The Anthill

0.1Majjhima Nikāya 23

0.1The Middle Length Discourses 23

0.2Vammikasutta

0.2The Anthill

1.1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.1Thus have I heard—

1.2ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

1.2At one time the Bhagavā was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.

1.3Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā kumārakassapo andhavane viharati.

1.3Now at that time Venerable Kumārakassapa was dwelling in Andhavana.

1.4Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ andhavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāyasmā kumārakassapo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā āyasmantaṁ kumārakassapaṁ etadavoca:

1.4Then, late in the night, a certain devatā, beautiful in appearance, lighting up the whole of Andhavana, approached Venerable Kumārakassapa. Having approached, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, that devatā said this to Venerable Kumārakassapa:

2.1“Bhikkhu bhikkhu, ayaṁ vammiko rattiṁ dhūmāyati, divā pajjalati.

2.1“bhikkhu, bhikkhu, this anthill smokes by night, flames by day.

2.2Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.2The brahmin said this:

2.3‘abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.3‘Dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.4Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa laṅgiṁ

2.4Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a bolt.

2.5‘laṅgī, bhadante’ti.

2.5‘A bolt, sir.’

2.6Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.6The brahmin said this:

2.7‘ukkhipa laṅgiṁ;

2.7‘Lift out the bolt;

2.8abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.8dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.9Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa uddhumāyikaṁ.

2.9Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a swollen thing.

2.10‘Uddhumāyikā, bhadante’ti.

2.10‘A swollen thing, sir.’

2.11Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.11The brahmin said this:

2.12‘ukkhipa uddhumāyikaṁ;

2.12‘Lift out the swollen thing;

2.13abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.13dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.14Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa dvidhāpathaṁ.

2.14Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a fork in the road.

2.15‘Dvidhāpatho, bhadante’ti.

2.15‘A fork in the road, sir.’

2.16Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.16The brahmin said this:

2.17‘ukkhipa dvidhāpathaṁ;

2.17‘Lift out the fork in the road;

2.18abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.18dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.19Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa caṅgavāraṁ.

2.19Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a barrier.

2.20‘Caṅgavāro, bhadante’ti.

2.20‘A barrier, sir.’

2.21Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.21The brahmin said this:

2.22‘ukkhipa caṅgavāraṁ;

2.22‘Lift out the barrier;

2.23abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.23dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.24Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa kummaṁ.

2.24Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a tortoise.

2.25‘Kummo, bhadante’ti.

2.25‘A tortoise, sir.’

2.26Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.26The brahmin said this:

2.27‘ukkhipa kummaṁ;

2.27‘Lift out the tortoise;

2.28abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.28dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.29Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa asisūnaṁ.

2.29Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a chopping block.

2.30‘Asisūnā, bhadante’ti.

2.30‘A chopping block, sir.’

2.31Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.31The brahmin said this:

2.32‘ukkhipa asisūnaṁ;

2.32‘Lift out the chopping block;

2.33abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.33dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.34Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa maṁsapesiṁ.

2.34Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a piece of meat.

2.35‘Maṁsapesi, bhadante’ti.

2.35‘A piece of meat, sir.’

2.36Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.36The brahmin said this:

2.37‘ukkhipa maṁsapesiṁ;

2.37‘Lift out the piece of meat;

2.38abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā’ti.

2.38dig, wise one, taking the spade.’

2.39Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya addasa nāgaṁ.

2.39Digging, the wise one, taking the spade, saw a nāga.

2.40‘Nāgo, bhadante’ti.

2.40‘A nāga, sir.’

2.41Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

2.41The brahmin said this:

2.42‘tiṭṭhatu nāgo, mā nāgaṁ ghaṭṭesi; namo karohi nāgassā’ti.

2.42‘Let the nāga remain; do not disturb the nāga; pay homage to the nāga.’

2.43Ime kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, pañhe bhagavantaṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyāsi, yathā ca te bhagavā byākaroti tathā naṁ dhāreyyāsi.

2.43You should approach the Bhagavā and ask him these questions, bhikkhu; and as the Bhagavā answers you, so should you remember it.

2.44Nāhaṁ taṁ, bhikkhu, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya, yo imesaṁ pañhānaṁ veyyākaraṇena cittaṁ ārādheyya aññatra tathāgatena vā, tathāgatasāvakena vā, ito vā pana sutvā”ti—

2.44I do not see anyone in this world with its devatās, Māra, and Brahmā, in this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its devatās and humans, who could satisfy your mind [cittaṁ] with an explanation of these questions, apart from the Tathāgata, or a disciple of the Tathāgata, or one who had heard it from them.”

2.45Idamavoca sā devatā.

2.45That is what the devatā said.

2.46Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

2.46Having said this, she vanished right there.

3.1Atha kho āyasmā kumārakassapo tassā rattiyā accayena yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā kumārakassapo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.1Then, when that night had passed, Venerable Kumārakassapa approached the Bhagavā. Having approached, he paid homage to the Bhagavā and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Kumārakassapa said this to the Bhagavā:

3.2“imaṁ, bhante, rattiṁ aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ andhavanaṁ obhāsetvā yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho, bhante, sā devatā maṁ etadavoca:

3.2“Bhante, tonight a certain devatā, beautiful in appearance, lighting up the whole of Andhavana, approached me. Having approached, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, bhante, that devatā said this to me:

3.3‘bhikkhu bhikkhu, ayaṁ vammiko rattiṁ dhūmāyati, divā pajjalati.

3.3‘bhikkhu, bhikkhu, this anthill smokes by night, flames by day.

3.4Brāhmaṇo evamāha:

3.4The brahmin said this:

3.5“abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyā”ti.

3.5“Dig, wise one, taking the spade.”

3.6Abhikkhaṇanto sumedho satthaṁ ādāya …pe…

3.6Digging, the wise one, taking the spade …

3.7ito vā pana sutvā’ti.

3.7or one who had heard it from them.’

3.8Idamavoca, bhante, sā devatā.

3.8That is what the devatā said, bhante.

3.9Idaṁ vatvā tatthevantaradhāyi.

3.9Having said this, she vanished right there.

3.10Ko nu kho, bhante, vammiko, kā rattiṁ dhūmāyanā, kā divā pajjalanā, ko brāhmaṇo, ko sumedho, kiṁ satthaṁ, kiṁ abhikkhaṇaṁ, kā laṅgī, kā uddhumāyikā, ko dvidhāpatho, kiṁ caṅgavāraṁ, ko kummo, kā asisūnā, kā maṁsapesi, ko nāgo”ti?

3.10What, bhante, is the anthill, what is smoking by night, what is flaming by day, who is the brahmin, who is the wise one, what is the spade, what is digging, what is the bolt, what is the swollen thing, what is the fork in the road, what is the barrier, what is the tortoise, what is the chopping block, what is the piece of meat, and what is the nāga?”

4.1“‘Vammiko’ti kho, bhikkhu, imassetaṁ cātumahābhūtikassa kāyassa adhivacanaṁ, mātāpettikasambhavassa odanakummāsūpacayassa aniccucchādanaparimaddanabhedanaviddhaṁsanadhammassa.

4.1“‘Anthill,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for this body made of the four great elements, produced by mother and father, built up from rice and porridge, liable to constant cleaning and rubbing, to breaking up and destruction.

4.2Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, divā kammante ārabbha rattiṁ anuvitakketi anuvicāreti—

4.2Whatever, bhikkhu, one by day, concerning one’s activities, thinks over [anuvitakketi] and examines [anuvicāreti] by night—

4.3ayaṁ rattiṁ dhūmāyanā.

4.3this is smoking by night.

4.4Yaṁ kho, bhikkhu, rattiṁ anuvitakketvā anuvicāretvā divā kammante payojeti kāyena vācāya manasā—

4.4Whatever, bhikkhu, having thought over [anuvitakketvā] and examined [anuvicāretvā] by night, one by day sets in motion in one’s activities by body, speech, and mind—

4.5ayaṁ divā pajjalanā.

4.5this is flaming by day.

4.6‘Brāhmaṇo’ti kho, bhikkhu, tathāgatassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ arahato sammāsambuddhassa.

4.6‘Brahmin,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for the Tathāgata, the arahant, the perfectly awakened one.

4.7‘Sumedho’ti kho, bhikkhu, sekkhassetaṁ bhikkhuno adhivacanaṁ.

4.7‘Wise one,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for a trainee bhikkhu.

4.8‘Satthan’ti kho, bhikkhu, ariyāyetaṁ paññāya adhivacanaṁ.

4.8‘Spade,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for noble discernment [paññāya].

4.9‘Abhikkhaṇan’ti kho, bhikkhu, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

4.9‘Digging,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for the arousing of energy.

4.10‘Laṅgī’ti kho, bhikkhu, avijjāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

4.10‘Bolt,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for blindness [avijjāya].

4.11Ukkhipa laṅgiṁ, pajaha avijjaṁ;

4.11Lift out the bolt, abandon blindness [avijjaṁ];

4.12abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.12dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.13‘Uddhumāyikā’ti kho, bhikkhu, kodhūpāyāsassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

4.13‘Swollen thing,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for anger and distress.

4.14Ukkhipa uddhumāyikaṁ, pajaha kodhūpāyāsaṁ;

4.14Lift out the swollen thing, abandon anger and distress;

4.15abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.15dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.16‘Dvidhāpatho’ti kho, bhikkhu, vicikicchāyetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

4.16‘Fork in the road,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for doubt.

4.17Ukkhipa dvidhāpathaṁ, pajaha vicikicchaṁ;

4.17Lift out the fork in the road, abandon doubt;

4.18abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.18dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.19‘Caṅgavāran’ti kho, bhikkhu, pañcannetaṁ nīvaraṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—

4.19‘Barrier,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for the five hindrances, that is:

4.20kāmacchandanīvaraṇassa, byāpādanīvaraṇassa, thinamiddhanīvaraṇassa, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇassa, vicikicchānīvaraṇassa.

4.20the hindrance of sensual desire, the hindrance of ill will, the hindrance of dullness and drowsiness, the hindrance of restlessness and चिंता, the hindrance of doubt.

4.21Ukkhipa caṅgavāraṁ, pajaha pañca nīvaraṇe;

4.21Lift out the barrier, abandon the five hindrances;

4.22abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.22dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.23‘Kummo’ti kho, bhikkhu, pañcannetaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ adhivacanaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—

4.23‘Tortoise,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for the five aggregates of clinging/feeding [upādānakkhandhānaṁ], that is:

4.24rūpupādānakkhandhassa, vedanupādānakkhandhassa, saññupādānakkhandhassa, saṅkhārupādānakkhandhassa, viññāṇupādānakkhandhassa.

4.24the form aggregate of clinging/feeding [rūpupādānakkhandhassa], the vedanā aggregate of clinging/feeding [vedanupādānakkhandhassa], the saññā aggregate of clinging/feeding [saññupādānakkhandhassa], the saṅkhāra aggregate of clinging/feeding [saṅkhārupādānakkhandhassa], the consciousness [viññāṇa] aggregate of clinging/feeding [viññāṇupādānakkhandhassa].

4.25Ukkhipa kummaṁ, pajaha pañcupādānakkhandhe;

4.25Lift out the tortoise, abandon the five aggregates of clinging/feeding [pañcupādānakkhandhe];

4.26abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.26dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.27‘Asisūnā’ti kho, bhikkhu, pañcannetaṁ kāmaguṇānaṁ adhivacanaṁ—

4.27‘Chopping block,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for the five cords of sensual pleasure—

4.28cakkhuviññeyyānaṁ rūpānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ,

4.28forms cognizable by the eye, desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, connected with sensuality, enticing,

4.29sotaviññeyyānaṁ saddānaṁ …pe…

4.29sounds cognizable by the ear …

4.30ghānaviññeyyānaṁ gandhānaṁ …pe…

4.30smells cognizable by the nose …

4.31jivhāviññeyyānaṁ rasānaṁ …pe…

4.31tastes cognizable by the tongue …

4.32kāyaviññeyyānaṁ phoṭṭhabbānaṁ iṭṭhānaṁ kantānaṁ manāpānaṁ piyarūpānaṁ kāmūpasaṁhitānaṁ rajanīyānaṁ.

4.32tangible things cognizable by the body, desirable, lovely, agreeable, pleasing, connected with sensuality, enticing.

4.33Ukkhipa asisūnaṁ, pajaha pañca kāmaguṇe;

4.33Lift out the chopping block, abandon the five cords of sensual pleasure;

4.34abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.34dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.35‘Maṁsapesī’ti kho, bhikkhu, nandīrāgassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.

4.35‘Piece of meat,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for delight and lust.

4.36Ukkhipa maṁsapesiṁ, pajaha nandīrāgaṁ;

4.36Lift out the piece of meat, abandon delight and lust;

4.37abhikkhaṇa, sumedha, satthaṁ ādāyāti ayametassa attho.

4.37dig, wise one, taking the spade: this is the meaning of that.

4.38‘Nāgo’ti kho, bhikkhu, khīṇāsavassetaṁ bhikkhuno adhivacanaṁ.

4.38‘Nāga,’ bhikkhu, is a designation for a bhikkhu with destroyed āsavas [khīṇāsavassa].

4.39Tiṭṭhatu nāgo, mā nāgaṁ ghaṭṭesi; namo karohi nāgassāti ayametassa attho”ti.

4.39Let the nāga remain; do not disturb the nāga; pay homage to the nāga: this is the meaning of that.”

4.40Idamavoca bhagavā.

4.40That is what the Bhagavā said.

4.41Attamano āyasmā kumārakassapo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

4.41Satisfied, Venerable Kumārakassapa rejoiced in what the Bhagavā had said.

4.42Vammikasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.

4.42The third is finished.