Ud 5.5

Uposathasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde. Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā tadahuposathe bhikkhusaṅghaparivuto nisinno hoti.

Sabbath

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery. Now, at that time it was the sabbath, and the Buddha was sitting surrounded by the Saṅgha of monks.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante paṭhame yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti; nikkhanto paṭhamo yāmo; ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho; uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

And then, as the night was getting late, in the first watch of the night, Venerable Ānanda rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha and said, “Sir, the night is getting late. It is the first watch of the night, and the Saṅgha of monks has been sitting long. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” But when he said this, the Buddha kept silent.

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante majjhime yāme, uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti; nikkhanto majjhimo yāmo; ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho; uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā tuṇhī ahosi.

For a second time, as the night was getting late, in the middle watch of the night, Ānanda rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha and said, “Sir, the night is getting late. It is the middle watch of the night, and the Saṅgha of monks has been sitting long. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” But for a second time the Buddha kept silent.

Tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando abhikkantāya rattiyā, nikkhante pacchime yāme, uddhaste aruṇe, nandimukhiyā rattiyā uṭṭhāyāsanā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā yena bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantā, bhante, ratti; nikkhanto pacchimo yāmo; uddhasto aruṇo; nandimukhī ratti; ciranisinno bhikkhusaṅgho; uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. “Aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisā”ti.

For a third time, as the night was getting late, in the last watch of the night, as dawn stirred, bringing joy to the night, Ānanda rose from his seat, arranged his robe over one shoulder, raised his cupped palms toward the Buddha and said, “Sir, the night is getting late. It is the last watch of the night and dawn stirs, bringing joy to the night. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” “Ānanda, the assembly is not pure.”

Atha kho āyasmato mahāmoggallānassa etadahosi: “kaṁ nu kho bhagavā puggalaṁ sandhāya evamāha: ‘aparisuddhā, ānanda, parisā’”ti? Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno sabbāvantaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ cetasā ceto paricca manasākāsi. Addasā kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ dussīlaṁ pāpadhammaṁ asuciṁ saṅkassarasamācāraṁ paṭicchannakammantaṁ assamaṇaṁ samaṇapaṭiññaṁ abrahmacāriṁ brahmacāripaṭiññaṁ antopūtiṁ avassutaṁ kasambujātaṁ majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa nisinnaṁ. Disvāna uṭṭhāyāsanā yena so puggalo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: “uṭṭhehi, āvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā; natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti. Evaṁ vutte, so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi.

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna thought, “Who is the Buddha talking about?” Then he focused on encompassing the minds of everyone in the Saṅgha. He saw that unethical individual, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, festering, and depraved, sitting in the middle of the Saṅgha. When he saw him he rose from his seat, went up to him and said, “Get up, reverend. The Buddha has seen you. You can’t live in communion with the monks.” But when he said this, that individual kept silent.

Dutiyampi kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ etadavoca: “uṭṭhehi, āvuso, diṭṭhosi bhagavatā; natthi te bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ saṁvāso”ti. Dutiyampi kho …pe… tatiyampi kho so puggalo tuṇhī ahosi.

For a second time and a third time, he asked that monk to leave. But for a third time that individual kept silent.

Atha kho āyasmā mahāmoggallāno taṁ puggalaṁ bāhāyaṁ gahetvā bahidvārakoṭṭhakā nikkhāmetvā sūcighaṭikaṁ datvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “nikkhāmito, bhante, so puggalo mayā. Parisuddhā parisā. Uddisatu, bhante, bhagavā bhikkhūnaṁ pātimokkhan”ti. “Acchariyaṁ, moggallāna, abbhutaṁ, moggallāna. Yāva bāhāgahaṇāpi nāma so moghapuriso āgamessatī”ti.

Then Venerable Mahāmoggallāna took that individual by the arm, ejected him out the gate, and bolted the door. Then he went up to the Buddha, and said to him, “I have ejected that individual. The assembly is pure. Please, sir, may the Buddha recite the monastic code to the monks.” “It’s incredible, Moggallāna, it’s amazing, how that futile man waited to be taken by the arm!”

Atha kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “na dānāhaṁ, bhikkhave, ito paraṁ uposathaṁ karissāmi, pātimokkhaṁ uddisissāmi. Tumheva dāni, bhikkhave, ito paraṁ uposathaṁ kareyyātha, pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyyātha. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, bhikkhave, anavakāso yaṁ tathāgato aparisuddhāya parisāya uposathaṁ kareyya, pātimokkhaṁ uddiseyya.

Then the Buddha said to the monks, “From this day forth, monks, I will not perform the sabbath or recite the monastic code. Now you should perform the sabbath and recite the monastic code. It’s impossible, monks, it can’t happen that a Realized One could recite the monastic code in an impure assembly.

Aṭṭhime, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Katame aṭṭha?

Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean. What eight?

Mahāsamuddo, bhikkhave, anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro na āyatakeneva papāto; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice. This is the first thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, the ocean is consistent and doesn’t overflow its boundaries. This is the second thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati. Yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati, yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti thalaṁ ussāreti; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, the ocean doesn’t accommodate a carcass, but quickly carries it to the shore and strands it on the beach. This is the third thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī, tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni; ‘mahāsamuddo’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti. Yampi, bhikkhave, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, when they reach the ocean, all the great rivers—that is, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—lose their names and clans and are simply reckoned as ‘the ocean’. This is the fourth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti, yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati. Yampi, bhikkhave, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti, yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, for all the world’s streams that reach it, and the showers that fall from the sky, the ocean never empties or fills up. This is the fifth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, the ocean has just one taste, the taste of salt. This is the sixth thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano. Tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitaṅgo masāragallaṁ. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano, tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitaṅgo masāragallaṁ; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, the ocean is full of many kinds of treasures, such as pearls, gems, beryl, conch, quartz, coral, silver, native gold, rubies, and emeralds. This is the seventh thing the titans love about the ocean.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso. Tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timitimiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā. Santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, tiyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, catuyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā, pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā. Yampi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso, tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timitimiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā, santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā …pe… pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, mahāsamudde aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha mahāsamudde acchariyā abbhutā dhammā ye disvā disvā asurā mahāsamudde abhiramanti.

Furthermore, many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long. This is the eighth thing the titans love about the ocean. Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things the titans love the ocean.

Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. Katame aṭṭha?

In the same way, seeing eight incredible and amazing things, monks, the mendicants love this teaching and training. What eight?

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo anupubbaninno anupubbapoṇo anupubbapabbhāro, na āyatakeneva papāto; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho. Yampi, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye anupubbasikkhā anupubbakiriyā anupubbapaṭipadā, na āyatakeneva aññāpaṭivedho; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye paṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

The ocean gradually slants, slopes, and inclines, with no abrupt precipice. In the same way in this teaching and training the penetration to enlightenment comes from gradual training, progress, and practice, not abruptly. This is the first thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ṭhitadhammo velaṁ nātivattati; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yaṁ mayā sāvakānaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ taṁ mama sāvakā jīvitahetupi nātikkamanti. Yampi, bhikkhave, mayā sāvakānaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ taṁ mama sāvakā jīvitahetupi nātikkamanti; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye dutiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

The ocean is consistent and doesn’t overflow its boundaries. In the same way, when a training rule is laid down for my disciples they wouldn’t break it even for the sake of their own life. This is the second thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo na matena kuṇapena saṁvasati; yaṁ hoti mahāsamudde mataṁ kuṇapaṁ taṁ khippameva tīraṁ vāheti, thalaṁ ussāreti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yo so puggalo dussīlo pāpadhammo asuci saṅkassarasamācāro paṭicchannakammanto assamaṇo samaṇapaṭiñño abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño antopūti avassuto kasambujāto, na tena saṅgho saṁvasati; atha kho naṁ khippameva sannipatitvā ukkhipati. Kiñcāpi so hoti majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa nisinno, atha kho so ārakāva saṅghamhā, saṅgho ca tena. Yampi, bhikkhave, yo so puggalo dussīlo pāpadhammo asuci saṅkassarasamācāro paṭicchannakammanto assamaṇo samaṇapaṭiñño abrahmacārī brahmacāripaṭiñño antopūti avassuto kasambujāto, na tena saṅgho saṁvasati; khippameva naṁ sannipatitvā ukkhipati. Kiñcāpi so hoti majjhe bhikkhusaṅghassa nisinno, atha kho so ārakāva saṅghamhā, saṅgho ca tena; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye tatiyo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

The ocean doesn’t accommodate a carcass, but quickly carries it to the shore and strands it on the beach. In the same way, the Saṅgha doesn’t accommodate an individual who is unethical, of bad qualities, filthy, with suspicious behavior, underhand, no true ascetic or spiritual practitioner—though claiming to be one—rotten inside, festering, and depraved. But they quickly gather and expel them. Even if such an individual is sitting in the middle of the Saṅgha, they’re far from the Saṅgha, and the Saṅgha is far from them. This is the third thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yā kāci mahānadiyo, seyyathidaṁ—gaṅgā yamunā aciravatī sarabhū mahī tā mahāsamuddaṁ patvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘mahāsamuddo’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, cattāro vaṇṇā—khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘samaṇā sakyaputtiyā’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti. Yampi, bhikkhave, cattāro vaṇṇā—khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā te tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā jahanti purimāni nāmagottāni, ‘samaṇā sakyaputtiyā’tveva saṅkhaṁ gacchanti; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye catuttho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

Furthermore, when they reach the ocean, all the great rivers—that is, the Ganges, Yamunā, Aciravatī, Sarabhū, and Mahī—lose their names and clans and are simply reckoned as ‘the ocean’. In the same way, when they go forth from the lay life to homelessness, all four classes—aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials—lose their former names and clans and are simply reckoned as ‘ascetics who follow the Sakyan’. This is the fourth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yā ca loke savantiyo mahāsamuddaṁ appenti, yā ca antalikkhā dhārā papatanti, na tena mahāsamuddassa ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bahū cepi bhikkhū anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyanti, na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati. Yampi, bhikkhave, bahū cepi bhikkhū anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyanti, na tena nibbānadhātuyā ūnattaṁ vā pūrattaṁ vā paññāyati; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye pañcamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

For all the world’s streams that reach it, and the showers that fall from the sky, the ocean never empties or fills up. In the same way, though several mendicants become fully extinguished in the element of extinguishment with no residue, the element of extinguishment never empties or fills up. This is the fifth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo ekaraso loṇaraso; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo ekaraso vimuttiraso. Yampi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo ekaraso vimuttiraso; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye chaṭṭho acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

The ocean has just one taste, the taste of salt. In the same way, this teaching and training has one taste, the taste of freedom. This is the sixth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo bahuratano anekaratano, tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—muttā maṇi veḷuriyo saṅkho silā pavāḷaṁ rajataṁ jātarūpaṁ lohitaṅgo masāragallaṁ; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo bahuratano anekaratano; tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, cattāro sammappadhānā, cattāro iddhipādā, pañcindriyāni, pañca balāni, satta bojjhaṅgā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo. Yampi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo bahuratano anekaratano, tatrimāni ratanāni, seyyathidaṁ—cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, cattāro sammappadhānā, cattāro iddhipādā, pañcindriyāni, pañca balāni, satta bojjhaṅgā, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye sattamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti.

The ocean is full of many kinds of treasures, such as pearls, gems, beryl, conch, quartz, coral, silver, native gold, rubies, and emeralds. In the same way, this teaching and training is full of many kinds of treasures, such as the four kinds of mindfulness meditation, the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven awakening factors, and the noble eightfold path. This is the seventh thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, mahāsamuddo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso, tatrime bhūtā—timi timiṅgalo timitimiṅgalo asurā nāgā gandhabbā, santi mahāsamudde yojanasatikāpi attabhāvā dviyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā tiyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā catuyojanasatikāpi attabhāvā pañcayojanasatikāpi attabhāvā; evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso;tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno, sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, sakadāgāmī, sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, anāgāmī, anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, arahā, arahattāya paṭipanno. Yampi, bhikkhave, ayaṁ dhammavinayo mahataṁ bhūtānaṁ āvāso, tatrime bhūtā—sotāpanno, sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, sakadāgāmī, sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, anāgāmī, anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanno, arahā, arahattāya paṭipanno; ayaṁ, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭhamo acchariyo abbhuto dhammo, yaṁ disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramanti. Ime kho, bhikkhave, imasmiṁ dhammavinaye aṭṭha acchariyā abbhutā dhammā, ye disvā disvā bhikkhū imasmiṁ dhammavinaye abhiramantī”ti.

Many great beings live in the ocean, such as leviathans, leviathan-gulpers, leviathan-gulper-gulpers, titans, dragons, and centaurs. In the ocean there are life-forms a hundred leagues long, or even two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, or five hundred leagues long. In the same way, great beings live in this teaching and training, and these are those beings. The stream-enterer and the one practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. The once-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. The non-returner and the one practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. The perfected one, and the one practicing for perfection. This is the eighth thing the mendicants love about this teaching and training. Seeing these eight incredible and amazing things, the mendicants love this teaching and training.”

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imaṁ udānaṁ udānesi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha expressed this heartfelt sentiment:

“Channamativassati, vivaṭaṁ nātivassati; Tasmā channaṁ vivaretha, evaṁ taṁ nātivassatī”ti.

“The rain saturates things that are covered up; it doesn’t saturate things that are open. Therefore you should open up a covered thing, so the rain will not saturate it.”