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SN 12.21PTS SN 2.271 min read

The Ten Powers

Dasabalasutta

The Buddha’s teaching rests on his possession of ten powers and four grounds for self-confidence.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 12.21Linked Discourses 12.21
  • 0.23. Dasabalavagga3. The Ten Powers

0.3DasabalasuttaThe Ten Powers

1.1PTS 2.28Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Dasabalasamannāgato, bhikkhave, tathāgato catūhi ca vesārajjehi samannāgato āsabhaṁ ṭhānaṁ paṭijānāti, parisāsu sīhanādaṁ nadati, brahmacakkaṁ pavatteti—“Mendicants, a Realized One has ten powers and four kinds of self-assurance. With these he claims the bull’s place, roars his lion’s roar in the assemblies, and turns the divine wheel.1

1.3iti rūpaṁ iti rūpassa samudayo iti rūpassa atthaṅgamo,Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the disappearance of form.21.4iti vedanā iti vedanāya samudayo iti vedanāya atthaṅgamo,Such is feeling, such is the origin of feeling, such is the disappearance of feeling.1.5iti saññā iti saññāya samudayo iti saññāya atthaṅgamo,Such is perception, such is the origin of perception, such is the disappearance of perception.1.6iti saṅkhārā iti saṅkhārānaṁ samudayo iti saṅkhārānaṁ atthaṅgamo,Such are choices, such is the origin of choices, such is the disappearance of choices.1.7iti viññāṇaṁ iti viññāṇassa samudayo iti viññāṇassa atthaṅgamo.Such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the disappearance of consciousness.

1.8Iti imasmiṁ sati idaṁ hoti, imassuppādā idaṁ uppajjati.So, when this exists, this comes to be; due to the arising of this, this arises.31.9Imasmiṁ asati idaṁ na hoti, imassa nirodhā idaṁ nirujjhati.When this doesn’t exist, this doesn’t come to be; due to the cessation of this, this ceases. That is:

1.10Yadidaṁ avijjāpaccayā saṅkhārā;Ignorance is a requirement for choices.

1.11saṅkhārapaccayā viññāṇaṁ …pe…Choices are a requirement for consciousness. …1.12evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa samudayo hoti.That is how this entire mass of suffering originates.1.13Avijjāya tveva asesavirāganirodhā saṅkhāranirodho;When ignorance fades away and ceases no residue left behind, choices cease.1.14saṅkhāranirodhā viññāṇanirodho …pe…When choices cease, consciousness ceases. …1.15evametassa kevalassa dukkhakkhandhassa nirodho hotī”ti.That is how this entire mass of suffering ceases.”

1.16Paṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The purpose of this discourse (and the next) seems to be to extol dependent origination as a special insight of the Buddha. But it does so artlessly, simply plonking down a series of teachings without connecting them in any way. Editors and translators have tried to smooth it over, but I translate as-is.

    The ten powers (of a Realized One) are explained at MN 12:9.1, where they are followed by the four kinds of self-assurance (MN 12:22.1). The powers are found independently at AN 10.21 and AN 10.22, and are claimed by Anuruddha at SN 52.15–24. The four kinds of self-assurance are at AN 4.8.

    The “divine wheel” (brahmacakka) is a synonym for the “wheel of the teaching” (dhammacakka). In Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 1.6, the same term refers to the circle of existence in which all things live.

    ↩ sn12.21:1.2

  2. This is a recommended meditation (MN 10:38.4) leading to perfection (SN 12.23:1.4). In one place it exemplifies the Buddha’s teaching, but there it follows organically and is marked as quote (SN 22.78:2.2). Here it is simply pasted in after the previous passage. It does not offer an integration between the aggregates and dependent origination; they simply appear side by side.

    ↩ sn12.21:1.3

  3. This is the abstract principle of dependent origination; see discussion at SN 12.37:2.2. Again there is no textual link with the previous passages.

    ↩ sn12.21:1.8