• Numbered Discourses 3.133 Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.133
  • 14. A Warrior 14. Yodhājīvavagga

A Warrior Yodhājīvasutta

“Mendicants, a warrior with three factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned as a factor of kingship. “Tīhi, bhikkhave, aṅgehi samannāgato yodhājīvo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati. What three? Katamehi tīhi? He’s a long-distance shooter, a marksman, one who shatters large objects. Idha, bhikkhave, yodhājīvo dūre pātī ca hoti akkhaṇavedhī ca mahato ca kāyassa padāletā. A warrior with these three factors is worthy of a king, fit to serve a king, and is reckoned as a factor of kingship. Imehi, kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato yodhājīvo rājāraho hoti rājabhoggo, rañño aṅganteva saṅkhyaṁ gacchati.

In the same way, a mendicant with three factors is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, tīhi aṅgehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassa. What three? Katamehi tīhi? They’re a long-distance shooter, a marksman, and one who shatters large objects. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī ca hoti akkhaṇavedhī ca mahato ca kāyassa padāletā.

And how is a mendicant a long-distance shooter? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī hoti? It’s when a mendicant truly sees any kind of form at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> form—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yaṁ kiñci rūpaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ rūpaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. They truly see any kind of feeling at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> feeling—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Yā kāci vedanā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā yā dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ vedanaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. They truly see any kind of perception at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> perception—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Yā kāci saññā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā yā dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ saññaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. They truly see any kind of choices at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near: <em>all</em> choices—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Ye keci saṅkhārā atītānāgatapaccuppannā ajjhattā vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikā vā sukhumā vā hīnā vā paṇītā vā ye dūre santike vā, sabbe saṅkhāre: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. They truly see any kind of consciousness at all—past, future, or present; internal or external; solid or subtle; inferior or superior; far or near, <em>all</em> consciousness—with right understanding: ‘This is not mine, I am not this, this is not my self.’ Yaṁ kiñci viññāṇaṁ atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā, sabbaṁ viññāṇaṁ: ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya passati. That’s how a mendicant is a long-distance shooter. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu dūre pātī hoti.

And how is a mendicant a marksman? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhaṇavedhī hoti? It’s when a mendicant truly understands: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti; ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānāti. That’s how a mendicant is a marksman. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu akkhaṇavedhī hoti.

And how does a mendicant shatter large objects? Kathañca, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahato kāyassa padāletā hoti? It’s when a mendicant shatters the great mass of ignorance. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahantaṁ avijjākkhandhaṁ padāleti. That’s how a mendicant shatters large objects. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu mahato kāyassa padāletā hoti.

A mendicant with these three qualities is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of veneration with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.” Imehi kho, bhikkhave, tīhi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu āhuneyyo hoti …pe… anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassā”ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.