A River

Nadīsutta

A River

Nadīsutta

EN
At Sāvatthī. “Suppose, mendicants, there was a mountain river that flowed swiftly, going far, carrying all before it. If wild sugarcane, kusa grass, reeds, vetiver, or trees grew on either bank, they’d overhang the river. And if a person who was being swept along by the current grabbed the wild sugarcane, kusa grass, reeds, vetiver, or trees, it’d fall apart, and they’d come to ruin because of that.
PL
Sāvatthinidānaṁ. “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, nadī pabbateyyā ohārinī dūraṅgamā sīghasotā. Tassā ubhosu tīresu kāsā cepi jātā assu, te naṁ ajjholambeyyuṁ; kusā cepi jātā assu, te naṁ ajjholambeyyuṁ; pabbajā cepi jātā assu, te naṁ ajjholambeyyuṁ; bīraṇā cepi jātā assu, te naṁ ajjholambeyyuṁ; rukkhā cepi jātā assu, te naṁ ajjholambeyyuṁ. Tassā puriso sotena vuyhamāno kāse cepi gaṇheyya, te palujjeyyuṁ. So tatonidānaṁ anayabyasanaṁ āpajjeyya. Kuse cepi gaṇheyya, pabbaje cepi gaṇheyya, bīraṇe cepi gaṇheyya, rukkhe cepi gaṇheyya, te palujjeyyuṁ. So tatonidānaṁ anayabyasanaṁ āpajjeyya.
EN
In the same way, an unlearned ordinary person has not seen the noble ones, and is neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the noble ones. They’ve not seen true persons, and are neither skilled nor trained in the teaching of the true persons. They regard form as self, self as having form, form in self, or self in form. But their form falls apart,
PL
Evameva kho, bhikkhave, assutavā puthujjano ariyānaṁ adassāvī ariyadhammassa akovido ariyadhamme avinīto, sappurisānaṁ adassāvī sappurisadhammassa akovido sappurisadhamme avinīto rūpaṁ attato samanupassati, rūpavantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā rūpaṁ, rūpasmiṁ vā attānaṁ. Tassa taṁ rūpaṁ palujjati.
EN
and they come to ruin because of that. They regard feeling … perception … choices …
PL
So tatonidānaṁ anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati. Vedanaṁ … saññaṁ … saṅkhāre …
EN
consciousness as self, self as having consciousness, consciousness in self, or self in consciousness. But their consciousness falls apart, and they come to ruin because of that. What do you think, mendicants?
PL
viññāṇaṁ attato samanupassati, viññāṇavantaṁ vā attānaṁ; attani vā viññāṇaṁ, viññāṇasmiṁ vā attānaṁ. Tassa taṁ viññāṇaṁ palujjati. So tatonidānaṁ anayabyasanaṁ āpajjati. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,
EN
Is form permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.” … “Is feeling …
PL
rūpaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? “Aniccaṁ, bhante”. …pe… “Vedanā …
EN
perception … choices … consciousness permanent or impermanent?” “Impermanent, sir.”
PL
saññā … saṅkhārā … viññāṇaṁ niccaṁ vā aniccaṁ vā”ti? “Aniccaṁ, bhante”.
EN
“So you should truly see … Seeing this … They understand: ‘… there is nothing further for this place.’”
PL
“Tasmātiha …pe… evaṁ passaṁ …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānātī”ti. Paṭhamaṁ.

Pāli root text and English translation by Bhikkhu Sujato from SuttaCentral (https://suttacentral.net), CC0.

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