ, nigrodha, tapojigucchāya anekavihite upakkilese vadāmī”ti.
2.1. Defects
2.1. Upakkilesa
“But how does the Buddha say that even such a completed mortification has many defects?”
“Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā evaṁ paripuṇṇāya tapojigucchāya anekavihite upakkilese vadatī”ti?
“Firstly, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They’re happy with that, as they’ve got all they wished for. This is a defect in that mortifier.
“Idha, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā attānukkaṁseti paraṁ vambheti. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā attānukkaṁseti paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They become indulgent and infatuated and fall into negligence on account of that. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā majjati mucchati pamādamāpajjati. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā majjati mucchati pamādamāpajjati. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They generate possessions, honor, and popularity through that mortification. They’re happy with that, as they’ve got all they wished for. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena attamano hoti paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They generate possessions, honor, and popularity through that mortification. They glorify themselves and put others down on account of that. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti paraṁ vambheti. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena attānukkaṁseti paraṁ vambheti. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They generate possessions, honor, and popularity through that mortification. They become indulgent and infatuated and fall into negligence on account of that. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena majjati mucchati pamādamāpajjati. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena majjati mucchati pamādamāpajjati. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier becomes fussy about food, saying, ‘This is acceptable to me, this is not acceptable to me.’ What is not acceptable they give up in expectation. But what is acceptable they eat tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī bhojanesu vodāsaṁ āpajjati: ‘idaṁ me khamati, idaṁ me nakkhamatī’ti. So yañca khvassa nakkhamati, taṁ sāpekkho pajahati. Yaṁ panassa khamati, taṁ gadhito mucchito ajjhāpanno anādīnavadassāvī anissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification out of longing for possessions, honor, and popularity, thinking, ‘Kings, royal ministers, aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and sectarians will honor me!’ This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati lābhasakkārasilokanikantihetu: ‘sakkarissanti maṁ rājāno rājamahāmattā khattiyā brāhmaṇā gahapatikā titthiyā’ti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier rebukes a certain ascetic or brahmin, ‘What is it with this one living in abundance, devouring everything— plants propagated from roots, trunks, cuttings, or joints; and those from regular seeds as the fifth. According to this ascetic’s doctrine, the crown of the tooth is forked lightning!’ This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī aññataraṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā apasādetā hoti: ‘kiṁ panāyaṁ sambahulājīvo sabbaṁ sambhakkheti. Seyyathidaṁ—mūlabījaṁ khandhabījaṁ phaḷubījaṁ aggabījaṁ bījabījameva pañcamaṁ, asanivicakkaṁ dantakūṭaṁ, samaṇappavādenā’ti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier sees a certain ascetic or brahmin being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among good families. They think, ‘This one, who lives in abundance, is honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among good families. But I, a fervent mortifier who lives rough, am not honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among good families.’ Thus they give rise to jealousy and stinginess regarding families. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī passati aññataraṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā kulesu sakkariyamānaṁ garukariyamānaṁ māniyamānaṁ pūjiyamānaṁ. Disvā tassa evaṁ hoti: ‘imañhi nāma sambahulājīvaṁ kulesu sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti. Maṁ pana tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ kulesu na sakkaronti na garuṁ karonti na mānenti na pūjentī’ti, iti so issāmacchariyaṁ kulesu uppādetā hoti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier sits meditation only when people can see them. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī āpāthakanisādī hoti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier sneaks about among families, thinking, ‘This is part of my mortification; this is part of my mortification.’ This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī attānaṁ adassayamāno kulesu carati: ‘idampi me tapasmiṁ idampi me tapasmin’ti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier sometimes behaves in an underhand manner. When asked whether something is acceptable to them, they say it is, even though it isn’t. Or they say it isn’t, even though it is. Thus they tell a deliberate lie. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī kiñcideva paṭicchannaṁ sevati. So ‘khamati te idan’ti puṭṭho samāno akkhamamānaṁ āha: ‘khamatī’ti. Khamamānaṁ āha: ‘nakkhamatī’ti. Iti so sampajānamusā bhāsitā hoti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier disagrees with the way that the Realized One or their disciple teaches Dhamma, even when they make a valid point. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tathāgatassa vā tathāgatasāvakassa vā dhammaṁ desentassa santaṁyeva pariyāyaṁ anuññeyyaṁ nānujānāti …pe… ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier is irritable and acrimonious … offensive and contemptuous … jealous and stingy … devious and deceitful … obstinate and arrogant … they have corrupt wishes, falling under the sway of corrupt wishes … they have wrong view, being attached to an extremist view … they’re attached to their own views, holding them tight, and refusing to let go. This too is a defect in that mortifier.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī kodhano hoti upanāhī. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī kodhano hoti upanāhī. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti. Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī makkhī hoti paḷāsī …pe… issukī hoti maccharī … saṭho hoti māyāvī … thaddho hoti atimānī … pāpiccho hoti pāpikānaṁ icchānaṁ vasaṁ gato … micchādiṭṭhiko hoti antaggāhikāya diṭṭhiyā samannāgato … sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī hoti ādhānaggāhī duppaṭinissaggī. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī sandiṭṭhiparāmāsī hoti ādhānaggāhī duppaṭinissaggī. Ayampi kho, nigrodha, tapassino upakkileso hoti.
What do you think, Nigrodha? Are such mortifications defective or not?”
Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nigrodha, yadime tapojigucchā upakkilesā vā anupakkilesā vā”ti?
“Clearly, sir, they’re defective. It’s possible that a mortifier might have all of these defects, let alone one or other of them.”
“Addhā kho ime, bhante, tapojigucchā upakkilesā, no anupakkilesā. Ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ, bhante, vijjati yaṁ idhekacco tapassī sabbeheva imehi upakkilesehi samannāgato assa; ko pana vādo aññataraññatarenā”ti.
2.2. On Reaching the Shoots
2.2. Parisuddhapapaṭikappattakathā
“Firstly, Nigrodha, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. But they’re not happy with that, as they still haven’t got all they wished for. So they’re pure on that point.
“Idha, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. Yampi, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo. Evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They don’t glorify themselves or put others down on account of that. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā na attānukkaṁseti na paraṁ vambheti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
They don’t become indulgent …
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā na majjati na mucchati na pamādamāpajjati …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier undertakes a practice of mortification. They generate possessions, honor, and popularity through that mortification. They’re not happy with that, as they still haven’t got all they wished for …
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attamano hoti na paripuṇṇasaṅkappo …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
They don’t glorify themselves and put others down on account of possessions, honor, and popularity …
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena na attānukkaṁseti na paraṁ vambheti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
They don’t become indulgent because of it … So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī tapaṁ samādiyati, so tena tapasā lābhasakkārasilokaṁ abhinibbatteti, so tena lābhasakkārasilokena na majjati na mucchati na pamādamāpajjati …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier doesn’t become fussy about food, saying, ‘This is acceptable to me, this is not acceptable to me.’ What is not acceptable they give up without concern. But what is acceptable they eat without being tied, infatuated, attached, seeing the drawbacks, and understanding the escape. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī bhojanesu na vodāsaṁ āpajjati: ‘idaṁ me khamati, idaṁ me nakkhamatī’ti. So yañca khvassa nakkhamati, taṁ anapekkho pajahati. Yaṁ panassa khamati, taṁ agadhito amucchito anajjhāpanno ādīnavadassāvī nissaraṇapañño paribhuñjati …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier doesn’t undertake a practice of mortification out of longing for possessions, honor, and popularity … ‘Kings, royal ministers, aristocrats, brahmins, householders, and sectarians will honor me!’ So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī na tapaṁ samādiyati lābhasakkārasilokanikantihetu: ‘sakkarissanti maṁ rājāno rājamahāmattā khattiyā brāhmaṇā gahapatikā titthiyā’ti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier doesn’t rebuke a certain ascetic or brahmin, ‘What is it with this one living in abundance, devouring everything— plants propagated from roots, trunks, cuttings, or joints; and those from regular seeds as the fifth. According to this ascetic’s doctrine, the crown of the tooth is like forked lightning!’ So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī aññataraṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā nāpasādetā hoti: ‘kiṁ panāyaṁ sambahulājīvo sabbaṁ sambhakkheti. Seyyathidaṁ—mūlabījaṁ khandhabījaṁ phaḷubījaṁ aggabījaṁ bījabījameva pañcamaṁ, asanivicakkaṁ dantakūṭaṁ, samaṇappavādenā’ti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier sees a certain ascetic or brahmin being honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among good families. It never occurs to them, ‘This one, who lives in abundance, is honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among good families. But I, a fervent mortifier who lives rough, am not honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated among good families.’ Thus they don’t give rise to jealousy and stinginess regarding families. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī passati aññataraṁ samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā kulesu sakkariyamānaṁ garu kariyamānaṁ māniyamānaṁ pūjiyamānaṁ. Disvā tassa na evaṁ hoti: ‘imañhi nāma sambahulājīvaṁ kulesu sakkaronti garuṁ karonti mānenti pūjenti. Maṁ pana tapassiṁ lūkhājīviṁ kulesu na sakkaronti na garuṁ karonti na mānenti na pūjentī’ti, iti so issāmacchariyaṁ kulesu nuppādetā hoti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier doesn’t sit meditation only when people can see them. So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī na āpāthakanisādī hoti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.
Furthermore, a mortifier doesn’t sneak about among families, thinking, ‘This is part of my mortification; this is part of my mortification.’ So they’re pure on that point.
Puna caparaṁ, nigrodha, tapassī na attānaṁ adassayamāno kulesu carati: ‘idampi me tapasmiṁ, idampi me tapasmin’ti …pe… evaṁ so tasmiṁ ṭhāne parisuddho hoti.