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SN 1.5PTS (1st ed) SN 1.31 min read

Cut How Many?

Katichindasutta

A cryptic set of questions, which the Buddha answers equally cryptically.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 1.5Linked Discourses 1.5
  • 0.21. Naḷavagga1. A Reed

0.3KatichindasuttaCut How Many?

1.1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.At Sāvatthī.1

1.2Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavato santike imaṁ gāthaṁ abhāsi:Standing to one side, that deity spoke this verse in the Buddha’s presence:

2.1“Kati chinde kati jahe,“Cut how many? Drop how many?2.2kati cuttari bhāvaye;Develop how many more?2.3Kati saṅgātigo bhikkhu,When a mendicant slips how many chains2.4oghatiṇṇoti vuccatī”ti.are they said to have crossed the flood?”

3.1“Pañca chinde pañca jahe,“Five to cut, five to drop,23.2pañca cuttari bhāvaye;and five more to develop.3.3Pañca saṅgātigo bhikkhu,When a mendicant slips five chains33.4oghatiṇṇoti vuccatī”ti.they’re said to have crossed the flood.”

Translator’s notes

  1. The redactors show their playful side here, placing this “riddle of fives” as the fifth sutta of the Saṁyutta.

    The enigmatic repetition of “five” is reminiscent of Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 4.4.17: “Where the five groups of five and space are established, I regard that Self as the immortal Brahman, knowing which I am immortal.” Or perhaps it is a reference to the five great sacrifices, to sages, gods, ghosts, men and ancestors (Manu 4.21).

    ↩ sn1.5:1.1

  2. According to the commentary, the five lower fetters are cut, the five higher fetters are dropped, and the five faculties are developed.

    ↩ sn1.5:3.1

  3. The “five chains” are not defined in the Suttas, but Vb 17:238.1 identifies them as greed, hate, delusion, conceit, and views.

    ↩ sn1.5:3.3