Upakasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 4.188

Numbered Discourses 4.188

19. Brāhmaṇavagga

19. Brahmins

Upakasutta

With Upaka

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

Once the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then Upaka the son of Maṇḍikā went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Ahañhi, bhante, evaṁvādī evaṁdiṭṭhi:

“Sir, this is my doctrine and view:

‘yo koci parūpārambhaṁ vatteti, parūpārambhaṁ vattento sabbo so na upapādeti.

‘Whoever goes on complaining about others without giving any reasons

Anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo’”ti.

is reprehensible and at fault.’”

“Parūpārambhañce, upaka, vatteti parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādeti, anupapādento gārayho hoti upavajjo.

“Upaka, if someone goes on complaining about others without giving a reason, they’re reprehensible and at fault.

Tvaṁ kho, upaka, parūpārambhaṁ vattesi, parūpārambhaṁ vattento na upapādesi, anupapādento gārayho hosi upavajjo”ti.

But that’s what you do, so you’re reprehensible and at fault!”

“Seyyathāpi, bhante, ummujjamānakaṁyeva mahatā pāsena bandheyya;

“Sir, like a fish caught in a big trap just as it rises,

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante, ummujjamānakoyeva bhagavatā mahatā vādapāsena baddho”ti.

so the Buddha caught me in a big trap of words just as I rose up.”

“Idaṁ akusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

“Upaka, I’ve declared: ‘This is unskillful.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ akusalanti.

‘This is another way of saying that this is unskillful.’

Taṁ kho panidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

I’ve declared: ‘The unskillful should be given up.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ akusalaṁ pahātabbanti.

‘This is another way of saying that the unskillful should be given up.’

Idaṁ kusalanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

I’ve declared that: ‘This is skillful.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ kusalanti.

‘This is another way of saying that this is skillful.’

Taṁ kho panidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabbanti kho, upaka, mayā paññattaṁ.

I’ve declared: ‘The skillful should be developed.’

Tattha aparimāṇā padā aparimāṇā byañjanā aparimāṇā tathāgatassa dhammadesanā—

And for that there are limitless words, phrasings, and teachings of the Realized One:

itipidaṁ kusalaṁ bhāvetabban”ti.

‘This is another way of saying that the skillful should be developed.’”

Atha kho upako maṇḍikāputto bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā yena rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo taṁ sabbaṁ rañño māgadhassa ajātasattussa vedehiputtassa ārocesi.

And then Upaka son of Maṇḍikā approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went up to King Ajātasattu of Magadha, son of the princess of Videha. He told the King of all they had discussed.

Evaṁ vutte, rājā māgadho ajātasattu vedehiputto kupito anattamano upakaṁ maṇḍikāputtaṁ etadavoca:

But Ajātasattu became angry and upset, and said to Upaka,

“yāva dhaṁsī vatāyaṁ loṇakāradārako yāva mukharo yāva pagabbo yatra hi nāma taṁ bhagavantaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhaṁ āsādetabbaṁ maññissati;

“How rude of this salt-maker’s boy! How scurrilous and impudent of him to imagine he could attack the Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!

apehi tvaṁ, upaka, vinassa, mā taṁ addasan”ti.

Get out, Upaka, go away! Don’t let me see you again.”

Aṭṭhamaṁ.