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SN 48.58PTS SN 5.2331 min read

The Boar’s Cave

Sūkarakhatasutta

A mendicant honors the Realized One and his teaching for the sake of the supreme sanctuary.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 48.58Linked Discourses 48.58
  • 0.26. Sūkarakhatavagga6. The Boar’s Cave

0.3SūkarakhatasuttaThe Boar’s Cave

1.1PTS 5.234Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate sūkarakhatāyaṁ.At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain in the Boar’s Cave.11.2Tatra kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ āmantesi:Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta:

1.3“kiṁ nu kho, sāriputta, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?“Sāriputta, considering what benefit does a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, roll forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions?”2

1.4“Anuttarañhi, bhante, yogakkhemaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.“Sir, it is considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.”3

1.5“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.“Good, good, Sāriputta!1.6Anuttarañhi, sāriputta, yogakkhemaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattati.For it is considering the supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant whose defilements are ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.

2.1Katamo ca, sāriputta, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?And what is that supreme sanctuary from the yoke?”

2.2“Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavo bhikkhu saddhindriyaṁ bhāveti upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ,“It’s when a mendicant with defilements ended develops the faculties of faith,42.3vīriyindriyaṁ bhāveti …pe…energy,2.4satindriyaṁ bhāveti …mindfulness,2.5samādhindriyaṁ bhāveti …immersion,2.6paññindriyaṁ bhāveti upasamagāmiṁ sambodhagāmiṁ.and wisdom, which lead to peace and awakening.2.7Ayaṁ kho, bhante, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.It is considering this supreme sanctuary from the yoke that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, rolls forth with utmost deference for the Realized One or his instructions.”

2.8“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.“Good, good, Sāriputta!2.9Eso hi, sāriputta, anuttaro yogakkhemo yaṁ sampassamāno khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatīti.For this is that supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

3.1PTS 5.235Katamo ca, sāriputta, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti?And what is that utmost deference that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, shows toward the Realized One or his instructions?”

3.2“Idha, bhante, khīṇāsavo bhikkhu satthari sagāravo viharati sappatisso, dhamme sagāravo viharati sappatisso, saṅghe sagāravo viharati sappatisso, sikkhāya sagāravo viharati sappatisso, samādhismiṁ sagāravo viharati sappatisso.“It’s when a mendicant with defilements ended maintains respect and reverence for the Teacher, the teaching, the Saṅgha, the training, and immersion.53.3Ayaṁ kho, bhante, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.This is that utmost deference.”

3.4“Sādhu sādhu, sāriputta.“Good, good, Sāriputta!3.5Eso hi, sāriputta, paramanipaccakāro yaṁ khīṇāsavo bhikkhu tathāgate vā tathāgatasāsane vā paramanipaccakāraṁ pavattamāno pavattatī”ti.For this is that utmost deference that a mendicant with defilements ended, in rolling forth, shows toward the Realized One or his instructions.”

3.6Aṭṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. This is famously the scene of Sāriputta’s awakening (MN 74:1.2).

    ↩ sn48.58:1.1

  2. The interpretation of this discourse is problematic, and no parallels are recorded. I translate fairly literally, not trying to smooth over the problems. I believe it is thematically similar to SN 16.5, where Mahākassapa explains that he continues his austere lifestyle even though he is enlightened both because he enjoys it, and to inspire future generations.

    I take the expression pavattamāno pavattati (“in rolling forth, roll forth”) as referring to Sāriputta’s role as the disciple who, like no other, continues to “roll forth” the wheel of the teaching (MN 111:23.1, SN 8.7:3.4, AN 1.187:1.1). The Buddha is asking what motivates Sāriputta to teach.

    ↩ sn48.58:1.3

  3. Presumably this means so that others can realize awakening.

    ↩ sn48.58:1.4

  4. The text seems corrupt here; first, the faculties are the path to awakening, not awakening itself; and second, an arahant does not “develop” for they have already fully developed. “Develop” (bhāveti) is a causative verb, to “make be more”. Such verbs can mean to make or instigate someone to do something, although this is not how this very common verb is used elsewhere. Nonetheless, the sense here seems to be that an arahant teaches in order to establish others on the path to awakening.

    ↩ sn48.58:2.2

  5. The same five things were taught to Mahākassapa as leading to the enduring of the dispensation (SN 16.13:4.3).

    ↩ sn48.58:3.2