Powers in Detail

Vitthatabalasutta

Powers in Detail

Vitthatabalasutta

EN
“Mendicants, there are these seven powers. What seven? The powers of faith, energy, conscience, prudence, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom. And what is the power of faith?
PL
“Sattimāni, bhikkhave, balāni. Katamāni satta? Saddhābalaṁ, vīriyabalaṁ, hirībalaṁ, ottappabalaṁ, satibalaṁ, samādhibalaṁ, paññābalaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ?
EN
It’s when 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.’ This is called the power of faith. And what is the power of energy?
PL
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhābalaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ?
EN
It’s when a noble disciple lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. This is called the power of energy. And what is the power of conscience? It’s when a noble disciple has a conscience. They’re conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities.
PL
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyabalaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako hirīmā hoti, hirīyati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā.
EN
This is called the power of conscience. And what is the power of prudence? It’s when 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 the acquiring of any bad, unskillful qualities. This is called the power of prudence.
PL
Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirībalaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ottappī hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappabalaṁ.
EN
And what is the power of mindfulness? It’s when a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. This is called the power of mindfulness. And what is the power of immersion?
PL
Katamañca, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, satibalaṁ. Katamañca, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ?
EN
It’s when 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. … With the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This is called the power of immersion.
PL
Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, samādhibalaṁ.
EN
And what is the power of wisdom? It’s when 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. This is called the power of wisdom. These are the seven powers.
PL
Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññābalaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, satta balānīti.
EN
The powers are faith and energy, conscience and prudence, mindfulness and immersion, and wisdom as the seventh power.
PL
Saddhābalaṁ vīriyañca, hirī ottappiyaṁ balaṁ; Satibalaṁ samādhi ca, paññā ve sattamaṁ balaṁ;
EN
Empowered by these, an astute mendicant lives happily. They should examine the teaching rationally, discerning the meaning with wisdom.
PL
Etehi balavā bhikkhu, sukhaṁ jīvati paṇḍito. Yoniso vicine dhammaṁ, paññāyatthaṁ vipassati;
EN
The liberation of their heart is like a lamp going out.”
PL
Pajjotasseva nibbānaṁ, vimokkho hoti cetaso”ti. Catutthaṁ.

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

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