SN 56.11 (S v 420)
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
— Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dhamma —
[Dhamma·cakka·pavattana ]

This is certainly the most famous sutta in the Pali litterature. The Buddha expounds the four ariya·saccas for the first time.



Note: info·bubble on every Pali word


Pāḷi


English




Ekaṃ samayaṃ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṃ viharati isipatane miga·dāye. Tatra kho bhagavā pañca·vaggiye bhikkhū āmantesi:

On one occasion, the Bhagavā was staying at Varanasi in the Deer Grove at Isipatana. There, he addressed the group of five bhikkhus:

Dve·me, bhikkhave, antā pabbajitena na sevitabbā. Katame dve? Yo c·āyaṃ kāmesu kāma·sukh·allik·ānuyogo hīno gammo pothujjaniko an·ariyo an·attha·saṃhito, yo c·āyaṃ attakilamath·ānuyogo dukkho an·ariyo an·attha·saṃhito. Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante an·upagamma majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhu·karaṇī ñāṇa·karaṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati.

These two extremes, bhikkhus, should not be adopted by one who has gone forth from the home life. Which two? On one hand, the devotion to hedonism towards kāma, which is inferior, vulgar, common, an·ariya, deprived of benefit, and on the other hand the devotion to self-mortification, which is dukkha, an·ariya, deprived of benefit. Without going to these two extremes, bhikkhus, the Tathāgata has fully awaken to the majjhima paṭipada, which produces vision, which produces ñāṇa, and leads to appeasement, to abhiñña, to sambodhi, to Nibbāna.

Katamā ca , bhikkhave, majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhu·karaṇī ñāṇa·karaṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati? Ayam·eva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṃ: sammā·diṭṭhi sammā·saṅkappo sammā·vācā sammā·kammanto sammā·ājīvo sammā·vāyāmo sammā·sati sammā·samādhi. Ayaṃ kho , bhikkhave, majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhu·karaṇī ñāṇa·karaṇī upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati.

And what, bhikkhus, is the majjhima paṭipada to which the Tathāgata has fully awaken, which produces vision, which produces ñāṇa, and leads to appeasement, to abhiñña, to sambodhi, to Nibbāna? It is, bhikkhus, this ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga, that is to say: sammā·diṭṭhi sammā·saṅkappa sammā·vācā sammā·kammanta sammā·ājīva sammā·vāyāma sammā·sati sammā·samādhi. This, bhikkhus, is the majjhima paṭipada to which the Tathāgata has awaken, which produces vision, which produces ñāṇa, and leads to appeasement, to abhiñña, to sambodhi, to Nibbāna.

Idaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkhaṃ ariya·saccaṃ: jāti·pi dukkhā, jarā·pi dukkhā (byādhi·pi dukkho) maraṇam·pi dukkhaṃ, a·p·piyehi sampayogo dukkho, piyehi vippayogo dukkho, yampicchaṃ na labhati tam·pi dukkhaṃ; saṃkhittena pañc·upādāna·k·khandhā dukkhā.

Furthermore, bhikkhus, this is the dukkha ariya·sacca: jāti is dukkha, jarā is dukkha (sickness is dukkha) maraṇa is dukkha, association with what is disliked is dukkha, dissociation from what is liked is dukkha, not to get what one wants is dukkha; in short, the five upādāna'k'khandhas are dukkha.

Idaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkha·samudayaṃ ariya·saccaṃ: Y·āyaṃ taṇhā ponobbhavikā nandi·rāga·sahagatā tatra·tatr·ābhinandinī, seyyathidaṃ: kāma·taṇhā, bhava·taṇhā, vibhava·taṇhā.

Furthermore, bhikkhus, this is the dukkha·samudaya ariya·sacca: this taṇhā leading to rebirth, connected with desire and enjoyment, finding delight here or there, that is to say: kāma-taṇhā, bhava-taṇhā and vibhava-taṇhā.

Idaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkha·nirodhaṃ ariya·saccaṃ: yo tassā·y·eva taṇhāya asesa·virāga·nirodho cāgo paṭinissaggo mutti anālayo.

Furthermore, bhikkhus, this is the dukkha·nirodha ariya·sacca: the complete virāga, nirodha, abandoning, forsaking, emancipation and freedom from that very taṇhā.

Idaṃ kho pana, bhikkhave, dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariya·saccaṃ: ayam·eva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṃ: sammā·diṭṭhi sammā·saṅkappo sammā·vācā sammā·kammanto sammā·ājīvo sammā·vāyāmo sammā·sati sammā·samādhi.

Furthermore, bhikkhus, this is the dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipada ariya·sacca: just this ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga, that is to say: sammā·diṭṭhi, sammā·saṅkappa, sammā·vācā sammā·kammanta, sammā·ājīva, sammā·vāyāma, sammā·sati and sammā·samādhi.

Idaṃ dukkhaṃ ariyasacca’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkhaṃ ariyasaccaṃ pariññeyya’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkhaṃ ariyasaccaṃ pariññāta’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

'This is the dukkha ariyasacca': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha ariyasacca is to be completely known': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha ariyasacca has been completely known': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose.

Idaṃ dukkha·samudayaṃ ariyasaccanti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkha·samudayaṃ ariyasaccaṃ pahātabba’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkha·samudayaṃ ariyasaccaṃ pahīna’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

'This is the dukkha·samudaya ariyasacca': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha·samudaya ariyasacca is to be abandoned': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha·samudaya ariyasacca has been abandoned': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose.

Idaṃ dukkha·nirodhaṃ ariyasaccanti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkha·nirodhaṃ ariyasaccaṃ sacchikātabba’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkha·nirodhaṃ ariyasaccaṃ sacchikata’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

'This is the dukkha·nirodha ariyasacca': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha·nirodha ariyasacca is to be personally experienced': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha·nirodha ariyasacca has been personally experienced': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose.

Idaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccanti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṃ bhāvetabba’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṃ kho pan·idaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṃ bhāvita’ nti: me, bhikkhave, pubbe an·anussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṃ udapādi, ñāṇaṃ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

'This is the dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariyasacca': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariyasacca is to be developed': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose. 'Now, this dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā ariyasacca has been developed': in me, bhikkhus, in regard to things unheard before, the eye arose, the ñāṇa arose, the paññā arose, the vijjā arose, the light arose.

Yāvakīvañ·ca me, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu ariyasaccesu evaṃ ti·parivaṭṭaṃ dvādas·ākāraṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ ñāṇa·dassanaṃ na su·visuddhaṃ ahosi, neva tāv·āhaṃ, bhikkhave, sa·deva·ke loke sa·māra·ke sa·brahma·ke sa·s·samaṇa·brāhmaṇiyā pajāya sa·deva·manussāya anuttaraṃ sammā·sambodhiṃ abhisambuddho paccaññāsiṃ.

And so long, bhikkhus, as my yathā·bhūtaṃ knowledge and vision of these four ariyasaccas in these twelve ways by triads was not quite pure, I did not claim in the loka with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with the samaṇas and brahmins, in this generation with its devas and humans, to have fully awakened to the supreme sammā·sambodhi.

Yato ca kho me, bhikkhave, imesu catūsu ariyasaccesu evaṃ ti·parivaṭṭaṃ dvādas·ākāraṃ yathā·bhūtaṃ ñāṇa-dassanaṃ su·visuddhaṃ ahosi, ath·āhaṃ, bhikkhave, sa·deva·ke loke sa·māra·ke sa·brahma·ke sa·s·samaṇa·brāhmaṇiyā pajāya sa·deva·manussāya anuttaraṃ sammā·sambodhiṃ abhisambuddho paccaññāsiṃ. Ñāṇa·ñca pana me dassanaṃ udapādi:akuppā me vimutti, ayam·antimā jāti, natth·idāni puna·b·bhavoti.

But when, bhikkhus, my yathā·bhūtaṃ knowledge and vision of these four ariyasaccas in these twelve ways by triads was quite pure, I claimed in the loka with its devas, with its Māras, with its Brahmās, with the samaṇas and brahmins, in this generation with its devas and humans, to have fully awakened to the supreme sammā·sambodhi. And the knowledge and vision arose in me: 'my vimutti is unshakeable, this is my last jāti, now there is no further bhava.

Idam·avoca bhagavā. Attamanā pañca·vaggiyā bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṃ abhinandunti. Imasmi·ñca pana veyyākaraṇasmiṃ bhaññamāne āyasmato koṇḍaññassa virajaṃ vītamalaṃ dhamma·cakkhuṃ udapādi: 'yaṃ kiñci samudaya·dhammaṃ, sabbaṃ taṃ nirodha·dhamma' nti.

This is what the Bhagavā said. Delighted, the groupe of five bhikkhus approved of the Bhagavā's words. And while this exposition was being spoken, there arose in āyasmā Koṇḍañña the Dhamma eye which is free from passion and stainless: 'all that has the nature of samudaya has the nature of nirodha'.

Pavattite ca pana bhagavatā dhamma·cakke bhummā devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

And when the Bhagavā had set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma, the devas of the earth proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Bhummānaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā cātumahārājikā devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the devas of the earth, the Cātumahārājika devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Cātumahārājikānaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā tāvatiṃsā devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the Cātumahārājika devas, the Tāvatiṃsa devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Tāvatiṃsānaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā yāmā devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the Tāvatiṃsa devas, the Yāma devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Yāmānaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā tusitā devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the Yāma devas, the Tusitā devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Tusitānaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā nimmānaratī devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the Tusitā devas, the Nimmānarati devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Nimmānaratīnaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā paranimmitavasavattī devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the Nimmānarati devas, the Paranimmitavasavatti devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Paranimmitavasavattīnaṃ devānaṃ saddaṃ sutvā brahmakāyikā devā saddam·anussāvesuṃ: 'etaṃ bhagavatā bārāṇasiyaṃ isipatane miga·dāye anuttaraṃ dhamma·cakkaṃ pavattitaṃ appaṭivattiyaṃ samaṇena brāhmaṇena devena mārena brahmunā kenaci lokasmin·ti.

Having heard the cry of the Paranimmitavasavatti devas, the brahmakāyika devas proclaimed aloud: 'At Varanasi, in the Deer Grove at Isipatana, the Bhagavā has set in motion the supreme Wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be stopped by samaṇas or brahmins, devas, Māras, Brahmā or anyone in the world.'

Iti·ha tena khaṇena tena muhuttena yāva brahma·lokā saddo abbhuggacchi. Aya·ñca dasasahassi·loka·dhātu saṅkampi sampakampi sampavedhi, appamāṇo ca uḷāro obhāso loke pāturahosi atikkamma devānaṃ dev·ānubhāva' nti.

Thus in that moment, in that instant, the cry diffused up to Brahma·loka. And this ten thousandfold world system shook, quaked, and trembled, and a great, boundless radiance appeared in the world, surpassing the effulgence of the devas

Atha kho bhagavā imaṃ udānaṃ udānesi:aññāsi vata, bho, koṇḍañño, aññāsi vata, bho, koṇḍaññoti! Iti hidaṃ āyasmato koṇḍaññassaaññāsi·koṇḍaññotv·eva nāmaṃ ahosīti.

Then the Bhagavā uttered this udāna: 'Koṇḍañña really understood! Koṇḍañña really understood!' And that is how āyasmā Koṇḍañña acquired the name 'Aññāsi·Koṇḍañña'.



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Translation suggested by the webmaster,
mainly with the support of Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation.

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