1At Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove. Then thirty bhikkhus from Pava approached the Blessed One—all forest dwellers, almsfood eaters, rag-robe wearers, triple-robe users, yet all were still with fetters. [n.262] The same group of bhikkhus provided the occasion for the Buddha to institute the offering of the kaṭhina robe at the end of the Vassa, the annual rains residence; see Vin I 253–54. Forest dwelling, etc., are four of the ascetic practices (dhutaṅga). Spk: Yet all were still with fetters (sabbe sasaṁyojanā): Some were stream-enterers, some oncereturners, some nonreturners, but among them there were no worldlings or arahants. Having approached, they paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Then it occurred to the Blessed One: "These thirty bhikkhus from Pava are all forest dwellers, almsfood eaters, rag-robe wearers, triple-robe users, yet all are still with fetters. Let me teach them the Dhamma in such a way that while they are sitting in these very seats their minds will be liberated from the taints by nonclinging."

Then the Blessed One addressed those bhikkhus thus: "Bhikkhus!"

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

2"Bhikkhus, this saṁsara is without discoverable beginning. A first point is not discerned of beings roaming and wandering on hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving. What do you think, bhikkhus, which is more: the stream of blood that you have shed when you were beheaded as you roamed and wandered on through this long course—this or the water in the four great oceans?"

"As we understand the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One, venerable sir, the stream of blood that we have shed when we were beheaded as we roamed and wandered on through this long course—this alone sn.ii.188 is more than the water in the four great oceans."

3"Good, good, bhikkhus! It is good that you understand the Dhamma taught by me in such a way. The stream of blood that you have shed when you were beheaded as you roamed and wandered on through this long course—this alone is more than the water in the four great oceans. For a long time, bhikkhus, you have been cows, and when as cows you were beheaded, the stream of blood that you shed is greater than the waters in the four great oceans. For a long time you have been buffalo, sheep, goats, deer, chickens, and pigs … . For a long time you have been arrested as burglars, highwaymen, and adulterers, and when you were beheaded, the stream of blood that you shed is greater than the water in the four great oceans. For what reason? Because, bhikkhus, this saṁsara is without discoverable beginning … . It is enough to be liberated from them."

4This is what the Blessed One said. Elated, those bhikkhus delighted in the Blessed One's statement. sn.ii.189 And while this exposition was being spoken, the minds of the thirty bhikkhus from Pava were liberated from the taints by nonclinging.

1Rājagahe vihārati veḷuvane. Atha kho tiṁsamattā pāveyyakā bhikkhū sabbe āraññikā sabbe piṇḍapātikā sabbe paṁsukūlikā sabbe tecīvarikā sabbe sasaṁyojanā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: "ime kho tiṁsamattā pāveyyakā bhikkhū sabbe āraññikā sabbe piṇḍapātikā sabbe paṁsukūlikā sabbe tecīvarikā sabbe sasaṁyojanā. Yannūnāhaṁ imesaṁ tathā dhammaṁ deseyyaṁ yathā nesaṁ imasmiṁyeva āsane anupādāya āsavehi cittāni vimucceyyun"ti.

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: "bhikkhavo"ti.

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

2"Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro. Pubbā koṭi na paññāyati avijjānīvaraṇānaṁ sattānaṁ taṇhāsaṁyojanānaṁ sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ. Taṁ kiṁ maññatha, bhikkhave, katamaṁ nu kho bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vā vo iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, yaṁ vā catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakan"ti?

"Yathā kho mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāma, etadeva, bhante, bahutaraṁ, yaṁ no iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakan"ti.

3"Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhave, sādhu kho me tumhe, bhikkhave, evaṁ dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānātha. Etadeva, bhikkhave, bahutaraṁ, yaṁ vo iminā dīghena addhunā sandhāvataṁ saṁsarataṁ sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṁ. Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, gunnaṁ sataṁ gobhūtānaṁ sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṁ. Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, mahiṁsānaṁ sataṁ mahiṁsabhūtānaṁ sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ … pe … dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, urabbhānaṁ sataṁ urabbhabhūtānaṁ … pe … ajānaṁ sataṁ ajabhūtānaṁ … migānaṁ sataṁ migabhūtānaṁ … kukkuṭānaṁ sataṁ kukkuṭabhūtānaṁ … sūkarānaṁ sataṁ sūkarabhūtānaṁ … dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, corā gāmaghātāti gahetvā sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ. Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, corā pāripanthikāti gahetvā sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ. Dīgharattaṁ vo, bhikkhave, corā pāradārikāti gahetvā sīsacchinnānaṁ lohitaṁ passannaṁ paggharitaṁ, na tveva catūsu mahāsamuddesu udakaṁ. Taṁ kissa hetu? Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro … pe … alaṁ vimuccitun"ti.

4Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti. Imasmiñca pana veyyākaraṇasmiṁ bhaññamāne tiṁsamattānaṁ pāveyyakānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ anupādāya āsavehi cittāni vimucciṁsūti.

Tatiyaṁ.