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Khuddaka Nikāya - The Minor Texts

Sutta Nipata

Sutta Nipata Chapter 1: The Serpent Chapter - Uragavagga

1:3 The Rhinoceros Horn

1:3 The Rhinoceros Horn

35 When you’ve laid down arms toward all creatures,
not harming even a single one,
don’t wish for a child, let alone a companion:
live alone like a horned rhino.

36 Those with close relationships have affection,
following which this pain arises.
Seeing this danger born of affection,
live alone like a horned rhino.

37 When feelings for friends and loved ones
are tied up in selfish love, you miss out on the goal.
Seeing this peril in intimacy,
live alone like a horned rhino.

38 As a spreading bamboo gets entangled,
so does concern for partners and children.
Like a bamboo shoot unimpeded,
live alone like a horned rhino.


39 As a wild deer loose in the forest
grazes wherever it wants,
a smart person looking for freedom would
live alone like a horned rhino.

40 When among friends, whether staying in place
or going on a journey, you’re always on call.
Looking for the uncoveted freedom,
live alone like a horned rhino.

41 Among friends you have fun and games,
and for children you are full of love.
Though loathe to depart from those you hold dear,
live alone like a horned rhino.

42 At ease in any quarter, unresisting,
content with whatever comes your way;
prevailing over adversities, dauntless,
live alone like a horned rhino.

43 Even some renunciates are hard to please,
as are some layfolk dwelling at home.
Don’t worry about others’ children,
live alone like a horned rhino.

44 Having shed the marks of the home life,
like the fallen leaves of the Shady Orchid Tree;
having cut the bonds of the home life, a hero would
live alone like a horned rhino.

45 If you find an alert companion,
a wise and virtuous friend,
then, overcoming all adversities,
wander with them, joyful and mindful.

46 If you find no alert companion,
no wise and virtuous friend,
then, like a king who flees his conquered realm,
wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.

47 Clearly we praise the blessing of a friend,
it’s good to be with friends your equal or better.
but failing to find them, eating blamelessly,
live alone like a horned rhino.

48 Though made of shining gold, well-finished by a smith,
when two bracelets share the same arm
they clash up against each other. Seeing this,
live alone like a horned rhino.

49 Thinking: “So too, if I had a partner,
there’d be flattery or curses.”
Seeing this peril in the future,
live alone like a horned rhino.

50 Sensual pleasures are diverse, sweet, delightful,
appearing in disguise they disturb the mind.
Seeing danger in sensual stimulations,
live alone like a horned rhino.

51 This is a calamity, a boil, a disaster,
an illness, a dart, and a danger for me.
Seeing this peril in sensuality,
live alone like a horned rhino.

52 Heat and cold, hunger and thirst,
wind and sun, flies and snakes:
having put up with all these things,
live alone like a horned rhino.

53 As a full-grown elephant, lotus-eating, magnificent,
forsaking the herd,
stays where it wants in the forest,
live alone like a horned rhino.

54 It’s impossible for one who delights in company
to experience even temporary freedom.
Heeding the speech of the kinsman of the Sun,
live alone like a horned rhino.

55 Thinking: “I have left warped views behind,
reached the sure way, and gained the path;
I’ve given rise to knowledge, and need no-one to guide me”,
live alone like a horned rhino.

56 No greed, no guile, no thirst, no slur,
dross and delusion is smelted off;
free of hoping for anything in the world,
live alone like a horned rhino.

57 Avoid a wicked companion,
blind to the good, habitually immoral.
Don’t befriend the heedless and the hankering, but
live alone like a horned rhino.

58 Spend time with the learned who have memorized the teachings,
an eloquent and uplifting friend.
When you understand the meanings and have dispelled doubt,
live alone like a horned rhino.


59 When you realize that worldly fun and games
and pleasure are unsatisfying, disregarding them,
as one unadorned, a speaker of truth,
live alone like a horned rhino.

60 Children, partner, father, mother,
wealth and grain and relatives:
having given up sensual pleasures to this extent,
live alone like a horned rhino.

61 “This is a snare. Here there’s hardly any happiness,
little gratification, and it’s full of drawbacks.
It’s a hook.” Knowing this, a thoughtful person would
live alone like a horned rhino.

62 Having burst apart the fetters,
like a fish that tears the net and swims free,
or a fire not returning to ground it has burned,
live alone like a horned rhino.

63 Eyes downcast, not footloose,
senses guarded, mind protected,
uncorrupted, not burning with desire,
live alone like a horned rhino.

64 Having shed the marks of the home life,
like the fallen leaves of the Shady Orchid Tree,
and gone forth in the ocher robe,
live alone like a horned rhino.

65 Not wanton, nor rousing greed for tastes,
providing for no other, wandering indiscriminately for alms,
not attached to this family or that,
live alone like a horned rhino.

66 When you’ve given up five mental obstacles,
and expelled all corruptions,
and cut off affection and hate, being independent,
live alone like a horned rhino.

67 When you’ve put pleasure and pain behind you,
and former happiness and sadness,
and gained equanimity serene and pure,
live alone like a horned rhino.

68 With energy roused to reach the ultimate goal,
not sluggish in mind or lazy,
vigorous, strong and powerful,
live alone like a horned rhino.


69 Seclusion, jhānaNot neglecting retreat and absorption,
always living in line with the teachings,
comprehending the danger in rebirths,
live alone like a horned rhino.

70 One whose aim is the ending of craving—
diligent, clever, learned, mindful, resolute—
who has assessed the teaching and is bound for awakening, should
live alone like a horned rhino.

71Like a lion not startled by sounds,
like wind not caught in a net,
like water not sticking to a lotus,
live alone like a horned rhino.

72 Like the fierce-fanged lion, king of beasts,
who wanders as victor and master,
you should frequent remote lodgings, and
live alone like a horned rhino.

73 In time, cultivate freedom through
love, compassion, rejoicing, and equanimity.
Not upset by anything in the world,
live alone like a horned rhino.

74 Having given up greed, hate, and delusion,
having burst apart the fetters,
unafraid at the end of life,
live alone like a horned rhino.

75 They befriend you and serve you for their own sake;
these days it’s hard to find friends lacking ulterior motive.
Impure folk cleverly profit themselves—
live alone like a horned rhino.

Khaggavisāṇasutta

35"Sabbesu bhūtesu nidhāya daṇḍaṁ,
Aviheṭhayaṁ aññatarampi tesaṁ;
Na puttamiccheyya kuto sahāyaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

36 "Saṁsaggajātassa bhavanti snehā,
Snehanvayaṁ dukkhamidaṁ pahoti;
Ādīnavaṁ snehajaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

37 "Mitte suhajje anukampamāno,
Hāpeti atthaṁ paṭibaddhacitto;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ santhave pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

38 "Vaṁso visālova yathā visatto,
Puttesu dāresu ca yā apekkhā;
Vaṁsakkaḷīrova asajjamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".


39 "Migo araññamhi yathā abaddho,
Yenicchakaṁ gacchati gocarāya;
Viññū naro seritaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

40 "Āmantanā hoti sahāyamajjhe,
Vāse ṭhāne gamane cārikāya;
Anabhijjhitaṁ seritaṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

41 "Khiḍḍā ratī hoti sahāyamajjhe,
Puttesu ca vipulaṁ hoti pemaṁ;
Piyavippayogaṁ vijigucchamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

42 "Cātuddiso appaṭigho ca hoti,
Santussamāno itarītarena;
Parissayānaṁ sahitā achambhī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

43 "Dussaṅgahā pabbajitāpi eke,
Atho gahaṭṭhā gharamāvasantā;
Appossukko paraputtesu hutvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

44 "Oropayitvā gihibyañjanāni,
Sañchinnapatto yathā koviḷāro;
Chetvāna vīro gihibandhanāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

45 "Sace labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
Abhibhuyya sabbāni parissayāni,
Careyya tenattamano satīmā".

46 "No ce labhetha nipakaṁ sahāyaṁ,
Saddhiṁ caraṁ sādhuvihāridhīraṁ;
Rājāva raṭṭhaṁ vijitaṁ pahāya,
Eko care mātaṅgaraññeva nāgo".

47 "Addhā pasaṁsāma sahāyasampadaṁ,
Seṭṭhā samā sevitabbā sahāyā;
Ete aladdhā anavajjabhojī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

48 "Disvā suvaṇṇassa pabhassarāni,
Kammāraputtena suniṭṭhitāni;
Saṅghaṭṭamānāni duve bhujasmiṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

49 "Evaṁ dutīyena sahā mamassa,
Vācābhilāpo abhisajjanā vā;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ āyatiṁ pekkhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

50 "Kāmā hi citrā madhurā manoramā,
Virūparūpena mathenti cittaṁ;
Ādīnavaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

51 "Ītī ca gaṇḍo ca upaddavo ca,
Rogo ca sallañca bhayañca metaṁ;
Etaṁ bhayaṁ kāmaguṇesu disvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

52 "Sītañca uṇhañca khudaṁ pipāsaṁ,
Vātātape ḍaṁsasarīsape ca;
Sabbānipetāni abhisambhavitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

53 "Nāgova yūthāni vivajjayitvā,
Sañjātakhandho padumī uḷāro;
Yathābhirantaṁ viharaṁ araññe,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

54 "Aṭṭhānataṁ saṅgaṇikāratassa,
Yaṁ phassaye sāmayikaṁ vimuttiṁ;
Ādiccabandhussa vaco nisamma,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

55 "Diṭṭhīvisūkāni upātivatto,
Patto niyāmaṁ paṭiladdhamaggo;
Uppannañāṇomhi anaññaneyyo,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

56 "Nillolupo nikkuho nippipāso,
Nimmakkho niddhantakasāvamoho;
Nirāsayo sabbaloke bhavitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

57 "Pāpaṁ sahāyaṁ parivajjayetha,
Anatthadassiṁ visame niviṭṭhaṁ;
Sayaṁ na seve pasutaṁ pamattaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

58 "Bahussutaṁ dhammadharaṁ bhajetha,
Mittaṁ uḷāraṁ paṭibhānavantaṁ;
Aññāya atthāni vineyya kaṅkhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".


59 "Khiḍḍaṁ ratiṁ kāmasukhañca loke,
Analaṅkaritvā anapekkhamāno;
Vibhūsanaṭṭhānā virato saccavādī,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

60 "Puttañca dāraṁ pitarañca mātaraṁ,
Dhanāni dhaññāni ca bandhavāni;
Hitvāna kāmāni yathodhikāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

61 "Saṅgo eso parittamettha sokhyaṁ,
Appassādo dukkhamettha bhiyyo;
Gaḷo eso iti ñatvā matīmā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

62 "Sandālayitvāna saṁyojanāni,
Jālaṁva bhetvā salilambucārī;
Aggīva daḍḍhaṁ anivattamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

63 "Okkhittacakkhu na ca pādalolo,
Guttindriyo rakkhitamānasāno;
Anavassuto apariḍayhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

64 "Ohārayitvā gihibyañjanāni,
Sañchannapatto yathā pārichatto;
Kāsāyavattho abhinikkhamitvā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

65 "Rasesu gedhaṁ akaraṁ alolo,
Anaññaposī sapadānacārī;
Kule kule appaṭibaddhacitto,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

66 "Pahāya pañcāvaraṇāni cetaso,
Upakkilese byapanujja sabbe;
Anissito chetva sinehadosaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

67 "Vipiṭṭhikatvāna sukhaṁ dukhañca,
Pubbeva ca somanassadomanassaṁ;
Laddhānupekkhaṁ samathaṁ visuddhaṁ,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

68 "Āraddhaviriyo paramatthapattiyā,
Alīnacitto akusītavutti;
Daḷhanikkamo thāmabalūpapanno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".


69 "Paṭisallānaṁ jhānamariñcamāno,
Dhammesu niccaṁ anudhammacārī;
Ādīnavaṁ sammasitā bhavesu,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

70 "Taṇhakkhayaṁ patthayamappamatto,
Aneḷamūgo sutavā satīmā;
Saṅkhātadhammo niyato padhānavā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

71 "Sīhova saddesu asantasanto,
Vātova jālamhi asajjamāno;
Padumaṁva toyena alippamāno",
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo.

72 "Sīho yathā dāṭhabalī pasayha,
Rājā migānaṁ abhibhuyya cārī;
Sevetha pantāni senāsanāni,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

73 "Mettaṁ upekkhaṁ karuṇaṁ vimuttiṁ,
Āsevamāno muditañca kāle;
Sabbena lokena avirujjhamāno,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

74 "Rāgañca dosañca pahāya mohaṁ,
Sandālayitvāna saṁyojanāni;
Asantasaṁ jīvitasaṅkhayamhi,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

75 "Bhajanti sevanti ca kāraṇatthā,
Nikkāraṇā dullabhā ajja mittā;
Attaṭṭhapaññā asucī manussā,
Eko care khaggavisāṇakappo".

Khaggavisāṇasuttaṁ tatiyaṁ.