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SN 14.39PTS SN 2.1761 min read

Ascetics and Brahmins (3rd)

Tatiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasutta

One who does not understand the four material elements is no true ascetic.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 14.39Linked Discourses 14.39
  • 0.24. Catutthavagga4. Chapter Four

0.3TatiyasamaṇabrāhmaṇasuttaAscetics and Brahmins (3rd)

1.1PTS 2.177Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.At Sāvatthī.

1.2“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā pathavīdhātuṁ nappajānanti, pathavīdhātusamudayaṁ nappajānanti, pathavīdhātunirodhaṁ nappajānanti, pathavīdhātunirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti …pe…“Mendicants, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t understand the earth element, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.1.3āpodhātuṁ nappajānanti …They don’t understand the water element …1.4tejodhātuṁ nappajānanti …fire element …1.5vāyodhātuṁ nappajānanti, vāyodhātusamudayaṁ nappajānanti, vāyodhātunirodhaṁ nappajānanti, vāyodhātunirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ nappajānanti, na me te, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu vā samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu vā brāhmaṇasammatā;air element …1.6na ca pana te āyasmanto sāmaññatthaṁ vā brahmaññatthaṁ vā diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharanti.Those venerables don’t realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and don’t live having realized it with their own insight in this very life.

2.1Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā pathavīdhātuṁ pajānanti, pathavīdhātusamudayaṁ pajānanti, pathavīdhātunirodhaṁ pajānanti, pathavīdhātunirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti …There are ascetics and brahmins who do understand the earth element, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation.2.2ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā …pe… āpodhātuṁ pajānanti …They do understand the water element …2.3tejodhātuṁ pajānanti …the fire element …2.4vāyodhātuṁ pajānanti, vāyodhātusamudayaṁ pajānanti, vāyodhātunirodhaṁ pajānanti, vāyodhātunirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ pajānanti, te ca kho me, bhikkhave, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā samaṇesu ceva samaṇasammatā brāhmaṇesu ca brāhmaṇasammatā;the air element …2.5te ca panāyasmanto sāmaññatthañca brahmaññatthañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharantī”ti.Those venerables realize the goal of life as an ascetic or brahmin, and live having realized it with their own insight.”

2.6Dasamaṁ.

2.7Catuttho vaggo.

3.0Tassuddānaṁ

3.1Catasso pubbe acariṁ,3.2nocedañca dukkhena ca;3.3Abhinandañca uppādo,3.4tayo samaṇabrāhmaṇāti.

3.5Dhātusaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.The Linked Discourses on the elements are complete.