Light/Dark

Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

5: The Book of the Fives

XX. Brahmins — AN 5.197: Obstacles to Rain

1“Mendicants, there are these five obstacles to rain, which the forecasters don’t know, and which their vision does not traverse. What five?

In the upper atmosphere the fire element flares up, which disperses the clouds. This is the first obstacle to rain, which the forecasters don’t know, and which their vision does not traverse.

2Furthermore, in the upper atmosphere the air element flares up, which disperses the clouds. This is the second obstacle to rain …

3Furthermore, Rāhu, lord of demons, receives water in his hand and tosses it in the ocean. This is the third obstacle to rain …

4Furthermore, the gods of the rain clouds become negligent. This is the fourth obstacle to rain …

5Furthermore, humans become unprincipled. This is the fifth obstacle to rain, which the forecasters don’t know, and which their vision does not traverse.


These are the five obstacles to rain, which the forecasters don’t know, and which their vision does not traverse.”

1"Pañcime, bhikkhave, vassassa antarāyā, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamati. Katame pañca?

Upari, bhikkhave, ākāse tejodhātu pakuppati. Tena uppannā meghā paṭivigacchanti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo vassassa antarāyo, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamati.

2Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, upari ākāse vāyodhātu pakuppati. Tena uppannā meghā paṭivigacchanti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo vassassa antarāyo, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamati.

3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rāhu asurindo pāṇinā udakaṁ sampaṭicchitvā mahāsamudde chaḍḍeti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo vassassa antarāyo, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamati.

4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, vassavalāhakā devā pamattā honti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho vassassa antarāyo, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamati.

5Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, manussā adhammikā honti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo vassassa antarāyo, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamati.


Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca vassassa antarāyā, yaṁ nemittā na jānanti, yattha nemittānaṁ cakkhu na kamatī"ti.

Sattamaṁ.