Saṁyutta Nikāya,
V: Mahā-Vagga
56. Sacca Saṁyutta
IX. Āmakadhañña-peyyālaṁ
Part V: The Great Chapter
56: Kindred Sayings about the Truths
IX. Uncooked-Grain Repetition1
Suttas 81-90
Sutta 81
Nacca Suttaṁ
Nautch
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from going to see exhibitions2 of nautch-dancing and singing:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 82
Sayaṇa Suttaṁ
Bed
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from from high and broad beds:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 83
Rajata Suttaṁ
Silver
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings that abstain from accepting gold3 and silver:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 84
Dhañña Suttaṁ
Uncooked Grain
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks, few are those beings that abstain from accepting gifts of uncooked grain:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 85
Maṅsa Suttaṁ
Uncooked Flesh
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting gifts of uncooked flesh:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 86
Kumāriya Suttaṁ
Girls
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting women or girls:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 87
Dāsī Suttaṁ
Female and Male Slaves
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting female and male slaves:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 88
Ajelaka Suttaṁ
Goats and Sheep
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting goats and sheep:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 89
Kukkuṭasūkara Suttaṁ
Fowls and Swine
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting fowls and swine:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
Sutta 90
Hatthina Suttaṁ
Elephants
THUS have I heard:
Then the Exalted One,
taking up a little dust
on the tip of his finger-nail,
said to the monks:
"Now what think ye, monks?
Which is the greater,
this little dust I have taken up
on the tip of my finger-nail,
or this mighty earth?"
"Greater, lord, is this mighty earth.
Exceeding small
is this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's fingernail:
it cannot be reckoned,
it cannot be compared therewith.
It does not come to the merest fraction
of a part of it
when set beside the mighty earth, -
this little dust taken up
on the tip of the Exalted One's finger-nail."
"Just so, monks,
few are those beings
that abstain from accepting elephants,
cattle,
horses
and mares:
more numerous are these beings who do not so abstain.
What is the cause of that?
It is through not seeing four Ariyan truths.
What four?
The Ariyan truth of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the arising of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the ceasing of Ill,
the Ariyan truth of the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.
Wherefore, monks, an effort must be made to realize:
'This is Ill'.
'This is the arising of Ill.'
'This is the ceasing of Ill.'
This is the practice that leads to the ceasing of Ill.'"
1 As at D. i, 5. this chapter is merely a continuation of the previous list from which Comy. does not separate it.
2 Visūka-dassanā. Comy. (as at DA. i, 77) explains as patāni-bhūtā (? exhibited) and includes peacock-dancing.
3 Jātarūpa is uncoined gold.