{"id":"sn35.238","title":"The Simile of the Vipers","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"sn35.238","title":"The Simile of the Vipers","units":[{"id":"sn35.238:0","sourceIds":["sn35.238:0.1","sn35.238:0.2","sn35.238:0.3"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Saṁyutta Nikāya 35.238\n19. Āsīvisavagga\nĀsīvisopamasutta","en":"Linked Discourses 35.238\n19. The Simile of the Vipers\nThe Simile of the Vipers"}},{"id":"sn35.238:1","sourceIds":["sn35.238:1.1","sn35.238:1.2","sn35.238:1.3","sn35.238:1.4","sn35.238:1.5","sn35.238:1.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, cattāro āsīvisā uggatejā ghoravisā.\nAtha puriso āgaccheyya jīvitukāmo amaritukāmo sukhakāmo dukkhappaṭikūlo.\nTamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:\n‘ime te, ambho purisa, cattāro āsīvisā uggatejā ghoravisā kālena kālaṁ vuṭṭhāpetabbā, kālena kālaṁ nhāpetabbā, kālena kālaṁ bhojetabbā, kālena kālaṁ saṁvesetabbā.\nYadā ca kho te, ambho purisa, imesaṁ catunnaṁ āsīvisānaṁ uggatejānaṁ ghoravisānaṁ aññataro vā aññataro vā kuppissati, tato tvaṁ, ambho purisa, maraṇaṁ vā nigacchasi, maraṇamattaṁ vā dukkhaṁ.\nYaṁ te, ambho purisa, karaṇīyaṁ taṁ karohī’ti.","en":"“Mendicants, suppose there were four venomous vipers of awesome might.\nThen a person would come along who wants to live and doesn’t want to die, who wants to be happy and recoils from pain.\nThey’d say to him,\n‘My man, here are four venomous vipers of awesome might. They must be periodically picked up, washed, fed, and put to sleep.\nBut when one or other of these four venomous vipers gets angry with you, you’ll meet with death or deadly pain.\nSo then, my man, do what has to be done.’"}},{"id":"sn35.238:2","sourceIds":["sn35.238:2.1","sn35.238:2.2","sn35.238:2.3","sn35.238:2.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso bhīto catunnaṁ āsīvisānaṁ uggatejānaṁ ghoravisānaṁ yena vā tena vā palāyetha.\nTamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:\n‘ime kho, ambho purisa, pañca vadhakā paccatthikā piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhā, yattheva naṁ passissāma tattheva jīvitā voropessāmāti.\nYaṁ te, ambho purisa, karaṇīyaṁ taṁ karohī’ti.","en":"Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers, would flee this way or that.\nThey’d say to him,\n‘My man, there are five deadly enemies chasing you, thinking: “When we catch sight of him, we’ll murder him right there!”\nSo then, my man, do what has to be done.’"}},{"id":"sn35.238:3","sourceIds":["sn35.238:3.1","sn35.238:3.2","sn35.238:3.3","sn35.238:3.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso bhīto catunnaṁ āsīvisānaṁ uggatejānaṁ ghoravisānaṁ, bhīto pañcannaṁ vadhakānaṁ paccatthikānaṁ yena vā tena vā palāyetha.\nTamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:\n‘ayaṁ te, ambho purisa, chaṭṭho antaracaro vadhako ukkhittāsiko piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandho yattheva naṁ passissāmi tattheva siro pātessāmīti.\nYaṁ te, ambho purisa, karaṇīyaṁ taṁ karohī’ti.","en":"Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers and those five deadly enemies, would flee this way or that.\nThey’d say to him,\n‘My man, there’s a sixth hidden killer chasing you with a drawn sword, thinking: “When I catch sight of him, I’ll chop off his head right there!”\nSo then, my man, do what has to be done.’"}},{"id":"sn35.238:4","sourceIds":["sn35.238:4.1","sn35.238:4.2","sn35.238:4.3","sn35.238:4.4","sn35.238:4.5","sn35.238:4.6","sn35.238:4.7"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso bhīto catunnaṁ āsīvisānaṁ uggatejānaṁ ghoravisānaṁ, bhīto pañcannaṁ vadhakānaṁ paccatthikānaṁ, bhīto chaṭṭhassa antaracarassa vadhakassa ukkhittāsikassa yena vā tena vā palāyetha.\nSo passeyya suññaṁ gāmaṁ.\nYaññadeva gharaṁ paviseyya rittakaññeva paviseyya tucchakaññeva paviseyya suññakaññeva paviseyya.\nYaññadeva bhājanaṁ parimaseyya rittakaññeva parimaseyya tucchakaññeva parimaseyya suññakaññeva parimaseyya.\nTamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ:\n‘idāni, ambho purisa, imaṁ suññaṁ gāmaṁ corā gāmaghātakā pavisanti.\nYaṁ te, ambho purisa, karaṇīyaṁ taṁ karohī’ti.","en":"Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers and those five deadly enemies and the hidden killer, would flee this way or that.\nHe’d see an empty village.\nBut whatever house he enters is vacant, deserted, and empty.\nAnd whatever vessel he touches is vacant, hollow, and empty.\nThey’d say to him,\n‘My man, there are bandits who raid villages, and they’re striking now.\nSo then, my man, do what has to be done.’"}},{"id":"sn35.238:5","sourceIds":["sn35.238:5.1","sn35.238:5.2","sn35.238:5.3","sn35.238:5.4","sn35.238:5.5","sn35.238:5.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso bhīto catunnaṁ āsīvisānaṁ uggatejānaṁ ghoravisānaṁ, bhīto pañcannaṁ vadhakānaṁ paccatthikānaṁ, bhīto chaṭṭhassa antaracarassa vadhakassa ukkhittāsikassa, bhīto corānaṁ gāmaghātakānaṁ yena vā tena vā palāyetha.\nSo passeyya mahantaṁ udakaṇṇavaṁ orimaṁ tīraṁ sāsaṅkaṁ sappaṭibhayaṁ, pārimaṁ tīraṁ khemaṁ appaṭibhayaṁ.\nNa cassa nāvā santāraṇī uttarasetu vā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya.\nAtha kho, bhikkhave, tassa purisassa evamassa:\n‘ayaṁ kho mahāudakaṇṇavo orimaṁ tīraṁ sāsaṅkaṁ sappaṭibhayaṁ, pārimaṁ tīraṁ khemaṁ appaṭibhayaṁ, natthi ca nāvā santāraṇī uttarasetu vā apārā pāraṁ gamanāya.\nYannūnāhaṁ tiṇakaṭṭhasākhāpalāsaṁ saṅkaḍḍhitvā kullaṁ bandhitvā taṁ kullaṁ nissāya hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyamamāno sotthinā pāraṁ gaccheyyan’ti.","en":"Then that man, terrified of those four venomous vipers and those five deadly enemies and the hidden killer and the bandits, would flee this way or that.\nHe’d see a large deluge, whose near shore is dubious and perilous, while the far shore is a sanctuary free of peril.\nBut there’s no ferryboat or bridge for crossing over.\nThen that man would think,\n‘Why don’t I gather grass, sticks, branches, and leaves and make a raft? Riding on the raft, and paddling with my hands and feet, I can safely reach the far shore.’"}},{"id":"sn35.238:6","sourceIds":["sn35.238:6.1"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Atha kho so, bhikkhave, puriso tiṇakaṭṭhasākhāpalāsaṁ saṅkaḍḍhitvā kullaṁ bandhitvā taṁ kullaṁ nissāya hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyamamāno sotthinā pāraṁ gaccheyya, tiṇṇo pāraṅgato thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇo.","en":"And so that man did exactly that. Having crossed over and gone to the far shore, the brahmin stands on solid ground."}},{"id":"sn35.238:7","sourceIds":["sn35.238:7.1","sn35.238:7.2","sn35.238:7.3","sn35.238:7.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Upamā kho myāyaṁ, bhikkhave, katā atthassa viññāpanāya.\nAyañcettha attho—\ncattāro āsīvisā uggatejā ghoravisāti kho, bhikkhave, catunnetaṁ mahābhūtānaṁ adhivacanaṁ—\npathavīdhātuyā, āpodhātuyā, tejodhātuyā, vāyodhātuyā.","en":"I’ve made up this simile to make a point.\nAnd this is the point.\n‘Four venomous vipers of awesome might’ is a term for the four principal states:\nthe elements of earth, water, fire, and air."}},{"id":"sn35.238:8","sourceIds":["sn35.238:8.1","sn35.238:8.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Pañca vadhakā paccatthikāti kho, bhikkhave, pañcannetaṁ upādānakkhandhānaṁ adhivacanaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—\nrūpupādānakkhandhassa, vedanupādānakkhandhassa, saññupādānakkhandhassa, saṅkhārupādānakkhandhassa, viññāṇupādānakkhandhassa.","en":"‘Five deadly enemies’ is a term for the five grasping aggregates, that is:\nform, feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness."}},{"id":"sn35.238:9","sourceIds":["sn35.238:9.1"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Chaṭṭho antaracaro vadhako ukkhittāsikoti kho, bhikkhave, nandīrāgassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.","en":"‘The sixth hidden killer with a drawn sword’ is a term for relishing and greed."}},{"id":"sn35.238:10","sourceIds":["sn35.238:10.1","sn35.238:10.2","sn35.238:10.3","sn35.238:10.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Suñño gāmoti kho, bhikkhave, channetaṁ ajjhattikānaṁ āyatanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.\nCakkhuto cepi naṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upaparikkhati rittakaññeva khāyati, tucchakaññeva khāyati, suññakaññeva khāyati …pe…\njivhāto cepi naṁ, bhikkhave …pe…\nmanato cepi naṁ, bhikkhave, paṇḍito byatto medhāvī upaparikkhati rittakaññeva khāyati, tucchakaññeva khāyati, suññakaññeva khāyati.","en":"‘Empty village’ is a term for the six interior sense fields.\nIf an astute, competent, intelligent person investigates that in relation to the eye, it appears vacant, hollow, and empty.\nIf an astute, competent, intelligent person investigates that in relation to the ear … nose … tongue … body …\nmind, it appears vacant, hollow, and empty."}},{"id":"sn35.238:11","sourceIds":["sn35.238:11.1","sn35.238:11.2","sn35.238:11.3","sn35.238:11.4","sn35.238:11.5","sn35.238:11.6","sn35.238:11.7"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Corā gāmaghātakāti kho, bhikkhave, channetaṁ bāhirānaṁ āyatanānaṁ adhivacanaṁ.\nCakkhu, bhikkhave, haññati manāpāmanāpesu rūpesu;\nsotaṁ, bhikkhave …pe…\nghānaṁ, bhikkhave …pe…\njivhā, bhikkhave, haññati manāpāmanāpesu rasesu;\nkāyo, bhikkhave …pe…\nmano, bhikkhave, haññati manāpāmanāpesu dhammesu.","en":"‘Bandits who raid villages’ is a term for the six exterior sense fields.\nThe eye is struck by both agreeable and disagreeable sights.\nThe ear …\nnose …\ntongue …\nbody …\nmind is struck by both agreeable and disagreeable ideas."}},{"id":"sn35.238:12","sourceIds":["sn35.238:12.1","sn35.238:12.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Mahā udakaṇṇavoti kho, bhikkhave, catunnetaṁ oghānaṁ adhivacanaṁ—\nkāmoghassa, bhavoghassa, diṭṭhoghassa, avijjoghassa.","en":"‘Large deluge’ is a term for the four floods:\nthe floods of sensual pleasures, desire to be reborn, views, and ignorance."}},{"id":"sn35.238:13","sourceIds":["sn35.238:13.1"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Orimaṁ tīraṁ sāsaṅkaṁ sappaṭibhayanti kho, bhikkhave, sakkāyassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.","en":"‘The near shore that’s dubious and perilous’ is a term for substantial reality."}},{"id":"sn35.238:14","sourceIds":["sn35.238:14.1"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Pārimaṁ tīraṁ khemaṁ appaṭibhayanti kho, bhikkhave, nibbānassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.","en":"‘The far shore, a sanctuary free of peril’ is a term for extinguishment."}},{"id":"sn35.238:15","sourceIds":["sn35.238:15.1","sn35.238:15.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Kullanti kho, bhikkhave, ariyassetaṁ aṭṭhaṅgikassa maggassa adhivacanaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—\nsammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.","en":"‘The raft’ is a term for the noble eightfold path, that is:\nright view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion."}},{"id":"sn35.238:16","sourceIds":["sn35.238:16.1"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tassa hatthehi ca pādehi ca vāyāmoti kho, bhikkhave, vīriyārambhassetaṁ adhivacanaṁ.","en":"‘Paddling with hands and feet’ is a term for rousing energy."}},{"id":"sn35.238:17","sourceIds":["sn35.238:17.1","sn35.238:17.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tiṇṇo pāraṅgato thale tiṭṭhati brāhmaṇoti kho, bhikkhave, arahato etaṁ adhivacanan”ti.\nPaṭhamaṁ.","en":"‘Crossed over, gone to the far shore, the brahmin stands on solid ground’ is a term for a perfected one.”"}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/sn35.238/en/sujato","licence":"CC0 1.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","editionNote":"Full supplied source file; inherited abbreviations are preserved. Not a reconstructed expansion of every repetition. No Malay or Mandarin translation is implied."}