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MN 145PTS MN 3.2674 min read

Advice to Puṇṇa

Puṇṇovādasutta

On the eve of his departure to a distant country, full of wild and unpredictable people, Venerable Puṇṇa is asked by the Buddha how he would respond if attacked there.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Majjhima Nikāya 145Middle Discourses 145

0.2PuṇṇovādasuttaAdvice to Puṇṇa

1.1PTS 3.267Evaṁ me sutaṁ—So I have heard.11.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.

1.3Atha kho āyasmā puṇṇo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā puṇṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Puṇṇa came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha,22.1“sādhu maṁ, bhante, bhagavā saṅkhittena ovādena ovadatu, yamahaṁ bhagavato dhammaṁ sutvā eko vūpakaṭṭho appamatto ātāpī pahitatto vihareyyan”ti.“Sir, may the Buddha please teach me Dhamma in brief. When I’ve heard it, I’ll live alone, withdrawn, diligent, keen, and resolute.”3

2.2“Tena hi, puṇṇa, suṇāhi, sādhukaṁ manasi karohi; bhāsissāmī”ti.“Well then, Puṇṇa, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

2.3“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho āyasmā puṇṇo bhagavato paccassosi.“Yes, sir,” replied Puṇṇa.2.4Bhagavā etadavoca:The Buddha said this:

3.1“Santi kho, puṇṇa, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.“Puṇṇa, there are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.3.2Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati.If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them,3.3Tassa taṁ abhinandato abhivadato ajjhosāya tiṭṭhato uppajjati nandī.this gives rise to relishing.3.4‘Nandīsamudayā dukkhasamudayo, puṇṇā’ti vadāmi.Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say.

3.5Santi kho, puṇṇa, sotaviññeyyā saddā …There are sounds known by the ear …3.6ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …smells known by the nose …3.7jivhāviññeyyā rasā …tastes known by the tongue …3.8kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā …touches known by the body …3.9manoviññeyyā dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.3.10Tañce bhikkhu abhinandati abhivadati ajjhosāya tiṭṭhati.If a mendicant approves, welcomes, and keeps clinging to them,3.11Tassa taṁ abhinandato abhivadato ajjhosāya tiṭṭhato uppajjati nandī.this gives rise to relishing.3.12‘Nandīsamudayā dukkhasamudayo, puṇṇā’ti vadāmi.Relishing is the origin of suffering, I say.

4.1Santi ca kho, puṇṇa, cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.There are sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.4.2Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati.If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them,4.3Tassa taṁ anabhinandato anabhivadato anajjhosāya tiṭṭhato nandī nirujjhati.relishing ceases.4.4‘Nandīnirodhā dukkhanirodho, puṇṇā’ti vadāmi.When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say.

4.5PTS 3.268Santi ca kho, puṇṇa, sotaviññeyyā saddā …There are sounds known by the ear …4.6ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …smells known by the nose …4.7jivhāviññeyyā rasā …tastes known by the tongue …4.8kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā …touches known by the body …4.9manoviññeyyā dhammā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.ideas known by the mind, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.4.10Tañce bhikkhu nābhinandati nābhivadati nājjhosāya tiṭṭhati.If a mendicant doesn’t approve, welcome, and keep clinging to them,4.11Tassa taṁ anabhinandato anabhivadato anajjhosāya tiṭṭhato nandī nirujjhati.relishing ceases.4.12‘Nandīnirodhā dukkhanirodho, puṇṇā’ti vadāmi.When relishing ceases, suffering ceases, I say.

5.1Iminā ca tvaṁ, puṇṇa, mayā saṅkhittena ovādena ovadito katarasmiṁ janapade viharissasī”ti?Puṇṇa, now that I’ve given you this brief advice, what country will you live in?”

5.2“Imināhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā saṅkhittena ovādena ovadito, atthi sunāparanto nāma janapado, tatthāhaṁ viharissāmī”ti.“Sir, there’s a country named Sunāparanta. I shall live there.”4

5.3“Caṇḍā kho, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā;“The people of Sunāparanta are wild and rough, Puṇṇa.5.4pharusā kho, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā.5.5Sace taṁ, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā akkosissanti paribhāsissanti, tattha te, puṇṇa, kinti bhavissatī”ti?If they abuse and insult you, what will you think of them?”

5.6“Sace maṁ, bhante, sunāparantakā manussā akkosissanti paribhāsissanti, tattha me evaṁ bhavissati:“If they abuse and insult me, I will think:5.7‘bhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, subhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, yaṁ me nayime pāṇinā pahāraṁ dentī’ti.‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t hit me with their fists.’5.8Evamettha, bhagavā, bhavissati;That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.5.9evamettha, sugata, bhavissatī”ti.That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

5.10“Sace pana te, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā pāṇinā pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha pana te, puṇṇa, kinti bhavissatī”ti?“But if they do hit you with their fists, what will you think of them then?”

5.11“Sace me, bhante, sunāparantakā manussā pāṇinā pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha me evaṁ bhavissati:“If they hit me with their fists, I’ll think:5.12‘bhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, subhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, yaṁ me nayime leḍḍunā pahāraṁ dentī’ti.‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t throw stones at me.’5.13Evamettha, bhagavā, bhavissati;That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.5.14evamettha, sugata, bhavissatī”ti.That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

5.15“Sace pana te, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā leḍḍunā pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha pana te, puṇṇa, kinti bhavissatī”ti?“But if they do throw stones at you, what will you think of them then?”

5.16“Sace me, bhante, sunāparantakā manussā leḍḍunā pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha me evaṁ bhavissati:“If they throw stones at me, I’ll think:5.17‘bhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, subhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, yaṁ me nayime daṇḍena pahāraṁ dentī’ti.‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t beat me with a club.’5.18Evamettha, bhagavā, bhavissati;That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.5.19evamettha, sugata, bhavissatī”ti.That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

5.20PTS 3.269“Sace pana te, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā daṇḍena pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha pana te, puṇṇa, kinti bhavissatī”ti?“But if they do beat you with a club, what will you think of them then?”

5.21“Sace me, bhante, sunāparantakā manussā daṇḍena pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha me evaṁ bhavissati:“If they beat me with a club, I’ll think:5.22‘bhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, subhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, yaṁ me nayime satthena pahāraṁ dentī’ti.‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t stab me with a knife.’5.23Evamettha, bhagavā, bhavissati;That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.5.24evamettha, sugata, bhavissatī”ti.That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

5.25“Sace pana te, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā satthena pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha pana te, puṇṇa, kinti bhavissatī”ti?“But if they do stab you with a knife, what will you think of them then?”

5.26“Sace me, bhante, sunāparantakā manussā satthena pahāraṁ dassanti, tattha me evaṁ bhavissati:“If they stab me with a knife, I’ll think:5.27‘bhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, subhaddakā vatime sunāparantakā manussā, yaṁ maṁ nayime tiṇhena satthena jīvitā voropentī’ti.‘These people of Sunāparanta are gracious, truly gracious, since they don’t take my life with a sharp knife.’5.28Evamettha, bhagavā, bhavissati;That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.5.29evamettha, sugata, bhavissatī”ti.That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

5.30“Sace pana taṁ, puṇṇa, sunāparantakā manussā tiṇhena satthena jīvitā voropessanti, tattha pana te, puṇṇa, kinti bhavissatī”ti?“But if they do take your life with a sharp knife, what will you think of them then?”

5.31“Sace maṁ, bhante, sunāparantakā manussā tiṇhena satthena jīvitā voropessanti, tattha me evaṁ bhavissati:“If they take my life with a sharp knife, I’ll think:5.32‘santi kho bhagavato sāvakā kāye ca jīvite ca aṭṭīyamānā harāyamānā jigucchamānā satthahārakaṁ pariyesanti. Taṁ me idaṁ apariyiṭṭhaṁyeva satthahārakaṁ laddhan’ti.‘There are disciples of the Buddha who looked for a suicide weapon because they were horrified, repelled, and disgusted with the body and with life. And I have found this without looking!’55.33Evamettha, bhagavā, bhavissati;That’s what I’ll think, Blessed One.5.34evamettha, sugata, bhavissatī”ti.That’s what I’ll think, Holy One.”

6.1“Sādhu sādhu, puṇṇa.“Good, good Puṇṇa!6.2Sakkhissasi kho tvaṁ, puṇṇa, iminā damūpasamena samannāgato sunāparantasmiṁ janapade viharituṁ.Having such self-control and peacefulness, you will be quite capable of living in Sunāparanta.6.3Yassadāni tvaṁ, puṇṇa, kālaṁ maññasī”ti.Now, Puṇṇa, go at your convenience.”

7.1Atha kho āyasmā puṇṇo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā senāsanaṁ saṁsāmetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena sunāparanto janapado tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi.And then Puṇṇa welcomed and agreed with the Buddha’s words. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he set his lodgings in order and, taking his bowl and robe, set out for Sunāparanta.7.2Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena sunāparanto janapado tadavasari.Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Sunāparanta,7.3Tatra sudaṁ āyasmā puṇṇo sunāparantasmiṁ janapade viharati.and stayed there.7.4Atha kho āyasmā puṇṇo tenevantaravassena pañcamattāni upāsakasatāni paṭivedesi, tenevantaravassena pañcamattāni upāsikasatāni paṭivedesi, tenevantaravassena tisso vijjā sacchākāsi.Within that rainy season he confirmed around five hundred male and five hundred female lay followers. And within that same rainy season he realized the three knowledges.7.5Atha kho āyasmā puṇṇo aparena samayena parinibbāyi.Some time later he became fully extinguished.6

8.1PTS 3.270Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,8.2“yo so, bhante, puṇṇo nāma kulaputto bhagavatā saṅkhittena ovādena ovadito so kālaṅkato.“Sir, the gentleman named Puṇṇa, who was advised in brief by the Buddha, has passed away.8.3Tassa kā gati, ko abhisamparāyo”ti?Where has he been reborn in his next life?”

8.4“Paṇḍito, bhikkhave, puṇṇo kulaputto paccapādi dhammassānudhammaṁ, na ca maṁ dhammādhikaraṇaṁ viheṭhesi.“Mendicants, Puṇṇa was astute. He practiced in line with the teaching, and did not trouble me about the teachings.8.5Parinibbuto, bhikkhave, puṇṇo kulaputto”ti.Puṇṇa has become fully quenched.”

8.6Idamavoca bhagavā.That is what the Buddha said.8.7Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.

8.8Puṇṇovādasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. This sutta recurs at SN 35.88, with slight differences in the opening and closing. In addition to two discourse parallels in Chinese, the popularity of this narrative is attested by its appearance in later texts such as the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and the Divyāvadāna, as well as in artworks (see Anālayo, Comparative Study, vol. ii, p. 828).

    ↩ mn145:1.1

  2. This Puṇṇa is to be distinguished from the Koliyan ascetic of MN 57 and the son of Mantāṇī of MN 23. His only other appearance is his Theragāthā verse at Thag 1.70.

    ↩ mn145:1.3

  3. The idea of a “retreat” as understood today was popularized in the 20th century. In early times, it seems, when an individual monastic felt they were ready, they would approach the teacher seeking advice for their retreat.

    ↩ mn145:2.1

  4. The commentary says that Puṇṇa was in fact born in Sunāparanta, specifically the trading port of Suppāraka, which is modern Nallasopara north of Mumbai on India’s west coast. Sunāparanta is otherwise known as Aparanta (“Far West”, Bv 29:17.2). Puṇṇa’s choice was far-sighted, as from the time of Ashoka, Suppāraka became a major trading center with ports in India and lands west as far as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Eastern Africa, and Rome. A fabulous tale of such trading voyages is told in Ja 463.

    ↩ mn145:5.2

  5. This is in reference to the notorious story of Migalaṇḍika in Bu Pj 3, told more briefly in SN 54.9. Several monks, meditating improperly on the unattractiveness of the body, sought death as the way out. In response, the Buddha taught mindfulness of breathing, which is “peaceful and sublime, a deliciously pleasant meditation”.

    The idiomatic phrase satthahāraka is difficult. The obvious reading is to take sattha as “knife”, the meaning it has in the preceding sentence. However, that yields the sense “knife-bringer”, “assassin”, whereas the use of idaṁ in MN 145:5.32 shows it must be neuter, i.e. it is a thing not a person. Richard Gombrich suggests we read sattha here as equivalent to Sanskrit śvasita, “breathing, life” (see Brahmali’s note on Bu Pj 3:2.49.1), yielding the sense “life-taker”, “breath-stealer”, “deadly weapon”. This agrees with the Vinaya commentary, which explains, “What does it take? Life.” (Kiṁ harati? Jīvitaṁ). Since this idiom is only used in the context of suicide, I call it “suicide weapon”, and the verbal form “commit suicide”.

    ↩ mn145:5.32

  6. The parallel passage at SN 35.88:18.7, says rather that he passed away in that same rainy season.

    ↩ mn145:7.5