5: The Book of the Fives
XVIII. A Lay Follower — AN 5.178: Kings
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
1“What do you think, mendicants? Have you ever seen or heard of a person who has given up killing living creatures, and then the kings have them arrested for that, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires?”
“No, sir.”
“Good, mendicants! I too have never seen or heard of such a thing. Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed: ‘This person has murdered a man or a woman.’ Then the kings have them arrested for killing, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires. Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”
“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”
2“What do you think, mendicants? Have you ever seen or heard of a person who has given up stealing, and then the kings have them arrested for that …?”
“No, sir.”
“Good, mendicants! I too have never seen or heard of such a thing. Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed: ‘This person took something from a village or wilderness, with the intention to commit theft.’ Then the kings have them arrested for stealing … Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”
“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”
3“What do you think, mendicants? Have you ever seen or heard of a person who has given up sexual misconduct, and then the kings have them arrested for that …?”
“No, sir.”
“Good, mendicants! I too have never seen or heard of such a thing. Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed: ‘This person had sexual relations with women or maidens under someone else’s protection.’ Then the kings have them arrested for that … Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”
“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”
4“What do you think, mendicants? Have you ever seen or heard of a person who has given up lying, and then the kings have them arrested for that …?”
“No, sir.”
“Good, mendicants! I too have never seen or heard of such a thing. Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed: ‘This person has ruined a householder or householder’s child by lying.’ Then the kings have them arrested for that … Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”
“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”
5“What do you think, mendicants? Have you ever seen or heard of a person who has given up alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, and then the kings have them arrested for that, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires?”
“No, sir.”
“Good, mendicants! I too have never seen or heard of such a thing. Rather, the kings are informed of someone’s bad deed: ‘While under the influence of alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, this person murdered a woman or a man. Or they stole something from a village or wilderness. Or they had sexual relations with women or maidens under someone else’s protection. Or they ruined a householder or householder’s child by lying.’ Then the kings have them arrested for being under the influence of alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, and execute, imprison, or banish them, or do what the case requires. Have you ever seen or heard of such a case?”
“Sir, we have seen it and heard of it, and we will hear of it again.”
1"Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā: ‘Ayaṁ puriso pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘Ayaṁ puriso pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘Ayaṁ puriso itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā jīvitā voropesīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā pāṇātipātahetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā’"ti?
"Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā"ti.
2"Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā: ‘Ayaṁ puriso adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’"ti?
"No hetaṁ bhante".
"Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘Ayaṁ puriso adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘Ayaṁ puriso gāmā vā araññā vā adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā adinnādānahetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā’"ti?
"Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā"ti.
3"Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā: ‘Ayaṁ puriso kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘Ayaṁ puriso kāmesumicchācāraṁ pahāya kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘Ayaṁ puriso paritthīsu parakumārīsu cārittaṁ āpajjīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā kāmesumicchācārahetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā’"ti?
"Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā"ti.
4"Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā: ‘Ayaṁ puriso musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘Ayaṁ puriso musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘Ayaṁ puriso gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā musāvādena atthaṁ pabhañjīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā musāvādahetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā’"ti?
"Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā"ti.
5"Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, api nu tumhehi diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā: ‘Ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Sādhu, bhikkhave. Mayāpi kho etaṁ, bhikkhave, neva diṭṭhaṁ na sutaṁ: ‘Ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratoti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇihetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karontī’ti. Api ca khvassa tatheva pāpakammaṁ pavedenti: ‘Ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā jīvitā voropesi; ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto gāmā vā araññā vā adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyi; ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto paritthīsu parakumārīsu cārittaṁ āpajji; ayaṁ puriso surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ anuyutto gahapatissa vā gahapatiputtassa vā musāvādena atthaṁ pabhañjīti. Tamenaṁ rājāno gahetvā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānahetu hananti vā bandhanti vā pabbājenti vā yathāpaccayaṁ vā karonti. Api nu tumhehi evarūpaṁ diṭṭhaṁ vā sutaṁ vā’"ti?
"Diṭṭhañca no, bhante, sutañca suyyissati cā"ti.
Aṭṭhamaṁ.