Dhammapada Verses 246, 247 and 248 - Panca Upasaka Vatthu

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Source: Adapted from the original translation by Daw Mya Tin, M.A.

Dhammapada Verses 246, 247 and 248 - Panca Upasaka Vatthu
Yo panamatipateti

musavadanca bhasati

loke adinnamadiyati

paradaranca gacchati.

Suramerayapananca

yo naro anuyunjati

idheva meso lokasmim

mulam khanati attano.

Evam bho purisa janahi

papadhamma asannata

ma tam lobho adhammo ca

ciram dukkhaya randhayum.

Verses 246 & 247: He who destroys life, tells lies, takes what is not given him, commits adultery and takes intoxicating drinks, digs up his own roots even in this very life.

Verse 248: Know this, O man! Not restraining oneself is evil; do not let greed and ill will subject you to prolonged misery.

The Story of Five Lay-Disciples

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (246), (247) and (248) of this book, with reference to five lay-disciples.

On one occasion five lay-disciples were keeping fasting dayat the Jetavana monastery. Most of them were observing only one or two of the five moral precepts (sila). Each one of them observing a particular precept claimed that the precept observed by him was the most difficult and there were a lot of arguments. In the end, they came to the Buddha with this problem. To them the Buddha said, "You should not consider any individual precept as being easy or unimportant. Each and every one of the precepts must be strictly observed. Do not think lightly of any of the precepts; none of them is easy to observe."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verses 246 & 247: He who destroys life, tells lies, takes what is not given him, commits adultery and takes intoxicating drinks, digs up his own roots even in this very life.

Verse 248: Know this, O man! Not restraining oneself is evil; do not let greed and ill will subject you to prolonged misery.

At the end of the discourse the five lay-disciples attained Sotapatti Fruition.

Credits
Translated by Daw Mya Tin, M.A.

Edited by Editorial Committee, Burma Tipitaka Association Rangoon, Burma, 1986

Courtesy of Nibbana.com

For free distribution only, as a gift of dhamma.

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