AN 5.249 (A iii 268)
Sivathika Sutta
— A charnel ground —
[sivathika]

Five ways in which an ill-conducted person can be similar to a charnel ground where people throw dead bodies.



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Pāḷi



Pañcime, bhikkhave, ādīnavā sivathikāya. Katame pañca? Asuci, duggandhā, sappaṭibhayā, vāḷānaṃ amanussānaṃ āvāso, bahuno janassa ārodanā. Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca ādīnavā sivathikāya.

English



There are, bhikkhus, these five unpleasantnesses of a charnel ground. Which five? It is unclean, it odors bad, it is dreadful, it is a dwelling place for non-human predators, it is a place of lamentation for many. These, bhikkhus, are five unpleasantnesses of a charnel ground.

Evamevaṃ kho, bhikkhave, pañcime ādīnavā sivathikūpame puggale. Katame pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco puggalo asucinā kāyakammena samannāgato hoti; asucinā vacīkammena samannāgato hoti; asucinā manokammena samannāgato hoti. Idamassa asucitāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi sā, bhikkhave, sivathikā asuci; tathūpamāhaṃ, bhikkhave, imaṃ puggalaṃ vadāmi.

In the same way, bhikkhus, there are these five unpleasantnesses of an individual who is comparable to a charnel ground. Which five? Here, bhikkhus, a certain individual is endowed with unclean bodily actions; he is endowed with unclean verbal actions; he is endowed with unclean mental actions. This, I say, is his uncleanliness. Just as, bhikkhus, a charnel ground is unclean; so too, bhikkhus, I speak in comparison of this individual.

Tassa asucinā kāyakammena samannāgatassa, asucinā vacīkammena samannāgatassa, asucinā manokammena samannāgatassa pāpako kittisaddo abbhuggacchati. Idamassa duggandhatāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi sā, bhikkhave, sivathikā duggandhā; tathūpamāhaṃ, bhikkhave, imaṃ puggalaṃ vadāmi.

About one who performs unclean bodily actions, who performs unclean verbal actions, who performs unclean mental actions, a bad reputation spreads. This, I say, is his bad smell. Just as, bhikkhus, a charnel ground odors bad; so too, bhikkhus, I speak in comparison of this individual.

Tamenaṃ asucinā kāyakammena samannāgataṃ, asucinā vacīkammena samannāgataṃ, asucinā manokammena samannāgataṃ pesalā sabrahmacārī ārakā parivajjanti. Idamassa sappaṭibhayasmiṃ vadāmi. Seyyathāpi sā, bhikkhave, sivathikā sappaṭibhayā; tathūpamāhaṃ, bhikkhave, imaṃ puggalaṃ vadāmi.

The well-behaved companions in the brahmic life of one who performs unclean bodily actions, who performs unclean verbal actions, who performs unclean mental actions avoid him from afar. This, I say, is how he is dreadful. Just as, bhikkhus, a charnel ground is dreadful; so too, bhikkhus, I speak in comparison of this individual.

So asucinā kāyakammena samannāgato, asucinā vacīkammena samannāgato, asucinā manokammena samannāgato sabhāgehi puggalehi saddhiṃ saṃvasati. Idamassa vāḷāvāsasmiṃ vadāmi. Seyyathāpi sā, bhikkhave, sivathikā vāḷānaṃ amanussānaṃ āvāso; tathūpamāhaṃ, bhikkhave, imaṃ puggalaṃ vadāmi.

One who performs unclean bodily actions, who performs unclean verbal actions, who performs unclean mental actions, associates with similar individuals. This, I say, is a dwelling place for predators. Just as, bhikkhus, a charnel ground is a dwelling place for non-human predators; so too, bhikkhus, I speak in comparison of this individual.

Tamenaṃ asucinā kāyakammena samannāgataṃ, asucinā vacīkammena samannāgataṃ, asucinā manokammena samannāgataṃ pesalā sabrahmacārī disvā khīyadhammaṃ āpajjanti: ‘aho vata no dukkhaṃ ye mayaṃ evarūpehi puggalehi saddhiṃ saṃvasāmā’ti! Idamassa ārodanāya vadāmi. Seyyathāpi sā, bhikkhave, sivathikā bahuno janassa ārodanā; tathūpamāhaṃ, bhikkhave, imaṃ puggalaṃ vadāmi.

Having seen one who performs unclean bodily actions, who performs unclean verbal actions, who performs unclean mental actions, his well-behaved companions in the brahmic life get discouraged: 'Oh, alas it is unpleasant for us to be associated with such a man!' This, I say, is the lamentation. Just as, bhikkhus, a charnel ground is a place of lamentation for many; so too, bhikkhus, I speak in comparison of this individual.



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Translation suggested by the webmaster,
with the support of Sister Upalavanna's translation.

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