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Mahàparinibbànasuttaü
The Discourse about the Great Emancipation
[Pañhamabhàõavàraü]
[The First Chapter for Recitation]
[3: Satta Saïgha-Aparihàniyà Dhammà] 01
[Seven Things which Prevent Decline in the Community (1-7)]
Atha kho Bhagavà acirapakkante Vassakàre bràhmaõe Magadhamahàmatte,
Then the Gracious One, not long after the Magadhan chief minister, the brahmin Vassakàra, had gone,
àyasmantaü ânandaü àmantesi:
addressed venerable ânanda, (saying):
ßGaccha tvaü ânanda yàvatikà bhikkhå Ràjagahaü upanissàya viharanti,
ßGo, ânanda, and whatever monks there are living in dependence on Ràjagaha, 02
te sabbe Upaññhànasàlàyaü sannipàtehã.û ti
assemble them in the Attendance Hall.û
ßEvaü Bhante,û ti kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavato pañissutvà,
ßVery well, reverend Sir,û said venerable ânanda, and after replying to the Gracious One,
yàvatikà bhikkhå Ràjagahaü upanissàya viharanti
* and assembling whatever monks there were living in dependence on Ràjagaha
te sabbe Upaññhànasàlàyaü sannipàtetvà yena Bhagavà tenupasaïkami,
in the Attendance Hall, he approached the Gracious One,
upasaïkamitvà Bhagavantaü abhivàdetvà, ekam-antaü aññhàsi.
and after approaching and worshipping the Gracious One, he stood on one side.
Ekam-antaü ñhito kho àyasmà ânando Bhagavantaü etad-avoca:
While standing on one side venerable ânanda said this to the Gracious One:
ßSannipatito Bhante Bhikkhusaïgho,
ßThe Community of monks have assembled, reverend Sir,
yassa dàni Bhante Bhagavà kàlaü maÿÿasã.û ti
now is the time, Gracious One, for whatever you are thinking.û
Atha kho Bhagavà uññhàyàsanà yena Upaññhànasàlà tenupasaïkami,
Then the Gracious One after rising from his seat approached the Attendance Hall,
upasaïkamitvà paÿÿatte àsane nisãdi.
and after approaching he sat down on the prepared seat.
Nisajja kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
While sitting the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßSatta vo bhikkhave aparihàniye dhamme desessàmi,
ßI will teach you seven things which prevent decline,
taü suõàtha sàdhukaü manasikarotha bhàsissàmã.û ti
listen to it, apply your minds well, and I will speak.û 03
ßEvaü Bhante,û ti kho te bhikkhå Bhagavato paccassosuü,
ßVery well, reverend Sir,û those monks replied to the Gracious One,
Bhagavà etad-avoca:
and the Gracious One said this:
1) ßYàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå
ßFor as long, monks, as the monks
abhiõhasannipàtà sannipàtabahulà bhavissanti,
will assemble regularly and assemble frequently,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline. 04
2) Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå
For as long, monks, as the monks
samaggà sannipatissanti samaggà vuññhahissanti,
will assemble unanimously, rise unanimously,
samaggà Saïghakaraõãyàni karissanti,
and carry out their Community duties unanimously,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
3) Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå
For as long, monks, as the monks
apaÿÿattaü na paÿÿàpessanti paÿÿattaü na samucchindissanti,
do not establish (new) laws that were not established, (or) cut off (old) laws that were established, 05
yathàpaÿÿattesu sikkhàpadesu samàdàya vattissanti,
and they carry on with such training-rules as have been accepted,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
4) Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå ye te bhikkhå therà,
* For as long, monks, as the monks will honour the elder monks,
rattaÿÿå cirapabbajità Saïghapitaro Saïghaparinàyakà te sakkarissanti
those of long-standing, a long time gone-forth, the Fathers of the Community, the Leaders of the Community,
garukarissanti mànessanti påjessanti tesaÿ-ca sotabbaü maÿÿissanti,
respect, revere, worship and think them worth listening to,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
5) Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå
For as long, monks, as the monks
uppannàya taõhàya ponobhavikàya na vasaü gacchissanti,
will not come under the influence of craving which has arisen for continued existence,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
6) Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå
For as long, monks, as the monks
àraÿÿakesu senàsanesu sàpekkhà bhavissanti,
will have desire for forest dwellings,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
7) Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave bhikkhå paccattaÿ-ÿeva satiü upaññhapessanti,
For as long, monks, as the monks individually will attend to the ways of mindfulness,
kin-ti anàgatà ca pesalà sabrahmacàrã àgaccheyyuü,
so that their fellow celibates, who are well-behaved, in the future can come,
àgatà ca pesalà sabrahmacàrã phàsuü vihareyyuü,
and having come to their fellow celibates, who are well-behaved, can live comfortably,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.
Yàvakãvaÿ-ca bhikkhave ime satta aparihàniyà dhammà bhikkhåsu ñhassanti,
For as long, monks, as the monks will maintain these seven things which prevent decline,
imesu ca sattasu aparihàniyesu dhammesu bhikkhå sandississanti,
and the monks will agree with these seven things which prevent decline,
vuóóhi yeva bhikkhave bhikkhånaü pàñikaïkhà no parihàni.
surely growth, monks, is to be expected for the monks, not decline.