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

48. Kindred Sayings on the Faculties
VI. Untitled

Sutta 54

Pada Suttaṁ

In the Foot

 

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THUS have I heard:

On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying at Kosambī
in Ghosita Park.

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, all the foot-characteristics
of such creatures as roam¹ about
are joined together
in the foot of the elephant,
and as the elephant's foot
in size
is reckoned chief of them,
even so, monks,
of all the elements² whatsoever
that conduce to the wisdom
the controlling faculty of insight
is reckoned chief,
that is,
for attaining the wisdom.

And of what sort, monks,
are those elements that conduce to the wisdom?

The faculty of faith, monks,
conduces to the wisdom;
the faculty of energy, monks,
conduces to the wisdom;
the faculty of mindfulness, monks,
conduces to the wisdom;
the faculty of concentration, monks,
conduces to the wisdom;
the faculty of insight, monks,
conduces to the wisdom.

"Just as, monks, all the foot-characteristics
of such creatures as roam about
are joined together
in the foot of the elephant,
and as the elephant's foot
in size
is reckoned chief of them,
even so, monks,
of all the elements whatsoever
that conduce to the wisdom
the controlling faculty of insight
is reckoned chief,
that is,
for attaining the wisdom.

 

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¹ Cf. K.S. i, 111; M. 1, 184; supra, text 43. Text's jangalānaṅ (forest creatures) should, read, as above, jangamānaṅ (ambulantium).

² Padāni = ye keci dhamma-koṭṭhāsā bujjhan'atthāya saṅvattanti. Comy.