Nagaropamasutta — Reader

The Simile of the Citadel

Nagaropamasutta

“Mendicants, when a king’s frontier citadel is well provided with seven essentials and gets four kinds of sustenance when needed, without trouble or difficulty, it is then called a king’s frontier citadel that cannot be overrun by external foes and enemies. With what seven essentials is a citadel well provided?

“Yato kho, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti, catunnañca āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ akaraṇīyaṁ bāhirehi paccatthikehi paccāmittehi. Katamehi sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti?

Firstly, a citadel has a pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable. This is the first essential with which a king’s frontier citadel is well provided, to defend those within and repel those outside. Furthermore, a citadel has a moat that is deep and wide.

Idha, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare esikā hoti gambhīranemā sunikhātā acalā asampavedhī. Iminā paṭhamena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare parikkhā hoti gambhīrā ceva vitthatā ca.

This is the second essential … Furthermore, a citadel has a patrol path that is high and wide. This is the third essential …

Iminā dutiyena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare anupariyāyapatho hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca. Iminā tatiyena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a citadel has stores of many weapons, both projectile and hand-held. This is the fourth essential … Furthermore, many kinds of armed forces reside in a citadel, such as

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ āvudhaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti salākañceva jevanikañca. Iminā catutthena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahubalakāyo paṭivasati, seyyathidaṁ—

elephant marshals, cavalry, charioteers, archers, bannermen, adjutants, food servers, warrior-chiefs, princes, chargers, great warriors, heroes, leather-clad soldiers, and sons of bondservants. This is the fifth essential … Furthermore, a citadel has a gatekeeper who is astute, competent, and intelligent. He keeps strangers out and lets known people in.

hatthārohā assārohā rathikā dhanuggahā celakā calakā piṇḍadāyakā uggā rājaputtā pakkhandino mahānāgā sūrā cammayodhino dāsakaputtā. Iminā pañcamena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare dovāriko hoti paṇḍito byatto medhāvī aññātānaṁ nivāretā ñātānaṁ pavesetā.

This is the sixth essential … Furthermore, a citadel has a wall that’s high and wide, covered with plaster. This is the seventh essential with which a king’s frontier citadel is well provided, to defend those within and repel those outside.

Iminā chaṭṭhena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare pākāro hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca vāsanalepanasampanno ca. Iminā sattamena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

With these seven essentials a citadel is well provided. What are the four kinds of sustenance it gets when needed, without trouble or difficulty? Firstly, a king’s frontier citadel has much hay, wood, and water stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside. Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much rice and barley stored up for those within.

Imehi sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī? Idha, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tiṇakaṭṭhodakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ sāliyavakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much food such as sesame, green gram, and black gram stored up for those within. Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much medicine— ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt—stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tilamuggamāsāparaṇṇaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ bhesajjaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti, seyyathidaṁ— sappi navanītaṁ telaṁ madhu phāṇitaṁ loṇaṁ abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

These are the four kinds of sustenance it gets when needed, without trouble or difficulty. When a king’s frontier citadel is well provided with seven essentials and gets four kinds of sustenance when needed, without trouble or difficulty, it is then called a king’s frontier citadel that cannot be overrun by external foes and enemies.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Yato kho, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ imehi sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti, imesañca catunnaṁ āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ akaraṇīyaṁ bāhirehi paccatthikehi paccāmittehi.

In the same way, when a noble disciple has seven good qualities, and they get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty, they are then called a noble disciple who cannot be overrun by Māra, who cannot be overrun by the Wicked One. What are the seven good qualities that they possess?

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yato ariyasāvako sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti, catunnañca jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akaraṇīyo mārassa akaraṇīyo pāpimato. Katamehi sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti?

Just as a king’s frontier citadel has a pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable, to defend those within and repel those outside, in the same way a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ A noble disciple with faith as their pillar gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful,

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare esikā hoti gambhīranemā sunikhātā acalā asampavedhī abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ ‘itipi so …pe… buddho bhagavā’ti. Saddhesiko, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti;

they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the first good quality they have. Just as a citadel has a moat that is deep and wide,

sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā paṭhamena saddhammena samannāgato hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare parikkhā hoti gambhīrā ceva vitthatā ca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

in the same way a noble disciple has a conscience. They’re conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about having any bad, unskillful qualities. A noble disciple with a conscience as their moat gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako hirīmā hoti, hirīyati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Hirīparikkho kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati.

This is the second good quality they have. Just as a citadel has a patrol path that is high and wide, in the same way a noble disciple is prudent. They’re prudent when it comes to bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and prudent when it comes to acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities.

Iminā dutiyena saddhammena samannāgato hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare anupariyāyapatho hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ, kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ottappī hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā.

A noble disciple with prudence as their patrol path gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the third good quality they have.

Ottappapariyāyapatho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā tatiyena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has stores of many weapons, both projectile and hand-held, in the same way a noble disciple is very learned. They remember and keep what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. A noble disciple with learning as their weapon gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful,

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ āvudhaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti salākañceva jevanikañca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. Sutāvudho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti;

they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the fourth good quality they have. Just as many kinds of armed forces reside in a citadel …

sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā catutthena saddhammena samannāgato hoti. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahubalakāyo paṭivasati, seyyathidaṁ—

in the same way a noble disciple is energetic. They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities.

hatthārohā assārohā rathikā dhanuggahā celakā calakā piṇḍadāyakā uggā rājaputtā pakkhandino mahānāgā sūrā cammayodhino dāsakaputtā abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu.

A noble disciple with energy as their armed forces gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the fifth good quality they have.

Vīriyabalakāyo, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā pañcamena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has a gatekeeper who is astute, competent, and intelligent, who keeps strangers out and lets known people in, in the same way a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare dovāriko hoti paṇḍito byatto medhāvī aññātānaṁ nivāretā ñātānaṁ pavesetā abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā.

A noble disciple with mindfulness as their gatekeeper gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the sixth good quality they have.

Satidovāriko, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā chaṭṭhena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has a wall that’s high and wide, covered with plaster, to defend those within and repel those outside, in the same way a noble disciple is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare pākāro hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca vāsanalepanasampanno ca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā.

A noble disciple with wisdom as their wall gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the seventh good quality they have.

Paññāvāsanalepanasampanno, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā sattamena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

These are the seven good qualities that they possess. And what are the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—that they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty? Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much hay, wood, and water stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside,

Imehi sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī? Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tiṇakaṭṭhodakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

in the same way a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much rice and barley stored up,

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ sāliyavakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

in the same way, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a noble disciple enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much food such as sesame, green gram, and black gram stored up,

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tilamuggamāsāparaṇṇaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

in the same way with the fading away of rapture, a noble disciple enters and remains in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much medicine— ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt—stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside,

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ bhesajjaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti, seyyathidaṁ— sappi navanītaṁ telaṁ madhu phāṇitaṁ loṇaṁ abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

in the same way, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a noble disciple enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon extinguishment. These are the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—which they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa. Imesaṁ catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

When a noble disciple has seven good qualities, and they get the four absorptions—blissful meditations in this life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty, they are then called a noble disciple who cannot be overrun by Māra, who cannot be overrun by the Wicked One.”