Nidānasutta — Reader

Sources

Nidānasutta

“Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds. What three? Greed, hate, and delusion are sources that give rise to deeds. Any deed that emerges from greed—born, sourced, and originated from greed—ripens where that new incarnation is born.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Lobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, doso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, moho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, lobhapakataṁ kammaṁ lobhajaṁ lobhanidānaṁ lobhasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati.

And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period. Any deed that emerges from hate—born, sourced, and originated from hate—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, dosapakataṁ kammaṁ dosajaṁ dosanidānaṁ dosasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye.

Any deed that emerges from delusion—born, sourced, and originated from delusion—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period. Suppose some seeds were intact, unspoiled, not weather-damaged, fertile, and well-kept. They’re sown in a well-prepared, productive field,

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, mohapakataṁ kammaṁ mohajaṁ mohanidānaṁ mohasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, bījāni akhaṇḍāni apūtīni avātātapahatāni sārādāni sukhasayitāni sukhette suparikammakatāya bhūmiyā nikkhittāni.

and the heavens provide plenty of rain. Then those seeds would grow, increase, and mature. In the same way, any deed that emerges from greed—born, sourced, and originated from greed—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period.

Devo ca sammādhāraṁ anuppaveccheyya. Evassu tāni, bhikkhave, bījāni vuddhiṁ viruḷhiṁ vepullaṁ āpajjeyyuṁ. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ lobhapakataṁ kammaṁ lobhajaṁ lobhanidānaṁ lobhasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye.

Any deed that emerges from hate … Any deed that emerges from delusion—born, sourced, and originated from delusion—ripens where that new incarnation is born. And wherever that deed ripens, its result is experienced—either in the present life, or in the next life, or in some subsequent period. These are three sources that give rise to deeds.

Yaṁ dosapakataṁ kammaṁ …pe… yaṁ mohapakataṁ kammaṁ mohajaṁ mohanidānaṁ mohasamudayaṁ, yatthassa attabhāvo nibbattati tattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati. Yattha taṁ kammaṁ vipaccati tattha tassa kammassa vipākaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti, diṭṭhe vā dhamme upapajja vā apare vā pariyāye. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya.

Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds. What three? Contentment, love, and understanding are sources that give rise to deeds. Any deed that emerges from contentment—born, sourced, and originated from contentment—is given up when greed is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Alobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, adoso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, amoho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, alobhapakataṁ kammaṁ alobhajaṁ alobhanidānaṁ alobhasamudayaṁ, lobhe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

Any deed that emerges from love—born, sourced, and originated from love—is abandoned when hate is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. Any deed that emerges from understanding—born, sourced, and originated from understanding—is abandoned when delusion is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Yaṁ, bhikkhave, adosapakataṁ kammaṁ adosajaṁ adosanidānaṁ adosasamudayaṁ, dose vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ. Yaṁ, bhikkhave, amohapakataṁ kammaṁ amohajaṁ amohanidānaṁ amohasamudayaṁ, mohe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

Suppose some seeds were intact, unspoiled, not damaged by wind and sun, fertile, and well-kept. But someone would burn them with fire, reduce them to ashes, and whisk away the ashes in a strong wind, or glide them down a swift stream.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, bījāni akhaṇḍāni apūtīni avātātapahatāni sārādāni sukhasayitāni. Tāni puriso agginā ḍaheyya. Agginā ḍahitvā masiṁ kareyya. Masiṁ karitvā mahāvāte vā ophuṇeyya nadiyā vā sīghasotāya pavāheyya.

Then those seeds would be cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. In the same way, any deed that emerges from contentment—born, sourced, and originated from contentment—is abandoned when greed is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future.

Evassu tāni, bhikkhave, bījāni ucchinnamūlāni tālāvatthukatāni anabhāvaṅkatāni āyatiṁ anuppādadhammāni. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ alobhapakataṁ kammaṁ alobhajaṁ alobhanidānaṁ alobhasamudayaṁ, lobhe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti ucchinnamūlaṁ tālāvatthukataṁ anabhāvaṅkataṁ āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ.

Any deed that emerges from love … Any deed that emerges from understanding—born, sourced, and originated from understanding—is abandoned when delusion is done away with. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. These are three sources that give rise to deeds.

Yaṁ adosapakataṁ kammaṁ …pe… yaṁ amohapakataṁ kammaṁ amohajaṁ amohanidānaṁ amohasamudayaṁ, mohe vigate evaṁ taṁ kammaṁ pahīnaṁ hoti …pe… āyatiṁ anuppādadhammaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāyāti.

When an ignorant person acts out of greed, hate, or delusion, any deeds they have done, a little or a lot,

Lobhajaṁ dosajañceva, mohajañcāpaviddasu; Yaṁ tena pakataṁ kammaṁ, appaṁ vā yadi vā bahuṁ;

are to be experienced right here, not in any other place. So a wise person, a mendicant arousing knowledge

Idheva taṁ vedaniyaṁ, vatthu aññaṁ na vijjati. Tasmā lobhañca dosañca, mohajañcāpi viddasu;

of the outcome of greed, hate, and delusion, would abandon all bad destinies.”

Vijjaṁ uppādayaṁ bhikkhu, sabbā duggatiyo jahe”ti. Catutthaṁ.