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Pañhamakathàvatthusuttaü (Aïg. 10.69)
The First Discourse on the Bases for Talk
Edited & Translated by ânandajoti Bhikkhu
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Ekaü samayaü Bhagavà Sàvatthiyaü viharati,
At one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Sàvatthã,
Jetavane Anàthapiõóikassa àràme.
in Jeta's Wood, at Anàthapiõóika's monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena sambahulà bhikkhå,
Then at that time many monks,
pacchàbhattaü piõóapàtapañikkantà,
after returning from the alms-round after the meal,
upaññhànasàlàyaü sannisinnà sannipatità,
assembling together, and sitting in the attendance hall,
anekavihitaü tiracchànakathaü anuyuttà viharanti, seyyathidaü:
dwelt engaged in countless kinds of animal-talk, 1 such as:
ràjakathaü corakathaü mahàmattakathaü,
talk about kings, talk about thieves, talk about ministers,
senàkathaü bhayakathaü yuddhakathaü,
talk about armies, talk about dangers, talk about wars,
annakathaü pànakathaü vatthakathaü sayanakathaü
talk about food, talk about drinks, talk about clothes, talk about beds,
màlàkathaü gandhakathaü ÿàtikathaü yànakathaü,
talk about garlands, talk about incense, talk about relatives, talk about vehicles,
gàmakathaü nigamakathaü nagarakathaü janapadakathaü,
talk about villages, talk about towns, talk about cities, talk about states,
itthikathaü sårakathaü visikhàkathaü kumbhaññhànakathaü,
talk about women, talk about heros, talk about streets, talk about wells,
pubbapetakathaü nànattakathaü lokakkhàyikaü samuddakkhàyikaü,
talk about the deceased, talk about diversity, talk about nature, talk about oceans,
itibhavàbhavakathaü iti và ti.
or talk about profit and loss. 2
Atha kho Bhagavà sàyanhasamayaü pañisallànà vuññhito,
Then the Gracious One, having risen from seclusion in the evening time,
yenupaññhànasàlà tenupasaïkami,
went to the assembly hall,
upasaïkamitvà, paÿÿatte àsane nisãdi.
and after going, he sat down on the prepared seat.
Nisajja kho Bhagavà bhikkhå àmantesi:
Having sat down the Gracious One addressed the monks, (saying):
ßKàyanuttha bhikkhave etarahi kathàya sannisinnà sannipatità,
ßWhat is the talk about, monks, amongst those who have assembled together and are sitting here at present,
kà ca pana vo antaràkathà vippakatà?û ti.
and what is the conversation that you left unfinished?û
ßIdha mayaü, bhante pacchàbhattaü piõóapàtapañikkantà,
ßHere, reverend Sir, after returning from the alms-round after the meal,
upaññhànasàlàyaü sannisinnà sannipatità,
assembling together, and sitting in the attendance hall,
anekavihitaü tiracchànakathaü anuyuttà viharàma, seyyathidaü:
we dwelt engaged in countless kinds of animal-talk, such as:
ràjakathaü corakathaü mahàmattakathaü,
talk about kings, talk about thieves, talk about ministers,
senàkathaü bhayakathaü yuddhakathaü,
talk about armies, talk about dangers, talk about wars,
annakathaü pànakathaü vatthakathaü sayanakathaü
talk about food, talk about drinks, talk about clothes, talk about beds,
màlàkathaü gandhakathaü ÿàtikathaü yànakathaü,
talk about garlands, talk about incense, talk about relatives, talk about vehicles,
gàmakathaü nigamakathaü nagarakathaü janapadakathaü,
talk about villages, talk about towns, talk about cities, talk about states,
itthikathaü sårakathaü visikhàkathaü kumbhaññhànakathaü,
talk about women, talk about heros, talk about streets, talk about wells,
pubbapetakathaü nànattakathaü lokakkhàyikaü samuddakkhàyikaü,
talk about the deceased, talk about diversity, talk about nature, talk about oceans,
itibhavàbhavakathaü iti vàû ti.
or talk about profit and loss.û
ßNakhvetaü bhikkhave tumhàkaü patiråpaü
ßThis is certainly not suitable, monks, for you
kulaputtànaü saddhà agàrasmà anagàriyaü pabbajitànaü,
sons of good family who through faith have gone forth from the home to homelessness,
yaü tumhe anekavihitaü tiracchànakathaü anuyuttà vihareyyàtha, seyyathidaü:
that you should dwell engaged in countless kinds of animal-talk, such as:
ràjakathaü corakathaü mahàmattakathaü,
talk about kings, talk about thieves, talk about ministers,
senàkathaü bhayakathaü yuddhakathaü,
talk about armies, talk about dangers, talk about wars,
annakathaü pànakathaü vatthakathaü sayanakathaü
talk about food, talk about drinks, talk about clothes, talk about beds,
màlàkathaü gandhakathaü ÿàtikathaü yànakathaü,
talk about garlands, talk about incense, talk about relatives, talk about vehicles,
gàmakathaü nigamakathaü nagarakathaü janapadakathaü,
talk about villages, talk about towns, talk about cities, talk about states,
itthikathaü sårakathaü visikhàkathaü kumbhaññhànakathaü,
talk about women, talk about heros, talk about streets, talk about wells,
pubbapetakathaü nànattakathaü lokakkhàyikaü samuddakkhàyikaü,
talk about the deceased, talk about diversity, talk about nature, talk about oceans,
itibhavàbhavakathaü iti và ti.
or talk about profit and loss.
Dasayimàni, bhikkhave, kathàvatthåni.
There are these ten bases for talk, monks.
Katamàni dasa?
Which ten?
Appicchakathà, santuññhikathà, pavivekakathà, asaüsaggakathà,
Talk about wanting little, talk about contentment, talk about seclusion, talk about disassociation,
vãriyàrambhakathà, sãlakathà, samàdhikathà, paÿÿàkathà,
talk about energy, talk about morality, talk about concentration, talk about wisdom,
vimuttikathà, vimuttiÿàõadassanakathàti.
talk about liberation, talk about insight and knowledge of liberation.
Imàni kho, bhikkhave, dasa kathàvatthåni.
These, monks, are the ten bases for talk.
Imesaü ce tumhe, bhikkhave, dasannaü kathàvatthånaü
o If you, monks, were to speak
upàdàyupàdàya kathaü katheyyàtha,
concerning these ten bases for talk,
imesam-pi Candimasåriyànaü, evaümahiddhikànaü evaümahànubhàvànaü,
o even the glory of the Moon and the Sun, of such great power, of such great majesty,
tejasà tejaü pariyàdiyeyyàtha,
would be overcome by (your) glory,
ko pana vàdo aÿÿatitthiyànaü paribbàjakànan!û-ti
what to say about the wanderers of other sects!û