Iti 14

Avijjānīvaraṇasutta

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

The Shroud of Ignorance

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekanīvaraṇampi samanupassāmi yena nīvaraṇena nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsaranti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, avijjānīvaraṇaṁ. Avijjānīvaraṇena hi, bhikkhave, nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsarantī”ti. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Mendicants, I do not see a single shroud, shrouded by which people wander and transmigrate for a long time like the shroud of ignorance. Shrouded by ignorance, people wander and transmigrate for a long time.” The Buddha spoke this matter. On this it is said:

“Natthañño ekadhammopi, yenevaṁ nivutā pajā; Saṁsaranti ahorattaṁ, yathā mohena āvutā.

“There is no other thing that shrouds people like ignorance. Veiled by delusion, they transmigrate day and night.

Ye ca mohaṁ pahantvāna, tamokhandhaṁ padālayuṁ; Na te puna saṁsaranti, hetu tesaṁ na vijjatī”ti.

Those who have given up delusion, shattering the mass of darkness, wander no more, the root is not found in them.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.