SN 48.51

Sālasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu viharati sālāya brāhmaṇagāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci tiracchānagatā pāṇā, sīho migarājā tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—thāmena javena sūrena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye keci bodhipakkhiyā dhammā, paññindriyaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—bodhāya.

At Sālā

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Kosalans near the brahmin village of Sālā. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants: “Mendicants, the lion, king of beasts, is said to be the best of animals in terms of strength, speed, and courage. In the same way, the faculty of wisdom is said to be the best of the qualities on the side of awakening; that is, for becoming awakened.

Katame ca, bhikkhave, bodhipakkhiyā dhammā? Saddhindriyaṁ, bhikkhave, bodhipakkhiyo dhammo, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; vīriyindriyaṁ bodhipakkhiyo dhammo, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; satindriyaṁ bodhipakkhiyo dhammo, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; samādhindriyaṁ bodhipakkhiyo dhammo, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; paññindriyaṁ bodhipakkhiyo dhammo, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ye keci tiracchānagatā pāṇā, sīho migarājā tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—thāmena javena sūrena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye keci bodhipakkhiyā dhammā, paññindriyaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ—bodhāyā”ti.

And what are the qualities on the side of awakening? The faculties of faith, energy, mindfulness, immersion, and wisdom are qualities on the side of awakening, in that they lead to becoming awakened. The lion, king of beasts, is said to be the best of animals in terms of strength, speed, and courage. In the same way, the faculty of wisdom is said to be the best of the qualities on the side of awakening; that is, for becoming awakened.”