Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
48. Indriya Saṁyutta
VI. Sūkarakhata-vagga

48. Kindred Sayings on the Faculties

VI. Untitled¹

Sutta 51

Sālā Suttaṁ

Sālā²

 

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THUS have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying among the Kosalans, at Sālā, a brahmin village.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Just as, monks, whatsoever brute creatures³ there be,
of them the lion,
king of beasts,
is reckoned chief,
namely in strength,
speed
and courage,⁴
even so, monks, whatsoever [203] principles there be
that are on the side of the wisdom,⁵
of them
the controlling faculty of insight
is reckoned chief,
namely for attaining the wisdom.

And of what sort, monks,
are the principles
that are on the side of the wisdom?

Monks, the controlling faculty of faith^ed1
is a principle
that is on the side of the wisdom,
for it conduces to attaining the wisdom.

The controlling faculty of energy
is a principle
that is on the side of the wisdom,
for it conduces to attaining the wisdom.

The controlling faculty of mindfulness
is a principle
that is on the side of the wisdom,
for it conduces to attaining the wisdom.

The controlling faculty of concentration
is a principle
that is on the side of the wisdom,
for it conduces to attaining the wisdom.

The controlling faculty of insight
is a principle
that is on the side of the wisdom,
for it conduces to attaining the wisdom.

"Just as, monks, whatsoever brute creatures there be,
of them the lion,
king of beasts,
is reckoned chief,
namely in strength,
speed
and courage,
even so, monks, whatsoever principles there be
that are on the side of the wisdom,
of them
the controlling faculty of insight
is reckoned chief,
namely for attaining the wisdom.

 

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¹ This chapter has no title.

² The title of this Sutta is wrong. Cf. supra, text 144. In the uddāna also the title is wrong and lacks a capital letter in text. Cf. M. 1, 285.

³ Cf. K.S. iii, 70. Tiracchāna-gatā pāṇā, 'animals that go horizontally,' as opposed to upright humans.

⁴ Sūriyena. So Comy. (=sūra-bhāvena) and Sinh. MSS. Text has surina (Burmese).

⁵ Bodha-pakkhikā, translated at Dialogue. iii, 93, 'wings of wisdom.' They are enumerated at VM. 678.

 

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^ed1 Woodward has 'wisdom' here which is incorrect.