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SN 13.5PTS SN 2.1361 min read

The Earth

Pathavīsutta

For someone who has seen the truth, the suffering eliminated is like the great earth; what remains is like seven balls of clay.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 13.5Linked Discourses 13.5
  • 0.21. Abhisamayavagga1. Comprehension

0.3PathavīsuttaThe Earth

1.1PTS 2.136Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso mahāpathaviyā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhipeyya.“Mendicants, suppose a person was to place seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds on the great earth.1

1.3Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,What do you think, mendicants?1.4katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yā vā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā yā vā mahāpathavī”ti?Which is more: the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds, or the great earth?”

2.1“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yadidaṁ mahāpathavī;“Sir, the great earth is certainly more.2.2appamattikā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā.The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny.2.3Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti mahāpathaviṁ upanidhāya satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā upanikkhittā”ti.Compared to the great earth, it’s not nearly a hundredth, a thousandth, or a hundred thousandth part.”

2.4“Evameva kho, bhikkhave …pe…“In the same way, for a noble disciple, the suffering that’s over and done with is more …”2.5dhammacakkhupaṭilābho”ti.

2.6Pañcamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. Also at SN 56.55.

    ↩ sn13.5:1.2