The arabha Stra
(Also known as the Sarabha sutta)
A Sanskrit text, a Pli version and an English translation
Reference:
64: Sarabha Sutta, I.185
PTS: Sarabha i-vi, I.167
WP: 64. Sarabha, 272
CS: 65. 4 Sarabhasutta, Aguttara Nikya (7) 2. Mahvaggo
The Sayukta gama ("Connected Discourses", Z Ahnjng Taish 2.99)
N. Hosoda, ['Sanskrit Fragments from the Parivrjakasayukta of the Sayuktgama (3)'], Hokkaido Journal of Indological and Buddhist Studies 6 (1991),
pp. 172-191.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PTS: The Pali Text Society, The Book of the Gradual Sayings (Aguttara Nikya)
WP: The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: a translation of the Aguttara Nikaya / translated from the Pali language by Bhikkhu Bodhi. p. 277
CS: Chaha Sagyana CD-ROM-u, 3rd rev. edition., Igatpuri, India , 1999
Sanskrit
Pli
English
arabha
64. Sarabhasutta
64 Sarabha
Sayukta gama
Aguttara Nikya 3 (7. Mahvagga)
The Book of the Threes (Aguttara Nikya)
1. // bhagavn rjaghe viharati
Eva me suta eka samaya bhagav
On one occasion the Blessed One was
veuvane kalandakanivpe. tena
rjagahe viharati gijjhake pabbate. Tena
dwelling at Rjagaha on Mount Vulture Peak.
khalu samayena tasmin rjaghe
kho pana samayena sarabho nma
Now on that occasion a wanderer named
arabho nma parivrjaka
paribbjako acirapakkanto hoti imasm
prativasati sumgadhy
dhammavinay. So rjagahe parisati eva
pukarays tre. ....... sa eva
vca bhsati: ato may samana
pariadi vca bhate. jto
sakyaputtikna dhammo. Aya ca
me raman
panha samana sakyaputtikna
kyaputry dharma.
dhamma evha tasm dhammavinay
jyaivha tasmd
apakkantoti. Atha kho sambahul bhikkh
dharmavinayd apakrnta.
pubbahasamaya nivsetv pattacvara-
2. atha sabahul bhikava
mdya rjagaha piya pavisisu.
prvhne nivsya ptracvaram
Assosu kho te bhikkh sarabhassa
dya rjagha piya
paribbjakassa rjagahe parisati eva
prvian. arauu sabahul
vca bhsamnassa: ato may
statement to an assembly in Rjagaha.
bhikavo rjagha piya
samana sakyaputtikna dhammo.
When those bhikkhus had walked for alms in
caranta. asmi rjaghe
Aya ca panha samana sakyaput-
Rjagaha, after their meal, when they
arabho nma parivrjaka
tikna dhamma evha tasm
returned from their alms round, they
prativasati. sa eva pariadi
dhammavinay apakkantoti.
approached the Blessed One, paid homage
vca bhate. prvavat. rutv
Sarabha had recently left this Dhamma and
discipline. He had been telling an assembly
in Rjagaha: I have learned the Dhamma of
the ascetics who follow the Sakyan son. After
I learned their Dhamma, I left that Dhamma
and discipline.
Then, one morning, a number of bhikkhus
dressed, took their bowls and robes, and
entered Rjagaha for alms. They then heard
the wanderer Sarabha making such a
to him, sat down to one side, and said to
ca punar rjagha piya
Atha kho te bhikkh rjagahe piya caritv
caritv ktabhaktakty
pacchbhatta piaptapaikkant yena
pacdbhaktapiapta
bhagav tenupasakamisu; upasakamitv
pratikrnt ptracvara
bhagavanta abhivdetv ekamanta
pratiamya pdau praklya yena
nisdisu. Ekamanta nisinn kho te bhikkh
bhagavs tenopajagmu.
bhagavanta etadavocu: sarabho nma,
who follow the Sakyan son. After I learned
upetya bhagavatpdau iras
bhante, paribbjako acirapakkanto imasm
their Dhamma, I left that Dhamma and
vanditv eknte nyadan.
dhammavinay. So rjagahe parisati eva
discipline. It would be good, Bhante, if the
ektania sabahul
vca bhsati: ato may samana
Blessed One would go to the wanderers
bhikavo bhagavantam idam
sakyaputtikna dhammo. Aya ca
park on the bank of the Sappinik river and,
avocan.
panha samana sakyaputtikna
out of compassion, approach the wanderer
3. iha vaya bhadanta
dhamma evha tasm dhammavinay
sabahul bhikava prvhe
apakkantoti. Sdhu, bhante, bhagav yena
nivsya ptracvaram dya
sippiniktra paribbjakrmo yena sarabho
rjagha piya prvima.
paribbjako tenupasakamatu anukampa
arauma vaya sabahul
updyti. Adhivsesi bhagav
bhikavo rjagha piya
tuhbhvena.
him:
Bhante, the wanderer Sarabha, who
recently left this Dhamma and discipline, has
been telling an assembly in Rjagaha: I
have learned the Dhamma of the ascetics
Sarabha. The Blessed One consented by
silence.
caranta. asmi rjaghe
arabho nma parivrjaka
Atha kho bhagav syanhasamaya
prativasati. sa eva pariadi
paisalln vuhito yena sippiniktra parib-
vca bhate. prvavat. sdhu
bjakrmo yena sarabho paribbjako
bhagavn yena sumgadhy
tenupasakami; upasakamitv paatte
Sappinik river. He approached the
pukarays tra
sane nisdi. Nisajja kho bhagav sarabha
wanderer Sarabha, sat down on the seat that
tenopasakrameta anukampm
paribbjaka etadavoca: sacca kira tva,
was prepared for him, and said to him: Is it
updya. adhivsayati bhagavn
sarabha, eva vadesi: ato may
true, Sarabha, that you have been saying: I
sabahuln bhik
samana sakyaputtikna dhammo.
have learned the Dhamma of the ascetics
Aya ca panha samana sakyaput-
who follow the Sakyan son. After I learned
Then, in the evening, the Blessed One
emerged from seclusion and went to the
wanderers park on the bank of the
tbhavena.
tikna dhamma evha tasm
their Dhamma, I left that Dhamma and
4. atha bhagavn syhne
dhammavinay apakkantoti? Eva vutte,
discipline? When this was said, the
pratisalayand vyutthya yena
sarabho paribbjako tuh ahosi.
wanderer Sarabha was silent.
arabha parivrjaka
A second time the Blessed One said to the
sumgadhy pukarays tre
Dutiyampi kho bhagav sarabha
tenopajagma. adrkc
paribbjaka etadavoca: vadehi, sarabha,
charabha parivrjako
kinti te ato samana sakyaputtikna
bhagavanta drata eva. dv
dhammo? Sace te aparipra bhavissati,
ca punar bhagavato
aha paripressmi. Sace pana te
complete it. But if you have learned it
'rthysana prajapayaty eva
paripra bhavissati, aha anumodissmti.
completely, I will rejoice. But a second time
cha. nidat bhagavn
Dutiyampi kho sarabho paribbjako tuh
the wanderer Sarabha was silent.
prajapta evsane. nyadad
ahosi.
bhagavn prajapta evsane.
niadya bhagav arabha
parivrjakam idam avocat.
5. satya khalu tva arabha,
eva vadasi. jto me
raman kyaputry
dharma. jyaivha tasmd
dharmavinayd apakrnta.
6. evam ukta arabha
parivrjaka tm evbht.
........ tva arabha kim asi
t. sacet te paripra
bhaviyati vayam
anumodayiyma. sacet te
Tatiyampi kho bhagav sarabha
paribbjaka etadavoca: yo kho, sarabha,
payati samana sakyaputtikna
wanderer Sarabha: Tell me, Sarabha, how
have you learned the Dhamma of the
ascetics who follow the Sakyan son? If you
have not learned it completely, I will
A third time the Blessed One said to the
wanderer Sarabha: Tell me, Sarabha, how
have you learned the Dhamma of the
dhammo vadehi, sarabha, kinti te ato
ascetics who follow the Sakyan son? If you
samana sakyaputtikna dhammo?
have not learned it completely, I will
Sace te aparipra bhavissati, aha
complete it. But if you have learned it
paripressmi. Sace pana te paripra
completely, I will rejoice. But a third time the
bhavissati, aha anumodissmti. Tatiyampi
wanderer Sarabha was silent.
kho sarabho paribbjako tuh ahosi.
Atha kho te paribbjak sarabha
paribbjaka etadavocu: yadeva kho
tva, vuso sarabha, samaa gotama
yceyysi tadeva te samao gotamo
Then those wanderers said to the wanderer
Sarabha: The ascetic Gotama has offered to
give you whatever you might ask him for,
friend Sarabha. Speak, friend Sarabha! How
aparipra bhaviyati vaya te
pavreti. Vadehvuso sarabha, kinti te
have you learned the Dhamma of the
pariprayiyma. apdn
ato samana sakyaputtikna
ascetics who follow the Sakyan son? If you
arabha parivrjako ..... tm
dhammo? Sace te aparipra bhavissati,
have not learned it completely, the ascetic
evbht. dvir api trir api arabha
samao gotamo paripressati. Sace pana te
parivrjaka tm evbht.
paripra bhavissati, samao gotamo
7. atha arabhasya
anumodissatti. Eva vutte, sarabho
parivrjakasya svak
paribbjako tuhbhto makubhto
sabrahmacria arabha
pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhyanto
parivrjakam idam avocan. yad
appaibhno nisdi.
and speechless.
upasakramyeyaiva tad eva te
Atha kho bhagav sarabha paribbjaka
Then the Blessed One, having understood
ramaa gautama
tuhbhta makubhta pattakkhandha
that the wanderer Sarabha sat silenced,
upasakramyaiva vadati
adhomukha pajjhyanta appaibhna
vykuru vykuru ... sacet te
viditv te paribbjake etadavoca:
eva tva ramaa gautamam
paripra bhaviyati vayam
anumodayiyma sacet te
aparipra bhaviyati vaya te
pariprayiyma. tva
arabha kim asi t. ...
apdn arabha parivrjako ...
tm evbhd dvir api trir api
arabha parivrjaka tm
evbht.
8. atha bhagavn arabha
parivrjakam idam avocat. yo me
saced eva vadet, na
Yo kho ma, paribbjak, eva vadeyya:
sammsambuddhassa te paijnato ime
Gotama will complete it for you. But if you
have learned it completely, he will rejoice.
When this was said, the wanderer Sarabha
sat silenced, disconcerted, hunched over,
downcast, glum,
disconcerted, hunched over, downcast,
glum, and speechless, said to those
wanderers:
(1) Wanderers, if anyone should say about
me: Though you claim to be perfectly
dhamm anabhisambuddhti, tamaha
enlightened, you are not fully enlightened
tattha sdhuka samanuyujeyya
about these things, I might question him
samanugheyya samanubhseyya. So
closely about this matter, interrogate him,
vata may sdhuka samanuyujiyamno
and cross-examine him. When he is being
samanughiyamno samanubhsiyamno
closely questioned by me, interrogated, and
ahnameta anavakso ya so tia
hnna natara hna nigaccheyya,
aena v aa paicarissati, bahiddh
cross-examined, it is impossible and
inconceivable that he would not incur one or
another of three consequences: he would
either answer evasively and divert the
katha apanmessati, kopaca dosaca
discussion to an irrelevant subject; or display
appaccayaca ptukarissati, tuhbhto
anger, hatred, and bitterness; or would sit
ramaasya gautamasya
makubhto pattakkhandho adhomukho
silenced, disconcerted, hunched over,
tathgata samyaksabuddhas.
pajjhyanto appaibhno nisdissati,
downcast, glum, and speechless, just like the
tam aha sdhu ca suhu ca
seyyathpi sarabho paribbjako.
wanderer Sarabha.
samanuyujy samanughy.
(2) If, wanderers, anyone should say about
tasya sdhu ca suhu ca
Yo kho ma, paribbjak, eva vadeyya:
samanuyujyamnasya
khsavassa te paijnato ime sav
samanughyamnasya,
aparikkhti, tamaha tattha sdhuka
anyennya pratisareta bahirdh
samanuyujeyya samanugheyya sama-
... kopa ca doa cpratyaya
nubhseyya. So vata may sdhuka
and cross-examine him. When he is being
ca prdukuryt. ... tbhto
samanuyujiyamno samanughiyamno
closely questioned by me, interrogated, and
v syn madgubhta
samanubhsiyamno ahnameta
cross-examined, it is impossible and
srastaskandha, adhomukho
anavakso ya so tia hnna
inconceivable that he would not incur one or
nipratibhna
natara hna nigaccheyya, aena v
another of three consequences: he would
pradhynaparama tadyath
aa paicarissati, bahiddh katha
tvam etarhi arabha.
apanmessati, kopaca dosaca
9. yo me saced eva vadet* na
appaccayaca ptukarissati, tuhbhto
ramaasya gautamasya
makubhto pattakkhandho adhomukho
downcast, glum, and speechless, just like the
dharmavinaya, tam aha sdhu
pajjhyanto appaibhno nisdissati,
wanderer Sarabha.
ca suhu ca samanuyujy
seyyathpi sarabho paribbjako.
samanughy. prvavad yvat
tadyath tvam etarhi arabha. yo
me saced eva vadet, na
ramaasya gautamasya
rvaka supratipanna, tam
aha sdhu ca suu ca
samanuyujy samanughy
me: Though you claim to be one whose
taints are destroyed, you have not fully
destroyed these taints, I might question him
closely about this matter, interrogate him,
either answer evasively and divert the
discussion to an irrelevant subject; or display
anger, hatred, and bitterness; or would sit
silenced, disconcerted, hunched over,
(3) If, wanderers, anyone should say about
Yo kho ma, paribbjak, eva vadeyya:
me: The Dhamma does not lead one who
yassa kho pana te atthya dhammo desito,
practices it to the complete destruction of
so na niyyti takkarassa samm
suffering, the goal for the sake of which you
dukkhakkhayyti, tamaha tattha
sdhuka samanuyujeyya
samanugheyya samanubhseyya. So
vata may sdhuka samanuyujiyamno
teach it, I might question him closely about
this matter, interrogate him, and crossexamine him. When he is being closely
questioned by me, interrogated, and crossexamined, it is impossible and inconceivable
prvavat* yvat tadyath tvam
samanughiyamno samanubhsiyamno
that he would not incur one or another of
etarhi arabha. ...
ahnameta anavakso ya so tia
three consequences: he would either answer
10. atha bhagavn
hnna natara hna nigaccheyya,
evasively and divert the discussion to an
sumgadhy pukarays tre
aena v aa paicarissati, bahiddh
pariadi samyaksihanda
katha apanmessati, kopaca dosaca
naditv utthysant prakrnta.
appaccayaca ptukarissati, tuhbhto
11. atha arabhasya
makubhto pattakkhandho adhomukho
parivrjakasya svak
pajjhyanto appaibhno nisdissati,
sabrahmacria arabha
seyyathpi sarabho paribbjakoti. Atha kho
Then the Blessed One, having roared his
parivrjakam idam avocan*.
bhagav sippiniktre paribbjakrme
lions roar three times in the wanderers park
tadyath arabha. abha
tikkhattu shanda naditv vehsa
on the bank of the Sappinik river, rose up
chinnavia nyy
pakkmi.
irrelevant subject, or display anger, hatred,
and bitterness, or would sit silenced,
disconcerted, hunched over, downcast,
glum, and speechless, just like the wanderer
Sarabha.
into the air and departed.
goly mahnda
naditavya manyeta, evam eva
tvam anyatra ramad gautamt
pariadi sihanda naditavya
manyase. tadyath arabha
bhaalik purutaka
raviymti bhaalikrutakam
eva ravati. ... na bhaalikvad
asi .. tvam anyatra ramad
gautamt pariadi sihanda
naditavya manyase. tadyath
arabha glo
bherakravitaka v.
raviymti glaravitaka
Atha kho te paribbjak acirapakkantassa
bhagavato sarabha paribbjaka
Then, soon after the Blessed One had left,
those wanderers gave the wanderer Sarabha
a thorough verbal lashing, saying: Just as
samantato vcyasannitodakena sajam-
an old jackal in a huge forest might think: I
bharimakasu: seyyathpi, vuso sarabha,
will roar a lions roar, and yet would only
brahrae jarasiglo shanda
howl and yelp like a jackal, so, friend
nadissmti siglakayeva nadati, bhe-
Sarabha, claiming in the absence of the
raakayeva nadati; evameva kho tva,
ascetic Gotama:
vuso sarabha, aatreva samaena
gotamena shanda nadissmti
siglakayeva nadasi bheraakayeva
I will roar a lions roar, you only howled and
yelped like a jackal. Just as, friend Sarabha,
a chick might think: I will sing like a cock,
nadasi. Seyyathpi, vuso sarabha,
and yet would only sing like a chick, so,
ambukasacar purisakaravita ravissmti
friend Sarabha, claiming in the absence of
ravati. evam eva tvam anyatra
ambukasacariravitayeva ravati;
ramad gautamt pariadi
evameva kho tva, vuso sarabha,
sihanda manyase.
aatreva samaena gotamena purisakara-
12. atha arabhasya
vita ravissmti, ambukasacariravita-
parivrjakasya svak
yeva ravasi. Seyyathpi, vuso sarabha,
sabrahmacria ...
usabho suya goslya gambhra
cotthysant prakrnt.
naditabba maati; evameva kho tva,
arabha iti stra //
vuso sarabha, aatreva samaena
the ascetic Gotama:
I will sing like a cock, you only sang like a
chick. Just as, friend Sarabha, a bull might
think to bellow deeply in an empty cow shed,
so, friend Sarabha, in the absence of the
ascetic Gotama you thought you could
bellow deeply.
gotamena gambhra naditabba
In this way those wanderers gave the
maasti. Atha kho te paribbjak
wanderer Sarabha a thorough verbal lashing.
sarabha paribbjaka samantato vcyasannitodakena sajambharimakasti.
Catuttha.
