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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Connected Discourses

SN48: Connected Discourses on the Faculties

SN48:54 Footprints

1"Bhikkhus, just as the footprints of all living beings that walk fit into the footprint of the elephant, and the elephant's footprint is declared to be their chief by reason of its size, so too, among the steps that lead to enlightenment,[n.239] Yani kanici padani bodhāya saṁvattanti. Spk: Whatever Dhamma-steps (dhammapadani), sections of Dhamma (dhammakoṭṭhasa), lead to enlightenment. the faculty of wisdom is declared to be their chief, that is, for the attainment of enlightenment.

1"Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – mahantattena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti, paññindriyaṁ padaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – bodhāya.

"And what, bhikkhus, are the steps that lead to enlightenment? The faculty of faith, bhikkhus, is a step that leads to enlightenment. The faculty of energy is a step that leads to enlightenment. The faculty of mindfulness is a step that leads to enlightenment. The faculty of concentration is a step that leads to enlightenment. The faculty of wisdom is a step that leads to enlightenment.

Katamāni ca, bhikkhave, padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti? Saddhindriyaṁ, bhikkhave, padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; vīriyindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; satindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; samādhindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati; paññindriyaṁ padaṁ, taṁ bodhāya saṁvattati.

"Just as, bhikkhus, the footprints of all living beings that walk fit into the footprint of the elephant, … so too, among the steps that lead to enlightenment, the faculty of wisdom is declared to be their chief, that is, for the attainment of enlightenment."

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, yāni kānici jaṅgalānaṁ pāṇānaṁ padajātāni sabbāni tāni hatthipade samodhānaṁ gacchanti, hatthipadaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – mahantattena; evameva kho, bhikkhave, yāni kānici padāni bodhāya saṁvattanti, paññindriyaṁ padaṁ tesaṁ aggamakkhāyati, yadidaṁ – bodhāyā"ti.

Catutthaṁ.