Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

8: The Book of the Eights

41. In Brief

1Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus!"

"Venerable sir!" those bhikkhus replied. The Blessed One said this:

2"Bhikkhus, observed complete in eight factors, the uposatha is of great fruit and benefit, extraordinarily brilliant and pervasive. And how is the uposatha observed complete in eight factors, so that it is of great fruit and benefit, extraordinarily brilliant and pervasive? [n.1713] On the noble ones’ uposatha observance, see AN3.70.

(1) "Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple reflects thus: As long as they live the arahants abandon and abstain from the destruction of life; with the rod and weapon laid aside, conscientious and kindly, they dwell compassionate toward all living beings. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abandon and abstain from the destruction of life; with the rod and weapon laid aside, conscientious and kindly, I too shall dwell compassionate toward all living beings. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the first factor it possesses.

3(2) "‘As long as they live the arahants abandon and abstain from taking what is not given; they take only what is given, expect only what is given, and dwell honestly without thoughts of theft. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abandon and abstain from taking what is not given; I shall accept only what is given, expect only what is given, and dwell honestly without thoughts of theft. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the second factor it possesses.

4(3) "‘As long as they live the arahants abandon sexual activity and observe celibacy, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common person's practice. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abandon sexual activity and observe celibacy, living apart, abstaining from sexual intercourse, the common person's practice. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the third factor it possesses.

5(4) "‘As long as they live the arahants abandon and abstain from false speech; they speak truth, adhere to truth; they are trustworthy and reliable, no deceivers of the world. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abandon and abstain from false speech; I shall speak truth, adhere to truth; I shall be trustworthy and reliable, no deceiver of the world. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the fourth factor it possesses.

6(5) "‘As long as they live the arahants abandon and abstain from liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abandon and abstain from liquor, wine, and intoxicants, the basis for heedlessness. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the fifth factor it possesses.

7(6) "‘As long as they live the arahants eat once a day, abstaining from eating at night and from food outside the proper time. Today, for this night and day, I too shall eat once a day, abstaining from eating at night and from food outside the proper time. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the sixth factor it possesses.

8(7) "‘As long as they live the arahants abstain from dancing, singing, instrumental music, and unsuitable shows, and from adorning and beautifying themselves by wearing garlands and applying scents and unguents. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abstain from dancing, singing, instrumental music, and unsuitable shows, and from adorning and beautifying myself by wearing garlands and applying scents and unguents. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the seventh factor it possesses.

9(8) "‘As long as they live the arahants abandon and abstain from the use of high and luxurious beds; they lie down on a low resting place, either a small bed or a straw mat. Today, for this night and day, I too shall abandon and abstain from the use of high and luxurious beds; I shall lie down on a low resting place, either a small bed or a straw mat. I shall imitate the arahants in this respect and the uposatha will be observed by me.’ This is the eighth factor it possesses.

10"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that the uposatha is observed complete in eight factors, so that it is of great fruit and benefit, extraordinarily brilliant and pervasive."

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ—​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti.

"Bhadante"ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

2"Aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato, bhikkhave, uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro. Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (1)

3‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratā dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharanti. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā dutiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (2)

4‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārino ārācārino viratā methunā gāmadhammā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārī ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā tatiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (3)

5‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratā saccavādino saccasandhā thetā paccayikā avisaṁvādako lokassa. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato saccavādī saccasandho theto paccayiko avisaṁvādako lokassa. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā catutthena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (4)

6‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā pañcamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (5)

7‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto ekabhattikā rattūparatā viratā vikālabhojanā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ ekabhattiko rattūparato virato vikālabhojanā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā chaṭṭhena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (6)

8‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā sattamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (7)

9‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappenti – mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemi – mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti. (8)

10Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro"ti.


Paṭhamaṁ.

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