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Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

10: The Book of the Tens

XVII. With Jāṇussoṇī — AN 10.169: With Saṅgārava

1Then Saṅgārava the brahmin went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:


2“Master Gotama, what is the near shore? And what is the far shore?”

“Killing living creatures is the near shore, brahmin, and not killing living creatures is the far shore. Stealing is the near shore, and not stealing is the far shore. Sexual misconduct is the near shore, and avoiding sexual misconduct is the far shore. Lying is the near shore, and not lying is the far shore. Divisive speech is the near shore, and avoiding divisive speech is the far shore. Harsh speech is the near shore, and avoiding harsh speech is the far shore. Talking nonsense is the near shore, and avoiding talking nonsense is the far shore. Covetousness is the near shore, and contentment is the far shore. Ill will is the near shore, and good will is the far shore. Wrong view is the near shore, and right view is the far shore. This is the near shore, and this is the far shore.


3Few are those among humans
who cross to the far shore.
The rest just run
around on the near shore.

4When the teaching is well explained,
those who practice accordingly
are the ones who will cross over
Death’s domain so hard to pass.

5Rid of dark qualities,
an astute person should develop the bright.
Leaving home behind
for the seclusion so hard to enjoy,

6you should try to find delight there,
having left behind sensual pleasures.
With no possessions, an astute person
should cleanse themselves of mental corruptions.

7And those whose minds are rightly developed
in the awakening factors;
letting go of attachments,
they delight in not grasping.
With defilements ended, brilliant,
they are extinguished in this world.”

1Atha kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: 


2"Kiṁ nu kho, bho gotama, orimaṁ tīraṁ, kiṁ pārimaṁ tīran"ti?

"Pāṇātipāto kho, brāhmaṇa, orimaṁ tīraṁ, pāṇātipātā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Adinnādānaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, orimaṁ tīraṁ, adinnādānā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Kāmesumicchācāro orimaṁ tīraṁ, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Musāvādo orimaṁ tīraṁ, musāvādā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Pisuṇā vācā orimaṁ tīraṁ, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Pharusā vācā orimaṁ tīraṁ, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Samphappalāpo orimaṁ tīraṁ, samphappalāpā veramaṇī pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Abhijjhā orimaṁ tīraṁ, anabhijjhā pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Byāpādo orimaṁ tīraṁ, abyāpādo pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Micchādiṭṭhi orimaṁ tīraṁ, sammādiṭṭhi pārimaṁ tīraṁ. Idaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, orimaṁ tīraṁ, idaṁ pārimaṁ tīranti.


3Appakā te manussesu,
ye janā pāragāmino;
Athāyaṁ itarā pajā,
tīramevānudhāvati.

4Ye ca kho sammadakkhāte,
dhamme dhammānuvattino;
Te janā pāramessanti,
maccudheyyaṁ suduttaraṁ.

5Kaṇhaṁ dhammaṁ vippahāya,
Sukkaṁ bhāvetha paṇḍito;
Okā anokamāgamma,
Viveke yattha dūramaṁ.

6Tatrābhiratimiccheyya,
hitvā kāme akiñcano;
Pariyodapeyya attānaṁ,
cittaklesehi paṇḍito.

7Yesaṁ sambodhiyaṅgesu,
sammā cittaṁ subhāvitaṁ;
Ādānapaṭinissagge,
anupādāya ye ratā;
Khīṇāsavā jutimanto,

Tatiyaṁ.