AN 8.14

Assakhaḷuṅkasutta

“Aṭṭha ca, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅke desessāmi aṭṭha ca assadose, aṭṭha ca purisakhaḷuṅke aṭṭha ca purisadose. Taṁ suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti. “Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

A Wild Colt

“Mendicants, I will teach you about eight wild colts and eight defects in horses, and about eight wild people and eight defects in people. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.” “Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Katame ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭha assakhaḷuṅkā aṭṭha ca assadosā? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā pacchato paṭikkamati, piṭṭhito rathaṁ pavatteti. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo assadoso.

“And what, mendicants, are the eight wild colts and eight defects in horses? Firstly, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts back right up and spin the chariot behind them. Some wild colts are like that. This is the first defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā pacchā laṅghati, kubbaraṁ hanati, tidaṇḍaṁ bhañjati. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo assadoso.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts jump back, wreck the hub, and break the triple rod. Some wild colts are like that. This is the second defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā rathīsāya satthiṁ ussajjitvā rathīsaṁyeva ajjhomaddati. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo assadoso.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts shake the draft-pole off their thigh and trample it. Some wild colts are like that. This is the third defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā ummaggaṁ gaṇhati, ubbaṭumaṁ rathaṁ karoti. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho assadoso.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts take a wrong turn, sending the chariot off track. Some wild colts are like that. This is the fourth defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā laṅghati purimakāyaṁ paggaṇhati purime pāde. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo assadoso.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts rear up and strike out with their fore-legs. Some wild colts are like that. This is the fifth defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā anādiyitvā sārathiṁ anādiyitvā patodalaṭṭhiṁ dantehi mukhādhānaṁ vidhaṁsitvā yena kāmaṁ pakkamati. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho assadoso.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts ignore the trainer and the goad, spit out the bit, and go wherever they want. Some wild colts are like that. This is the sixth defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā neva abhikkamati no paṭikkamati tattheva khīlaṭṭhāyī ṭhito hoti. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo assadoso.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts don’t step forward or turn back but stand right there still as a post. Some wild colts are like that. This is the seventh defect of a horse.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā purime ca pāde saṁharitvā pacchime ca pāde saṁharitvā tattheva cattāro pāde abhinisīdati. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco assakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo assadoso. Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha assakhaḷuṅkā aṭṭha ca assadosā.

Furthermore, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, some wild colts tuck in their fore-legs and hind-legs, and sit right down on their four legs. Some wild colts are like that. This is the eighth defect of a horse. These are the eight wild colts and the eight defects in horses.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭha purisakhaḷuṅkā aṭṭha ca purisadosā? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno ‘na sarāmī’ti asatiyā nibbeṭheti. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā pacchato paṭikkamati, piṭṭhito rathaṁ vatteti; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo purisadoso.

And what are the eight wild people and eight defects in people? Firstly, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant evades it by saying they don’t remember. I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, back right up and spin the chariot behind them. Some wild people are like that. This is the first defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno codakaṁyeva paṭippharati: ‘kiṁ nu kho tuyhaṁ bālassa abyattassa bhaṇitena. Tvampi nāma bhaṇitabbaṁ maññasī’ti. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā pacchā laṅghati, kubbaraṁ hanati, tidaṇḍaṁ bhañjati; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo purisadoso.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant objects to the accuser: ‘What has an incompetent fool like you got to say? How on earth could you imagine you’ve got something worth saying!’ I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, jump back, wreck the hub, and break the triple rod. Some wild people are like that. This is the second defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno codakasseva paccāropeti: ‘tvaṁ khosi itthannāmaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno, tvaṁ tāva paṭhamaṁ paṭikarohī’ti. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā rathīsāya satthiṁ ussajjitvā rathīsaṁyeva ajjhomaddati; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo purisadoso.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant retorts to the accuser: ‘Well, you’ve fallen into an offense named such-and-such. You should deal with that first.’ I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, shake the draft-pole off their thigh and trample it. Some wild people are like that. This is the third defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno aññenāññaṁ paṭicarati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmeti, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukaroti. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā ummaggaṁ gaṇhati, ubbaṭumaṁ rathaṁ karoti; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho purisadoso.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant dodges the issue, distracts the discussion with irrelevant points, and displays annoyance, hate, and bitterness. I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, take a wrong turn, sending the chariot off track. Some wild people are like that. This is the fourth defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno saṅghamajjhe bāhuvikkhepaṁ karoti. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā laṅghati, purimakāyaṁ paggaṇhati purime pāde; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo purisadoso.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant gesticulates while speaking in the middle of the Saṅgha. I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, rear up and strike out with their fore-legs. Some wild people are like that. This is the fifth defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno anādiyitvā saṅghaṁ anādiyitvā codakaṁ sāpattikova yena kāmaṁ pakkamati. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā anādiyitvā sārathiṁ anādiyitvā patodalaṭṭhiṁ dantehi mukhādhānaṁ vidhaṁsitvā yena kāmaṁ pakkamati; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho purisadoso.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant ignores the Saṅgha and the accusation and, though still guilty of the offense, they go wherever they want. I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, ignore the trainer and the goad, spit out the bit, and go wherever they want. Some wild people are like that. This is the sixth defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno ‘nevāhaṁ āpannomhi, na panāhaṁ āpannomhī’ti so tuṇhībhāvena saṅghaṁ viheṭheti. Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā neva abhikkamati no paṭikkamati tattheva khīlaṭṭhāyī ṭhito hoti; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo purisadoso.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant neither confesses to the offense nor denies it, but frustrates the Saṅgha by staying silent. I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, don’t step forward or turn back but stand right there still as a post. Some wild people are like that. This is the seventh defect of a person.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bhikkhuṁ āpattiyā codenti. So bhikkhu bhikkhūhi āpattiyā codiyamāno evamāha: ‘kiṁ nu kho tumhe āyasmanto atibāḷhaṁ mayi byāvaṭā yāva idānāhaṁ sikkhaṁ paccakkhāya hīnāyāvattissāmī’ti. So sikkhaṁ paccakkhāya hīnāyāvattitvā evamāha: ‘idāni kho tumhe āyasmanto attamanā hothā’ti? Seyyathāpi so, bhikkhave, assakhaḷuṅko ‘pehī’ti vutto, viddho samāno codito sārathinā purime ca pāde saṁharitvā pacchime ca pāde saṁharitvā tattheva cattāro pāde abhinisīdati; tathūpamāhaṁ, bhikkhave, imaṁ puggalaṁ vadāmi. Evarūpopi, bhikkhave, idhekacco purisakhaḷuṅko hoti. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, aṭṭhamo purisadoso. Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha purisakhaḷuṅkā aṭṭha ca purisadosā”ti.

Furthermore, the mendicants accuse a mendicant of an offense. But the accused mendicant says this: ‘Why are you venerables making so much of an issue over me? Now I’ll resign the training and return to a lesser life.’ When they have resigned the training, they say: ‘Well, venerables, are you happy now?’ I say that this individual is comparable to the wild colts who, when the trainer says ‘giddyup!’ and spurs and goads them on, tuck in their fore-legs and hind-legs, and sit right down on their four legs. Some wild people are like that. This is the eighth defect of a person. These are the eight wild people and eight defects in people.”