Chapter Four

Catutthavagga

Chapter Four

Catutthavagga

EN
333 “Just as, mendicants, in the Black Plum Tree Land the delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds are few, while the hilly terrain, inaccessible riverlands, stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains are many; so too the sentient beings born on land are few, while those born in water are many.
PL
333 “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, appamattakaṁ imasmiṁ jambudīpe ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ; atha kho etadeva bahutaraṁ yadidaṁ ukkūlavikūlaṁ nadīviduggaṁ khāṇukaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ pabbatavisamaṁ; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye thalajā, atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye odakā.
EN
334 … so too the sentient beings reborn as humans are few, while those not reborn as humans are many. 335
PL
334 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye aññatra manussehi paccājāyanti. 335
EN
… so too the sentient beings reborn in civilized countries are few, while those reborn in the borderlands, among uneducated foreigners, are many. 336 … so too the sentient beings who are wise, bright, clever, and able to distinguish what is well said from what is poorly said are few,
PL
… Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye majjhimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye paccantimesu janapadesu paccājāyanti aviññātāresu milakkhesu. 336 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye paññavanto ajaḷā aneḷamūgā paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ;
EN
while the sentient beings who are witless, dull, idiotic, and unable to distinguish what is well said from what is poorly said are many. 337 … so too the sentient beings who have the noble eye of wisdom are few, while those who are ignorant and confused are many.
PL
atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye duppaññā jaḷā eḷamūgā na paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitassa atthamaññātuṁ. 337 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye ariyena paññācakkhunā samannāgatā; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye avijjāgatā sammūḷhā.
EN
338 … so too the sentient beings who get to see a Realized One are few, while those who don’t get to see a Realized One are many. 339
PL
338 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye labhanti tathāgataṁ dassanāya; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye na labhanti tathāgataṁ dassanāya. 339
EN
… so too the sentient beings who get to hear the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One are few, while those sentient beings who don’t get to hear the teaching and training proclaimed by a Realized One are many. 340 … so too the sentient beings who remember the teachings they hear are few,
PL
… Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye labhanti tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ savanāya; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye na labhanti tathāgatappaveditaṁ dhammavinayaṁ savanāya. 340 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye sutvā dhammaṁ dhārenti;
EN
while those who don’t remember the teachings are many. 341 … so too the sentient beings who examine the meaning of the teachings they have memorized are few, while those who don’t examine the meaning of the teachings are many.
PL
atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye sutvā dhammaṁ na dhārenti. 341 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ upaparikkhanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye dhātānaṁ dhammānaṁ atthaṁ na upaparikkhanti.
EN
342 … so too the sentient beings who understand the meaning and the teaching and practice in line with the teaching are few, while those who understand the meaning and the teaching but don’t practice in line with the teaching are many. 343
PL
342 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ paṭipajjanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye atthamaññāya dhammamaññāya dhammānudhammaṁ na paṭipajjanti. 343
EN
… so too the sentient beings inspired by inspiring places are few, while those who are uninspired are many. 344 … so too the sentient beings who, being inspired, strive effectively are few,
PL
… Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye saṁvejaniyesu ṭhānesu saṁvijjanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye saṁvejaniyesu ṭhānesu na saṁvijjanti. 344 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye saṁviggā yoniso padahanti;
EN
while those who, even though inspired, don’t strive effectively are many. 345 … so too the sentient beings who, relying on letting go, gain immersion, gain unification of mind are few, while those who don’t gain immersion, don’t gain unification of mind relying on letting go are many.
PL
atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye saṁviggā yoniso na padahanti. 345 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye vavassaggārammaṇaṁ karitvā labhanti samādhiṁ labhanti cittassekaggataṁ; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye vavassaggārammaṇaṁ karitvā na labhanti samādhiṁ na labhanti cittassekaggataṁ.
EN
346 … so too the sentient beings who get the best food and flavors are few, while those who don’t get the best food and flavors, but get by with scraps in an alms bowl are many. 347
PL
346 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye annaggarasaggānaṁ lābhino; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye annaggarasaggānaṁ na lābhino, uñchena kapālābhatena yāpenti. 347
EN
… so too the sentient beings who get the essence of the meaning, the essence of the teaching, and the essence of freedom are few, while the sentient beings who don’t get the essence of the meaning, the essence of the teaching, and the essence of freedom are many. So you should train like this: ‘We will get the essence of the meaning, the essence of the teaching, the essence of freedom.’
PL
… Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye attharasassa dhammarasassa vimuttirasassa lābhino; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye attharasassa dhammarasassa vimuttirasassa na lābhino. Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘attharasassa dhammarasassa vimuttirasassa lābhino bhavissāmā’ti.
EN
That’s how you should train.” 348–350 “Just as, mendicants, in the Black Plum Tree Land the delightful parks, woods, meadows, and lotus ponds are few, while the hilly terrain, inaccessible riverlands, stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains are many;
PL
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti. 348–350 “Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, appamattakaṁ imasmiṁ jambudīpe ārāmarāmaṇeyyakaṁ vanarāmaṇeyyakaṁ bhūmirāmaṇeyyakaṁ pokkharaṇirāmaṇeyyakaṁ; atha kho etadeva bahutaraṁ yadidaṁ ukkūlavikūlaṁ nadīviduggaṁ khāṇukaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ pabbatavisamaṁ.
EN
so too, those who die as humans and are reborn as humans are few, while those who die as humans and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 351–353 “… the sentient beings who die as humans and are reborn as gods are few,
PL
Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti, atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye manussā cutā niraye paccājāyanti …pe… tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti …pe… pettivisaye paccājāyanti”. 351–353 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye manussā cutā devesu paccājāyanti;
EN
while those who die as humans and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 354–356 “… the sentient beings who die as gods and are reborn as gods are few, while those who die as gods and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.”
PL
atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye manussā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti. 354–356 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye devā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye devā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti.
EN
357–359 “… the sentient beings who die as gods and are reborn as humans are few, while those who die as gods and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 360–362
PL
357–359 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye devā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye devā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti. 360–362
EN
“… the sentient beings who die in hell and are reborn as humans are few, while those who die in hell and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 363–365 “… the sentient beings who die in hell and are reborn as gods are few,
PL
… Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye nirayā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye nirayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti. 363–365 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye nirayā cutā devesu paccājāyanti;
EN
while those who die in hell and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 366–368 “… the sentient beings who die as animals and are reborn as humans are few, while those who die as animals and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.”
PL
atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye nirayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti. 366–368 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti.
EN
369–371 “… the sentient beings who die as animals and are reborn as gods are few, while those who die as animals and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 372–374
PL
369–371 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā devesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye tiracchānayoniyā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti. 372–374
EN
“… the sentient beings who die as ghosts and are reborn as humans are few, while those who die as ghosts and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.” 375–377 “… the sentient beings who die as ghosts and are reborn as gods are few,
PL
… Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pettivisayā cutā manussesu paccājāyanti; atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye pettivisayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyanti. 375–377 … Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, appakā te sattā ye pettivisayā cutā devesu paccājāyanti;
EN
while those who die as ghosts and are reborn in hell, or the animal realm, or the ghost realm are many.”
PL
atha kho eteva sattā bahutarā ye pettivisayā cutā niraye paccājāyanti … tiracchānayoniyā paccājāyanti … pettivisaye paccājāyan”ti. vaggo catuttho. (Jambudīpapeyyālo niṭṭhito.)

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

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