Aṅguttara Nikāya 11.13 2.

Nandiya Sutta

Anussativagga Nandiyasutta Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu in the Nigrodha Park.

Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagantukāmo hoti.

At that time, the Blessed One intended to go to Sāvatthī for the rainy season retreat.

Assosi kho nandiyo sakko: “bhagavā kira sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagantukāmo”ti.

Nandiya, a Sakyan, heard that the Blessed One intended to go to Sāvatthī for the rainy season retreat.

Atha kho nandiyassa sakkassa etadahosi: “yannūnāhampi sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagaccheyyaṁ.

Then it occurred to Nandiya, the Sakyan, Why don't I also go to Sāvatthī for the rainy season retreat?

Tattha kammantañceva adhiṭṭhahissāmi, bhagavantañca lacchāmi kālena kālaṁ dassanāyā”ti.

There, I can attend to my duties and have the opportunity to see the Blessed One from time to time.

Atha kho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagacchi.

Then the Blessed One went to Sāvatthī for the rainy season retreat.

Nandiyopi kho sakko sāvatthiyaṁ vassāvāsaṁ upagacchi.

Nandiya, the Sakyan, also went to Sāvatthī for the rainy season retreat.

Tattha kammantañceva adhiṭṭhāsi, bhagavantañca labhi kālena kālaṁ dassanāya.

There, he attended to his duties and had the opportunity to see the Blessed One from time to time.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: “niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī”ti. Assosi kho nandiyo sakko: “sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti: ‘niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’”ti.

At that time, several disciples were making robes for the Blessed One, thinking, When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months.

Atha kho nandiyo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Nandiya, the Sakyan, heard this and approached the Blessed One.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho nandiyo sakko bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘sambahulā kira bhikkhū bhagavato cīvarakammaṁ karonti— niṭṭhitacīvaro bhagavā temāsaccayena cārikaṁ pakkamissatī’ti.

After paying homage, he sat down to one side and said, I have heard, venerable sir, that several disciples are making robes for the Blessed One, thinking, When the robe is finished, the Blessed One will set out on a journey after the three months.

Tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban”ti?

For those of us dwelling in various abodes, with what kind of dwelling should we dwell?

“Sādhu sādhu, nandiya.

Good, good, Nandiya.

Etaṁ kho, nandiya, tumhākaṁ patirūpaṁ kulaputtānaṁ, yaṁ tumhe tathāgataṁ upasaṅkamitvā puccheyyātha: ‘tesaṁ no, bhante, nānāvihārehi viharataṁ kenassa vihārena vihātabban’ti? Saddho kho, nandiya, ārādhako hoti, no assaddho; sīlavā ārādhako hoti, no dussīlo; āraddhavīriyo ārādhako hoti, no kusīto; upaṭṭhitassati ārādhako hoti, no muṭṭhassati; samāhito ārādhako hoti, no asamāhito; paññavā ārādhako hoti, no duppañño.

It is fitting for you, as a noble son, to approach the Tathāgata and ask, For those of us dwelling in various abodes, with what kind of dwelling should we dwell? Nandiya, one who has faith is successful, not one who lacks faith; one who is virtuous is successful, not one who is immoral; one who is energetic is successful, not one who is lazy; one who has mindfulness established is successful, not one who is unmindful; one who is concentrated is successful, not one who is unconcentrated; one who is wise is successful, not one who is unwise.

Imesu kho te, nandiya, chasu dhammesu patiṭṭhāya pañcasu dhammesu ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Based on these six qualities, Nandiya, you should establish mindfulness internally with regard to five qualities.

Idha tvaṁ, nandiya, tathāgataṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti.

Here, Nandiya, you should recollect the Tathāgata: Indeed, the Blessed One is an Arahant, perfectly enlightened, accomplished in true knowing and conduct, well-gone, knower of the worlds, incomparable leader of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened, blessed.

Iti kho te, nandiya, tathāgataṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Thus, Nandiya, you should establish mindfulness internally with regard to the Tathāgata.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, dhammaṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhī’ti.

Again, Nandiya, you should recollect the Dhamma: The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, visible here and now, timeless, inviting one to come and see, leading onward, to be known individually by the wise.

Iti kho te, nandiya, dhammaṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Thus, Nandiya, in relation to the Dhamma, mindfulness should be established within yourself.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, kalyāṇamitte anussareyyāsi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yassa me kalyāṇamittā anukampakā atthakāmā ovādakā anusāsakā’ti.

Again, Nandiya, you should recollect your good friends: Fortunate am I, truly fortunate, to have good friends who are compassionate, desiring my welfare, giving advice, and instructing me.

Iti kho te, nandiya, kalyāṇamitte ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Thus, Nandiya, in relation to your good friends, mindfulness should be established within yourself.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, attano cāgaṁ anussareyyāsi: ‘lābhā vata me, suladdhaṁ vata me, yohaṁ maccheramalapariyuṭṭhitāya pajāya vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasāmi muttacāgo payatapāṇi vossaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato’ti.

Again, Nandiya, you should recollect your own generosity: Fortunate am I, truly fortunate, that I dwell in a household with a mind free from the stain of miserliness, with a mind that is generous, open-handed, delighting in relinquishment, devoted to charity, and rejoicing in sharing.

Iti kho te, nandiya, cāgaṁ ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Thus, Nandiya, in relation to your generosity, mindfulness should be established within yourself.

Puna caparaṁ tvaṁ, nandiya, devatā anussareyyāsi: ‘yā devatā atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devatānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā, tā karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassanti katassa vā paticayaṁ’.

Again, Nandiya, you should recollect the deities: The deities who have surpassed the realm of those who partake of solid food and have attained a certain mind-made body, they do not see any task to be done for themselves nor any accumulation of merit.

Seyyathāpi, nandiya, bhikkhu asamayavimutto karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassati katassa vā paticayaṁ; evamevaṁ kho, nandiya, yā tā devatā atikkammeva kabaḷīkārāhārabhakkhānaṁ devatānaṁ sahabyataṁ aññataraṁ manomayaṁ kāyaṁ upapannā, tā karaṇīyaṁ attano na samanupassanti katassa vā paticayaṁ.

Just as, Nandiya, a disciple who is liberated in a non-temporal way does not see any task to be done for himself nor any accumulation of merit; in the same way, Nandiya, those deities who have surpassed the realm of those who partake of solid food and have attained a certain mind-made body, they do not see any task to be done for themselves nor any accumulation of merit.

Iti kho te, nandiya, devatā ārabbha ajjhattaṁ sati upaṭṭhāpetabbā.

Thus, Nandiya, in relation to the deities, mindfulness should be established within yourself.

Imehi kho, nandiya, ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako pajahateva pāpake akusale dhamme, na upādiyati.

Endowed with these eleven qualities, Nandiya, a noble disciple abandons unskillful, unwholesome states and does not cling to them.

Seyyathāpi, nandiya, kumbho nikkujjo vamateva udakaṁ, no vantaṁ paccāvamati; seyyathāpi vā pana, nandiya, sukkhe tiṇadāye aggi mutto ḍahaññeva gacchati, no daḍḍhaṁ paccudāvattati; evamevaṁ kho, nandiya, imehi ekādasahi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako pajahateva pāpake akusale dhamme, na upādiyatī”ti. Tatiyaṁ.

Just as, Nandiya, an overturned pot spills out water and does not take it back; or just as, Nandiya, a fire set in a dry grass heap burns on and does not turn back to what has already been burned; in the same way, Nandiya, endowed with these eleven qualities, a noble disciple abandons unskillful, unwholesome states and does not cling to them.