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. Greed doesn’t give rise to contentment.

“Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Lobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, doso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, moho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya. Na, bhikkhave, lobhā alobho samudeti;

Rather, greed just gives rise to greed. Hate doesn’t give rise to love. Rather, hate just gives rise to hate. Delusion doesn’t give rise to understanding.

atha kho, bhikkhave, lobhā lobhova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, dosā adoso samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, dosā dosova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, mohā amoho samudeti;

Rather, delusion just gives rise to delusion. It’s not because of deeds born of greed, hate, and delusion that gods, humans, or those in any other good places are found. Rather, it’s because of deeds born of greed, hate, and delusion that hell, the animal realm, the ghost realm, or any other bad places are found.

atha kho, bhikkhave, mohā mohova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, lobhajena kammena dosajena kammena mohajena kammena devā paññāyanti, manussā paññāyanti, yā vā panaññāpi kāci sugatiyo. Atha kho, bhikkhave, lobhajena kammena dosajena kammena mohajena kammena nirayo paññāyati tiracchānayoni paññāyati pettivisayo paññāyati, yā vā panaññāpi kāci duggatiyo.

These are three sources that give rise to deeds. Mendicants, there are these three sources that give rise to deeds. What three? Contentment, love, and understanding are sources that give rise to deeds.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Tīṇimāni, bhikkhave, nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāya. Katamāni tīṇi? Alobho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, adoso nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya, amoho nidānaṁ kammānaṁ samudayāya.

Contentment doesn’t give rise to greed. Rather, contentment just gives rise to contentment. Love doesn’t give rise to hate. Rather, love just gives rise to love.

Na, bhikkhave, alobhā lobho samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, alobhā alobhova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, adosā doso samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, adosā adosova samudeti.

Understanding doesn’t give rise to delusion. Rather, understanding just gives rise to understanding. It’s not because of deeds born of contentment, love, and understanding that hell, the animal realm, the ghost realm, or any other bad places are found. Rather, it’s because of deeds born of contentment, love, and understanding that gods, humans, or those in any other good places are found.

Na, bhikkhave, amohā moho samudeti; atha kho, bhikkhave, amohā amohova samudeti. Na, bhikkhave, alobhajena kammena adosajena kammena amohajena kammena nirayo paññāyati tiracchānayoni paññāyati pettivisayo paññāyati, yā vā panaññāpi kāci duggatiyo. Atha kho, bhikkhave, alobhajena kammena adosajena kammena amohajena kammena devā paññāyanti, manussā paññāyanti, yā vā panaññāpi kāci sugatiyo.

These are three sources that give rise to deeds.”

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, tīṇi nidānāni kammānaṁ samudayāyā”ti. Navamaṁ.