SN 14.30PTS SN 2.1691 min read

Four Elements

Catudhātusutta

The four material elements of earth, water, heat, and air. Note that “air” is close in meaning to “wind”.

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

0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 14.30Linked Discourses 14.30
0.24. Catutthavagga4. Chapter Four

0.3CatudhātusuttaFour Elements

1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme …At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. …1.2“catasso imā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo.“Mendicants, there are these four elements.¹1.3Katamā catasso?What four?1.4Pathavīdhātu, āpodhātu, tejodhātu, vāyodhātu—The elements of earth, water, fire, and air.²1.5imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso dhātuyo”ti.These are the four elements.”

1.6Paṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

Also called the “principle states” (mahābhūta). Discussed in detail at MN 28:4.1.
↩ sn14.30:1.2
The properties of matter that dominate in solids, liquids, plasma, and gases.
↩ sn14.30:1.4