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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

Vol 1:
Verses
SN1-11
Vol 2:
Causation
SN12-21
Vol 3:
Aggregates
SN22-34
Vol 4:
Sense Bases
SN35-44
Vol 5:
Great Book
SN45-56

48. Indriyasaṁyutta: On the Faculties

VI. The Boar’s Cave — SN48.54: Footprints

1“The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint, so an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all. In the same way, the faculty of wisdom is said to be the best of the steps that lead to awakening in terms of becoming awakened.

And what are the steps that lead to awakening? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom are steps that lead to awakening, in that they lead to becoming awakened.

The footprints of all creatures that walk can fit inside an elephant’s footprint, so an elephant’s footprint is said to be the biggest of them all. In the same way, the faculty of wisdom is said to be the best of the steps that lead to awakening in terms of becoming awakened.”

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – mahantattena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti, paññindriyaṁ padaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – bodhāya.

Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti? Saddhindriyaṁ, bhikkhave, padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; vīriyindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; satindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; samādhindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; paññindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – mahantattena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti, paññindriyaṁ padaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – bodhāyā"ti.

Catutthaṁ.