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SN 13.6PTS SN 2.1361 min read

The Earth (2nd)

Dutiyapathavīsutta

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 13.6Linked Discourses 13.6
  • 0.21. Abhisamayavagga1. Comprehension

0.3DutiyapathavīsuttaThe Earth (2nd)

1.1Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāpathavī parikkhayaṁ pariyādānaṁ gaccheyya, ṭhapetvā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā.“Mendicants, suppose the great earth was worn away and eroded except seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds.1

1.3Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave,What do you think, mendicants?1.4katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā mahāpathaviyā parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ yā vā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā”ti?Which is more: the great earth that has been worn away and eroded, or the seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds that are left?”

2.1“Etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, mahāpathaviyā, yadidaṁ parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ;“Sir, the great earth that has been worn away and eroded is certainly more.2.2appamattikā satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā.The seven clay balls the size of jujube seeds are tiny.2.3Neva satimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na sahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti na satasahassimaṁ kalaṁ upenti mahāpathaviyā parikkhīṇaṁ pariyādiṇṇaṁ upanidhāya satta kolaṭṭhimattiyo guḷikā avasiṭṭhā”ti.Compared to the great earth that has been worn away and eroded, 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.

2.6Chaṭṭhaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. Also at SN 56.56.

    ↩ sn13.6:1.2