Dutiyanāthasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti. “Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!” “Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā. Dukkhaṁ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati. Dasayime, bhikkhave, nāthakaraṇā dhammā. Katame dasa? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu. ‘Sīlavā vatāyaṁ bhikkhu pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesū’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

“Mendicants, you should live with a protector, not without one. Living without a protector is suffering. There are ten qualities that serve as protector. What ten? Firstly, a mendicant is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. ‘Bahussuto vatāyaṁ bhikkhu sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti, tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant is very learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reinforcing them by recitation, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kalyāṇamitto hoti kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko. ‘Kalyāṇamitto vatāyaṁ bhikkhu kalyāṇasahāyo kalyāṇasampavaṅko’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant has good friends, companions, and associates. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu suvaco hoti sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato, khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ. ‘Suvaco vatāyaṁ bhikkhu sovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato, khamo padakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsanin’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant is easy to admonish, having qualities that make them easy to admonish. They’re patient, and take instruction respectfully. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho hoti analaso, tatrūpāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātuṁ. ‘Yāni tāni sabrahmacārīnaṁ uccāvacāni kiṅkaraṇīyāni, tattha dakkho vatāyaṁ bhikkhu analaso, tatrūpāyāya vīmaṁsāya samannāgato, alaṁ kātuṁ alaṁ saṁvidhātun’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant is deft and tireless in a diverse spectrum of duties for their spiritual companions, understanding how to go about things in order to complete and organize the work. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dhammakāmo hoti piyasamudāhāro, abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo. ‘Dhammakāmo vatāyaṁ bhikkhu piyasamudāhāro, abhidhamme abhivinaye uḷārapāmojjo’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant loves the teachings and is a delight to converse with, being full of joy in the teaching and training. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu ‘āraddhavīriyo vatāyaṁ bhikkhu viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesū’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant lives with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu santuṭṭho hoti itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena. ‘Santuṭṭho vatāyaṁ bhikkhu itarītaracīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānapaccayabhesajjaparikkhārenā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant is content with any kind of robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato, cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā. ‘Satimā vatāyaṁ bhikkhu paramena satinepakkena samannāgato, cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa majjhimānukampitassa navānukampitassa vuddhiyeva pāṭikaṅkhā kusalesu dhammesu, no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. ‘Paññavā vatāyaṁ bhikkhu udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā’ti therāpi naṁ bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti, majjhimāpi bhikkhū … navāpi bhikkhū vattabbaṁ anusāsitabbaṁ maññanti. Tassa therānukampitassa …pe… no parihāni. Ayampi dhammo nāthakaraṇo.

Furthermore, a mendicant is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. Knowing this, the mendicants—whether senior, middle, or junior—think that mendicant is worth advising and instructing. Being treated with such kindness by the senior, middle, and junior mendicants, that mendicant can expect only growth, not decline. This too is a quality that serves as protector.

Sanāthā, bhikkhave, viharatha, mā anāthā. Dukkhaṁ, bhikkhave, anātho viharati. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dasa nāthakaraṇā dhammā”ti. Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti. Aṭṭhamaṁ.

You should live with a protector, not without one. Living without a protector is suffering. These are the ten qualities that serve as protector.” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, the mendicants approved what the Buddha said.