1On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Verañjā at the foot of Naḷeru's neem tree. Then Pahārāda, ruler of the asuras, approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and stood to one side. The Blessed One then said to him:

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā verañjāyaṁ viharati naḷerupucimandamūle. Atha kho pahārādo asurindo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho pahārādaṁ asurindaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: 

2"Pahārāda, do the asuras take delight in the great ocean?"

2"Api pana, pahārāda, asurā mahāsamudde abhiramantī"ti?

"Bhante, the asuras do take delight in the great ocean."

"Abhiramanti, bhante, asurā mahāsamudde"ti.

"But, Pahārāda, how many astounding and amazing qualities do the asuras see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it?"

"Kati pana, pahārāda, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramantī"ti?

"The asuras see eight astounding and amazing qualities in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it. What eight?

"Aṭṭha, bhante, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Katame aṭṭha?

(1) "The great ocean, Bhante, slants, slopes, and inclines gradually, not dropping off abruptly.[n.1671] This last phrase is commonly rendered "with a sudden drop-off only after a long stretch." But the Pāli na āyataken’eva papāto, with the negative particle na, actually means the opposite: that there is no sudden drop-off. See DOP sv āyataka, instr. āyatakena, "suddenly, abruptly; of a sudden." Mp explains: "It doesn’t drop off at once like a steep precipice or deep pit. Beginning at the shore, it grows deeper by inches, feet, yards, (and successively longer measures) until it is 84,000 yojanas deep at the base of Mount Sineru." This is the first astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it.

Mahāsamuddo, bhante, anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto. Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (1)

3(2) "Again, the great ocean is stable and does not overflow its boundaries. This is the second astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean ….

3Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati. Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (2)

4(3) "Again, the great ocean does not associate with a corpse, but quickly carries it to the coast and washes it ashore. This is the third astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean ….

4Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati. Yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ, taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti. Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati, yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ, taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (3)

5(4) "Again, when the great rivers—the Ganges, the Yamunā, the Aciravatī, the Sarabhū, and the Mahī—reach the great ocean, they give up their former names and designations and are simply called the great ocean. This is the fourth astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean ….

5Puna caparaṁ, bhante, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ – gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti. Yampi, bhante, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ – gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (4)

6(5) "Again, whatever streams in the world flow into the great ocean and however much rain falls into it from the sky, neither a decrease nor a filling up can be seen in the great ocean. This is the fifth astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean ….

6Puna caparaṁ, bhante, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati. Yampi, bhante, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (5)

7(6) "Again, the great ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt. This is the sixth astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean ….

7Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso. Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (6)

8(7) "Again, the great ocean contains many precious substances, numerous precious substances such as pearls, gems, lapis lazuli, conch, quartz, coral, silver, gold, rubies, and cats-eye. This is the seventh astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean ….

8Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano. Tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ – muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitako masāragallaṁ. Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ – muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitako masāragallaṁ; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. (7)

9(8) "Again, the great ocean is the abode of great beings such as timis, timingalas, timirapingalas, asuras, nāgas, and gandhabbas.[n.1672] The first three are legendary fish of gigantic size. There are in the great ocean beings with bodies one hundred yojanas long, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, and five hundred yojanas long. This is the eighth astounding and amazing quality that the asuras see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it.

"These, Bhante, are the eight astounding and amazing qualities that the asuras see in the great ocean because of which they take delight in it. But do the bhikkhus take delight in this Dhamma and discipline?"

9Puna caparaṁ, bhante, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā – timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā. Santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, tiyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, catuyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā. Yampi, bhante, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā – timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā … pe … tiyojana … catuyojana … pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; ayaṁ, bhante, mahāsamudde aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

"Pahārāda, the bhikkhus do take delight in this Dhamma and discipline."

Ime kho, bhante, mahāsamudde aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramantīti. (8)

10"But, Bhante, how many astounding and amazing qualities do the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline because of which they take delight in it?"

10Api pana, bhante, bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī"ti? "Abhiramanti, pahārāda, bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye"ti. "Kati pana, bhante, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī"ti?

"The bhikkhus see eight astounding and amazing qualities in this Dhamma and discipline because of which they take delight in it. What eight?

"Aṭṭha, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. Katame aṭṭha?

(1) "Just as, Pahārāda, the great ocean slants, slopes, and inclines gradually, not dropping off abruptly, so too, in this Dhamma and discipline penetration to final knowledge occurs by gradual training, gradual activity, and gradual practice, not abruptly.[n.1673] Anupubbasikkhā, anupubbakiriyā, anupubbapaṭipadā. I take these to be truncated instrumentals relative to aññāpaṭivedho. Mp glosses them with anupubbasikkhāya, etc. Mp correlates each term with a set of training factors: "By gradual training the three trainings are included (see AN3.89); by gradual activity, the thirteen ascetic practices (see Vism chap. 2); and by gradual practice, the seven contemplations, the eighteen great insights (see Vism 694,3–27, Ppn 22.113), the thirty-eight meditation objects, and the thirty-seven aids to enlightenment. Penetration to final knowledge occurs … not abruptly (na āyataken’eva aññāpaṭivedho): there is no penetration to arahantship all at once (ādito va) like the hopping of a frog, without having fulfilled virtuous behavior and so forth. One is able to attain arahantship only after having fulfilled in due order (paṭipātiyā) virtuous behavior, concentration, and wisdom." See too MN I 479. This is the first astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline because of which they take delight in it.

Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho. Yampi, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (1)

11(2) "Just as the great ocean is stable and does not overflow its boundaries, so too, when I have prescribed a training rule for my disciples, they will not transgress it even for life's sake. This is the second astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline ….

11Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, yaṁ mayā sāvakānaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ taṁ mama sāvakā jīvitahetupi nātikkamanti. Yampi, pahārāda, mayā sāvakānaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ taṁ mama sāvakā jīvitahetupi nātikkamanti; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (2)

12(3) "Just as the great ocean does not associate with a corpse, but quickly carries it to the coast and washes it ashore, so too, the Saṅgha does not associate with a person who is immoral, of bad character, impure, of suspect behavior, secretive in his actions, not an ascetic though claiming to be one, not a celibate though claiming to be one, inwardly rotten, corrupt, depraved; rather, it quickly assembles and expels him.

12Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati. Yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ, taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti thalaṁ ussāreti; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, yo so puggalo dussīlo pāpadhammo asucisaṅkassarasamācāro paṭicchannakammanto assamaṇo samaṇapaṭiñño abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño antopūti avassuto kasambujāto, na tena saṅgho saṁvasati; khippameva naṁ sannipatitvā ukkhipati.

13Even though he is seated in the midst of the Saṅgha of bhikkhus, yet he is far from the Saṅgha and the Saṅgha is far from him. This is the third astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline ….

13Kiñcāpi so hoti majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa sannisinno, atha kho so ārakāva saṅghamhā saṅgho ca tena. Yampi, pahārāda, yo so puggalo dussīlo pāpadhammo asucisaṅkassarasamācāro paṭicchannakammanto assamaṇo samaṇapaṭiñño abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño antopūti avassuto kasambujāto, na tena saṅgho saṁvasati; khippameva naṁ sannipatitvā ukkhipati; kiñcāpi so hoti majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa sannisinno, atha kho so ārakāva saṅghamhā saṅgho ca tena; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (3)

14(4) "Just as, when the great rivers … reach the great ocean, they give up their former names and designations and are simply called the great ocean, so too, when members of the four social classes—khattiyas, brahmins, vessas, and suddas—go forth from the household life into homelessness in the Dhamma and discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, they give up their former names and clans and are simply called ascetics following the Sakyan son. This is the fourth astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline ….

14Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ – gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, cattārome vaṇṇā – khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā, te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘samaṇā sakyaputtiyā’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti. Yampi, pahārāda, cattārome vaṇṇā – khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā, te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘samaṇā sakyaputtiyā’ tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (4)

15(5) "Just as, whatever streams in the world flow into the great ocean and however much rain falls into it from the sky, neither a decrease nor a filling up can be seen in the great ocean, so too, even if many bhikkhus attain final nibbāna by way of the nibbāna element without residue remaining, neither a decrease nor a filling up can be seen in the nibbāna element.[n.1674] Na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā purattaṁ vā paññāyati. Mp: "When no Buddhas have arisen in countless eons, it is not possible for even one being to attain nibbāna. Yet one cannot say, ‘The nibbāna element is empty.’ And during the time of a Buddha, when countless beings attain the deathless at a single assembly, one cannot say, ‘The nibbāna element has become full.’" This is the fifth astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline ….

15Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, bahū cepi bhikkhū anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyanti, na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati. Yampi, pahārāda, bahū cepi bhikkhū anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyanti, na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (5)

16(6) "Just as the great ocean has but one taste, the taste of salt, so too, this Dhamma and discipline has but one taste, the taste of liberation. This is the sixth astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline ….

16Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo ekaraso, vimuttiraso. Yampi, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo ekaraso, vimuttiraso; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (6)

17(7) "Just as the great ocean contains many precious substances, numerous precious substances such as pearls … cats-eye, so too, this Dhamma and discipline contains many precious substances, numerous precious substances: the four establishments of mindfulness, the four right strivings, the four bases for psychic potency, the five spiritual faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of enlightenment, the noble eightfold path. This is the seventh astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline ….

17Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ – muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitako masāragallaṁ; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo bahuratano anekaratano. Tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ – cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, cattāro sammappadhānā, cattāro iddhipādā, pañcindriyāni, pañca balāni, satta bojjhaṅgā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo. Yampi, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ – cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, cattāro sammappadhānā, cattāro iddhipādā, pañcindriyāni, pañca balāni, satta bojjhaṅgā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (7)

18(8) "Just as the great ocean is the abode of great beings such as timis … … gandhabbas; and as there are in the great ocean beings with bodies one hundred yojanas long … five hundred yojanas long, so too this Dhamma and discipline is the abode of great beings: the stream-enterer, the one practicing for realization of the fruit of stream-entry; the once-returner, the one practicing for realization of the fruit of once-returning; the non-returner, the one practicing for realization of the fruit of non-returning; the arahant, the one practicing for arahantship. This is the eighth astounding and amazing quality that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline because of which they take delight in it.

18Seyyathāpi, pahārāda, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā – timi timiṅgalo timirapiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā; santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, tiyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, catuyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; evamevaṁ kho, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā – sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, sakadāgāmī sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, anāgāmī anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, arahā arahattāya paṭipanno. Yampi, pahārāda, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso; tatrime bhūtā – sotāpanno sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, sakadāgāmī sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, anāgāmī anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, arahā arahattāya paṭipanno; ayaṁ, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. (8)

19"These, Pahārāda, are the eight astounding and amazing qualities that the bhikkhus see in this Dhamma and discipline because of which they take delight in it."

19Ime kho, pahārāda, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī"ti.

Navamaṁ.