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SN 56.31 sīsapāvanasutta

Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā kosambiyaṃ viharati sīsapāvane. Atha kho bhagavā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṃ nu kho bahutaraṃ: yāni vā mayā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni yāni vā upari sīsapāvane”ti?

Appamattakāni, bhante, bhagavatā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni; atha kho etāneva bahutarāni yadidaṃ upari sīsapāvane”ti.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, etadeva bahutaraṃ yaṃ o mayā abhiññāya

anakkhātaṃ. Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā anakkhātaṃ? Na hetaṃ,

bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ nādibrahmacariyakaṃ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya

saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā anakkhātaṃ.

Kiñca, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? ‘Idaṃ dukkhanti, bhikkhave, mayā

akkhātaṃ; ‘ayaṃ dukkhasamudayoti mayā akkhātaṃ; ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhoti mayā akkhātaṃ; ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadāti mayā akkhātaṃ. Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? Etaṃ hi, bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ etaṃ ādibrahmacariyakaṃ etaṃ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā akkhātaṃ.


Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā kosambiyaṃ viharati sīsapāvane.

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
17376 Ekaṃ card masc.acc.sg on one
59451 samayaṃ noun masc.acc.sg occasion
49147 bhagavā noun masc.nom.sg the Blessed One
23178 kosambiyaṃ noun fem.loc.sg at Kosambī
69661 viharati verb pr.3rd.sg lives; dwells; was dwelling (historical present) vi + √har + a + ti
63281 sīsapāvane noun nt.loc.sg in the grove of Dalbergia (or sīsapā) trees kammadhāraya
63279 #sīsapā noun fem Dalbergia trees; sīsapā trees
66180 #vane noun nt.loc.sg in the grove

On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kosambī in a grove of sīsapā trees.

Atha kho bhagavā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahetvā bhikkhū āmantesi:

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
2788 Atha kho ind+ind then (idiom)
49147 bhagavā noun masc.nom.sg the Blessed One
43492 parittāni pp(adj) nt.acc.pl few; small [number]
sīsapāpaṇṇāni noun nt.acc.pl sīsapā leaves genitive tappurisa
63279 #sīsapāya noun fem.gen.sg Dalbergia trees; sīsapā trees
41646 #paṇṇāni noun nt.acc.pl leaves
45383 pāṇinā noun masc.instr.sg with the (i.e. his) hand
24707 gahetvā verb abs (+acc) having taken; having grabbed hold (of) √gah + ṇhā + tvā
49885 bhikkhū noun masc.acc.pl the monks
12086 āmantesi verb aor.3rd.sg addressed ā + √mant + *e + si

Then the Blessed One having taken a few sīsapā leaves with [his] hand, addressed the monks:

“Taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṃ nu kho bahutaraṃ: yāni vā mayā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni yāni vā upari sīsapāvane”ti?

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
30215 Taṃ pron nt.nom.sg that
21956 kiṃ pron nt.nom.sg what
50807 maññatha verb pr.2nd.pl you think √man + ya + ti
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
19645 katamaṃ pron nt.nom.sg which
38664 nu ind interr indicates question
23966 kho ind emph indeed (not translated)
48132 bahutaraṃ adj nt.nom.sg more
53973 yāni pron nt.acc.pl which; that
66665 ind conj or
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg with my
43492 parittāni pp(adj) nt.acc.pl few; small [number]
sīsapāpaṇṇāni noun nt.acc.pl sīsapā leaves genitive tappurisa
45383 pāṇinā noun masc.instr.sg with the (my) hand
24683 gahitāni pp nt.acc.pl held √gah + ita
53973 yāni pron nt.acc.pl which
66665 ind conj or
15971 upari ind prep above
63281 sīsapāvane noun nt.loc.sg in the grove of Dalbergia (or sīsapā) trees kammadhāraya
30431 ti (iti) ind quotation mark end of direct speech

“What do you think [about] this (lit: what [is] that you think), monks, which is more, the few sīsapā leaves that have been taken with (i.e. in) my hand or [those] which [are] above in the sīsapā grove?”

Appamattakāni, bhante, bhagavatā parittāni sīsapāpaṇṇāni pāṇinā gahitāni; atha kho etāneva bahutarāni yadidaṃ upari sīsapāvane”ti.

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
6960 Appamattakāni adj nt.acc.pl small; tiny; minute; insignificant
49408 bhante noun masc.voc.sg Venerable Sir
49147 bhagavā noun masc.instr.sg by the Blessed One
43492 parittāni pp(adj) nt.acc.pl few; small [number]
63280 sīsapāpaṇṇāni noun nt.acc.pl sīsapā leaves genitive tappurisa
45383 pāṇinā noun masc.instr.sg with the hand
24683 gahitāni pp nt.acc.pl held √gah + ita
2789 atha kho ind+ind but rather (lit: but still)
17903 etāni pron nt.nom.pl these
18051 eva ind emph just
48132 bahutarāni adj nt.nom.pl more
53750 yadidaṃ sandhi namely; that is
53872 #yaṃ pron nt.nom.sg that; which
13628 #idaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
15971 upari ind prep above
63281 sīsapāvane noun nt.loc.sg in the grove of Dalbergia (or sīsapā) trees kammadhāraya
30431 ti (iti) ind quotation mark end of direct speech

“A trifle, Venerable Sir, the few sīsapā leaves held with the hand by the Blessed One, but rather these are indeed (lit: just) more, namely, [they] which [are] above in the sīsapā grove.”

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, etadeva bahutaraṃ yaṃ vo mayā abhiññāya
anakkhātaṃ. Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā anakkhātaṃ?

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
18109 Evameva sandhi similarly; in the same way; just so
18134 evaṃ ind adv this; thus
18051 eva ind emph only; just
23966 kho ind emph indeed
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
17871 etadeva sandhi just this
17855 #etad pron nt.nom.sg this
18051 #eva ind emph only; just
48132 bahutaraṃ adj nt.nom.sg more; greater
yaṃ pron nt.nom.sg that; which
vo pron 2nd.dat.pl to you
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
7691 abhiññāya verb ger/abs directly knowing; understanding experientially; has been directly known abhi + √ñā + ya
3456 anakkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg not made known; unstated na + ā + √khā + ta
20787 Kasmā ind interr why
25662 ca ind conj and
17896 etaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
3456 anakkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has not been made known; unstated na + ā + √khā + ta

Similarly, monks, indeed just this that has been directly known by me [but] not made known to you is greater. And why, monks, has this not been made known by me?

Na hetaṃ, bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ nādibrahmacariyakaṃ na nibbidāya na virāgāya na nirodhāya na upasamāya na abhiññāya na sambodhāya na nibbānāya saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā anakkhātaṃ.

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
35345 na ind neg not
71213 hi ind because
17896 etaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
2696 atthasaṃhitaṃ adj nt.nom.sg profitable; beneficial (lit: connected with benefit) tatiyā tappurisa
2598 #atthena noun masc.instr.sg benefit; profit
62024 #saṃhitaṃ pp masc.nom.pl connected (with) saṃ + √dhā + ita
36204 nādibrahmacariya+kaṃ adj masc.nom.pl not fundamental to the spiritual life kammadhāraya
35345 #na ind neg not
11578 #ādibrahmacariya+kaṃ adj masc.nom.pl fundamental to the spiritual life kammadhāraya > bahubbīhi
11537 ##ādi adj masc. fundamental (to); essential (to)
48913 ##brahmacariya+kaṃ adj masc.nom.pl (to) the holy life; (to) the spiritual life kammadhāraya+kā
48906 ###brahma adj masc. holy
26317 ###cariya+kaṃ noun nt.nom.sg conduct; way of behaving; state of life
35345 na ind neg not
37660 nibbidāya noun fem.dat.sg disenchantment
68871 virāgāya noun masc.dat.sg dispassion; fading of desire
38097 nirodhāya noun masc.dat.sg cessation
16108 upasamāya noun masc.dat.sg calmness; stillness
7679 abhiññāya noun fem.dat.sg higher understanding; direct knowledge
37570 nibbānāya noun nt.dat.sg complete quenching; total emancipation; nibbāna
61869 saṃvattanti verb pr.3rd.pl (+dat) lead to; result in saṃ + √vatt + a + ti
30148 tasmā ind adv therefore; that is why (lit: from that)
30215 taṃ pron nt.nom.sg that; this
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
3456 anakkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has not been made known; unstated na + ā + √khā + ta

Because, monks, this is not beneficial; [it is] not fundamental to the spiritual life, it does not lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stillness, to higher understanding, to total emancipation. Therefore, that has not been made known by me. (lit: it leads not to disenchantment, not to dispassion…)

Kiñca, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? ‘Idaṃ dukkhanti, bhikkhave, mayā
akkhātaṃ; ‘ayaṃ dukkhasamudayoti mayā akkhātaṃ; ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhoti mayā akkhātaṃ; ‘ayaṃ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadāti mayā akkhātaṃ. Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? Etaṃ hi, bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ etaṃ ādibrahmacariyakaṃ etaṃ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā akkhātaṃ.

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
21956 Kiṃ pron nt.nom.sg what
25662 ca ind conj and
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
399 akkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has been made known; declared ā + √khā + ta
13628 idaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
32877 dukkhaṃ noun nt.nom.sg suffering
30431 ti (iti) ind quotation mark end of direct speech
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
8757 ayaṃ pron masc.nom.sg this
32949 dukkhasamudayo noun masc.nom.sg origin (or arising) of suffering chaṭṭhī tappurisa
30431 ti (iti) ind quotation mark end of direct speech
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
399 akkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has been made known; declared ā + √khā + ta
8757 ayaṃ pron masc.nom.sg this
32904 dukkhanirodho noun masc.nom.sg the cessation of suffering chaṭṭhī tappurisa
30431 ti (iti) ind quotation mark end of direct speech
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
399 akkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has been made known; declared ā + √khā + ta
8757 ayaṃ pron fem.nom.sg this
32908 dukkhanirodhagāminī adj fem.nom.sg leading to the cessation of suffering dutiyā tappurisa
40548 paṭipadā noun fem.nom.sg the way
30431 ti (iti) ind quotation mark end of direct speech
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
399 akkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has been made known; declared ā + √khā + ta

And what, monks, has been declared by me? “This [is] suffering” has been declared by me; “This [is] the origin of suffering”has been declared by me; “This [is] the cessation of suffering” has been declared by me; “This [is] the way leading to the cessation of suffering” has been declared by me.

Kasmā cetaṃ, bhikkhave, mayā akkhātaṃ? Etaṃ hi, bhikkhave, atthasaṃhitaṃ etaṃ ādibrahmacariyakaṃ etaṃ nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati; tasmā taṃ mayā akkhātaṃ.

ID Pāli POS Grammar English Construction
20787 Kasmā ind interr why
25662 ca ind conj and
17896 etaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
399 akkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has been made known; declared ā + √khā + ta
17896 etaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
71213 hi ind because
49868 bhikkhave noun masc.voc.pl monks
2696 atthasaṃhitaṃ adj nt.nom.sg profitable; beneficial (lit: connected with benefit) tatiyā tappurisa
17896 etaṃ pron nt.nom.sg this
37660 nibbidāya noun fem.dat.sg disenchantment
68871 virāgāya noun masc.dat.sg dispassion; fading of desire
38097 nirodhāya noun masc.dat.sg cessation
16108 upasamāya noun masc.dat.sg calmness; stillness
7679 abhiññāya noun fem.dat.sg higher understanding; direct knowledge
37570 nibbānāya noun nt.dat.sg complete quenching; total emancipation; nibbāna
61869 saṃvattanti verb pr.3rd.pl (+dat) lead to; result in saṃ + √vatt + a + ti
30148 tasmā ind adv therefore; that is why (lit: from that)
30215 taṃ pron nt.nom.sg that; this
51429 mayā pron 1st.instr.sg by me
399 akkhātaṃ pp nt.nom.sg has been made known; declared ā + √khā + ta

And why, monks, has this been declared by me? Because, monks, this is beneficial; [it is] fundamental to the spiritual life, it leads to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to stillness, to higher understanding, to total emancipation. Therefore, this has been declared by me.

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