SN55:2 Grounded
- DG BB TBW © Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi. (More copyright information)
1"Bhikkhus, a noble disciple who possesses four things is a stream-enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as his destination. [n.322] This is the stock definition of a stream-enterer. "Fixed in destiny" (niyata) means that the stream-enterer is bound to reach final liberation in a maximum of seven more lives passed either in the human world or the celestial realms. Enlightenment (sambodhi) is the final knowledge of arahantship.
2"What four? Here, bhikkhus, a noble disciple possesses confirmed confidence in the Buddha thus: ‘The Blessed One is … teacher of devas and humans, the Enlightened One, the Blessed One.’ He possesses confirmed confidence in the Dhamma … in the Saṅgha. … He possesses the virtues dear to the noble ones, unbroken … leading to concentration. sn.v.344
"A noble disciple, bhikkhus, who possesses these four things is a stream-enterer, no longer bound to the nether world, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as his destination."
3This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this:
"Those who possess faith and virtue,
Confidence and vision of the Dhamma,
In time arrive at the happiness
Grounded upon the holy life."
[n.323] Brahmacariyogadhaṁ sukhaṁ. Spk: This is the happiness associated with the higher three paths. The confidence mentioned in the verse can be interpreted either as the confidence concomitant with the path (maggappasāda) or as the reviewing confidence of one who has reached the path (āgatamaggassa paccavekkhaṇappasāda). Ogadha is actually from the verb ogadhati, which the commentaries treat as synonymous with patiṭṭhahati, "to be established." They confirm this link by consistently glossing ogadha with patiṭṭha, support; hence my rendering "ground." For the references, see CPD, s.v. ogadha, ogadhati, ogaha, and the use of the word gadha, both literal and metaphorical, in I, v. 263. MW defines gadha (from the root gadh, to stand firmly) as a ground for standing on in water, a shallow place, a ford.
1"Catūhi, bhikkhave, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.
2Katamehi catūhi? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Dhamme … pe … saṅghe … pe … ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti akhaṇḍehi … pe … samādhisaṁvattanikehi.
Imehi kho, bhikkhave, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo"ti.
3Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:
4"Yesaṁ saddhā ca sīlañca,
Pasādo dhammadassanaṁ;
Te ve kālena paccenti,
Brahmacariyogadhaṁ sukhan"ti.
Dutiyaṁ.