Pvr 12

12. Codanādipucchāvissajjanā

Codanā kimatthāya, Sāraṇā kissa kāraṇā; Saṅgho kimatthāya, Matikammaṁ pana kissa kāraṇā.

Questions and answers on accusing, etc.

“What is the purpose of accusing? Why is there reminding? What is the purpose of the Sangha? Why is there the taking of advice?

Codanā sāraṇatthāya, Niggahatthāya sāraṇā; Saṅgho pariggahatthāya, Matikammaṁ pana pāṭiyekkaṁ.

The purpose of accusing is reminding, The purpose of reminding is restraint; The purpose of the Sangha is scrutiny, But taking advice is individual.

Mā kho turito abhaṇi, mā kho caṇḍikato bhaṇi; Mā kho paṭighaṁ janayi, sace anuvijjako tuvaṁ.

Don’t speak hastily, Don’t speak fiercely; Don’t be hostile— If you are an investigator.

Mā kho sahasā abhaṇi, Kathaṁ viggāhikaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ; Sutte vinaye anulome, Paññatte anulomike.

Don’t speak fast, Argumentative speech is not beneficial. In line with the discourses and the Monastic Law, In line with what has been laid down,

Anuyogavattaṁ nisāmaya, Kusalena buddhimatā kataṁ; Suvuttaṁ sikkhāpadānulomikaṁ, Gatiṁ na nāsento samparāyikaṁ; Hitesī anuyuñjassu, Kālenatthūpasaṁhitaṁ.

Consider carefully the proper procedure of examination, As formulated by the skilled Awakened One, Well-spoken in line with the training rules— Do not ruin your future rebirth. You should seek what is beneficial, At the right time, what is connected with the goal.

Cuditassa ca codakassa ca, Sahasā vohāraṁ mā padhāresi; Codako āha āpannoti, Cuditako āha anāpannoti.

The statements of the accuser and the accused, Do not consider them hastily: If the accuser says the accused has offended, But the accused says he has not,

Ubho anukkhipanto, Paṭiññānusandhitena kāraye; Paṭiññā lajjīsu katā, Alajjīsu evaṁ na vijjati; Bahumpi alajjī bhāseyya, Vattānusandhitena kāraye.

Then, proceeding, Both should be dealt with in line with their admission. The conscientious admit their faults, But there is no such thing among the shameless; For even if the shameless should speak a lot, They should be dealt with in line with their conduct.

Alajjī kīdiso hoti, Paṭiññā yassa na rūhati; Etañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Kīdiso vuccati alajjī puggalo.

What are the shameless like, In that an admission is not effective? I ask you this: What are they like, the people called shameless?

Sañcicca āpattiṁ āpajjati, Āpattiṁ parigūhati; Agatigamanañca gacchati, Ediso vuccati alajjīpuggalo.

They intentionally commit offenses, Hide their offenses, And follow a wrong course— Such people are called shameless.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Ediso vuccati alajjīpuggalo; Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Kīdiso vuccati lajjīpuggalo.

I too know the truth— Such people are called shameless. And may I ask you something else: What are they like, the people called conscientious?

Sañcicca āpattiṁ nāpajjati, Āpattiṁ na parigūhati; Agatigamanaṁ na gacchati, Ediso vuccati lajjīpuggalo.

They do not intentionally commit offenses, Nor do they hide them, Nor do they follow a wrong course— Such people are called conscientious.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Ediso vuccati lajjīpuggalo; Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Kīdiso vuccati adhammacodako.

I too know the truth— Such people are called conscientious. And may I ask you something else: What are they like, those who accuse illegitimately?

Akālena codeti abhūtena, Pharusena anatthasaṁhitena; Dosantaro codeti no mettācitto, Ediso vuccati adhammacodako.

They accuse at the wrong time, untruthfully, Harshly, without benefit; They accuse with a mind of ill will, not a mind of good will— Such a person is called one who accuses illegitimately.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Ediso vuccati adhammacodako; Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Kīdiso vuccati dhammacodako.

I too know the truth— Such a person is called one who accuses illegitimately. And may I ask you something else: What are they like, those who accuse legitimately?

Kālena codeti bhūtena, Saṇhena atthasaṁhitena; Mettācitto codeti no dosantaro, Ediso vuccati dhammacodako.

They accuse at the right time, truthfully, Gently, beneficially; They accuse with a mind of good will, not a mind of ill will— Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Ediso vuccati dhammacodako; Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Kīdiso vuccati bālacodako.

I too know the truth— Such a person is called one who accuses legitimately. And may I ask you something else: What are they like, the people called ignorant accusers?

Pubbāparaṁ na jānāti, Pubbāparassa akovido; Anusandhivacanapathaṁ na jānāti, Anusandhivacanapathassa akovido; Ediso vuccati bālacodako.

They do not know the right order; They are ignorant about it. They do not know the sequence of statements; They are ignorant about it— Such people are called ignorant accusers.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Ediso vuccati bālacodako; Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Kīdiso vuccati paṇḍitacodako.

I too know the truth— Such people are called ignorant accusers. And may I ask you something else: What are they like, the people called learned accusers?

Pubbāparampi jānāti, Pubbāparassa kovido; Anusandhivacanapathaṁ jānāti, Anusandhivacanapathassa kovido; Ediso vuccati paṇḍitacodako.

They know the right order; They are knowledgeable about it. They know the sequence of statements; They are knowledgeable about it— Such people are called learned accusers.

Saccaṁ ahampi jānāmi, Ediso vuccati paṇḍitacodako; Aññañca tāhaṁ pucchāmi, Codanā kinti vuccati.

I too know the truth— Such people are called learned accusers. And may I ask you something else: What is meant by accusing?

Sīlavipattiyā codeti, atho ācāradiṭṭhiyā; Ājīvenapi codeti, codanā tena vuccatīti.

One accuses because of failure in morality, And for failure in conduct and view; Also one accuses for failure in livelihood— Because of this it is called accusing.”