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2025-10-15

DN 32 Āṭānāṭiyasutta (Vipassissa...)

(SC, Bhikkhu Manual)

Evaṁ me sutaṁ --- ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.
Atha kho cattāro mahārājā mahatiyā ca yakkhasenāya ... yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;
upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.

Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vessavaṇo mahārājā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Santi hi, bhante,
uḷārā yakkhā bhagavato appasannā.

gijjha (masc) vulture [√gidh + ya] masc, from gijjhati
kūṭa 1.2 (masc) peak; ridge; summit [√kuṭ > kūṭ + *a] masc
pabbata 1 (masc) rock masc
mahatiyā (adj) with a great; with a large [maha + nta + iyā] adj, fem instr sg of mahanta
yakkhasenā (fem) army of daemons [yakkha + senā] fem, comp
senā (fem) army; military fem
vessavaṇa (masc) name of one of the Four Great Kings [visavaṇa + *a] masc, from vissavaṇa
vissavaṇa (nt) hearing widely; being famous [vi + √su > sav + *aṇa] nt, act
santi 2.1 (pr) they are; there are; they exist [sa + nti] pr 3rd pl of atthi
uḷāra 1 (adj) excellent; lofty; high; noble [ud > uḷ + √ar > ār + *a] adj
bhagavato 1 (masc) to the Buddha; for the Buddha [bhagavant + to] masc, dat sg of bhagavant
appasanna 1 (masc) non-believer; who has no faith (in); [na > a + pa + √sad + na] masc, pp of na pasīdati

... Taṁ kissa hetu? Bhagavā hi, bhante, pāṇātipātā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti,
adinnādānā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti,
musāvādā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti, surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇiyā dhammaṁ deseti.

Yebhuyyena kho pana, bhante, yakkhā appaṭiviratāyeva pāṇātipātā, appaṭiviratā adinnādānā,
appaṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā, appaṭiviratā musāvādā, appaṭiviratā surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā.
Tesaṁ taṁ hoti appiyaṁ amanāpaṁ.

kissa 1 (pron) for who?; for what reason?; why? [ka > ki + issa] pron, interr, masc & nt dat sg of ka
hetu 2 (masc) reason (for); cause (for); [√hi > he + *tu] masc
veramaṇī (fem) abstinence (from); abstention (from) [vi > ve + √ram + aṇa + *ī] fem, from viramaṇa
deseti 1 (pr) preach (to); teaches (to); explains (to) [dese + ti] pr, caus of disati
yebhuyyena (ind) mostly; generally; for the most part [yebhuyya + ena] ind, adv
appaṭivirata (pp) not abstained (from); not given up [na > a + pati + vi + √ram + ta]
tesaṁ 1 (pron) for them; to them; to those [ta + esānaṁ > esaṁ] pron, masc & nt dat pl of ta
appiya 1 (adj) not dear (to); unloved (by); disliked (by) [na > a + √pī > piy + a] adj, from na piya
amanāpa 1 (adj) unpleasant; dislikeable; disagreeable; detestable [na > a + manāpa] adj, from na manāpa

Santi hi, bhante, bhagavato sāvakā araññavanapatthāni pantāni senāsanāni paṭisevanti
appasaddāni appanigghosāni vijanavātāni manussarāhasseyyakāni paṭisallānasāruppāni.
Tattha santi uḷārā yakkhā nivāsino, ye imasmiṁ bhagavato pāvacane appasannā.

Tesaṁ pasādāya uggaṇhātu, bhante, bhagavā āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ
upāsakānaṁ upāsikānaṁ guttiyā rakkhāya avihiṁsāya phāsuvihārāyā"ti.
Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

Atha kho vessavaṇo mahārājā bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ
imaṁ āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ abhāsi:

panta 1 (adj) distant; remote; very far away [pa + anta] adj, from anta
paṭisevati 4 (pr) resorts (to); frequents; lives (in) [pati + seva + ti] pr
appasadda 1 (adj) quiet; silent; free from noise [appa + sadda] adj, comp
paṭisallāna-sāruppa (adj) suitable for seclusion; ideal for isolation adj, comp
nivāsī (adj) living (in); staying (in); dwelling (in) [ni + √vas + ī] from nivasati
ye 1 (pron) whoever; those who [ya + e] pron, masc & nt nom pl of ya
imasmiṁ 1 (pron) in this [ima + smiṁ] pron, masc & nt loc sg of ima
pāvacana 3 (nt) doctrine; religious; religious order [pa > pā + √vac + ana] nt, from pavacati
pasāda 1 (masc) inspiration; faith; trust; confidence masc, from pasīdati
uggaṇhāti 3 (pr) grasps; learns; understands; comprehends [ud + gaṇhā + ti] pr
āṭānāṭiya (adj) from Āṭānāṭā (name of a heavenly city) [āṭānāṭā + iya] adj, from āṭānāṭā
rakkha (adj) protecting; guarding [√rakkh + a] adj, in comps, from rakkhati
gutti (fem) guarding (of); protecting (of); [√gup + ti] fem, abstr, from gopeti
avihiṁsā (fem) non-violence; non-cruelty; non-harm [na > a + vi + hiṁsa + ā] fem, abstr
phāsuvihāra (masc) easy living; living in comfort [phāsu + vihāra] masc, comp
adhivāsesi 1 (aor) agreed (to); consented (to); accepted [adhi + vāse + si] aor of adhivāseti
tuṇhībhāva (masc) silence; being silent; [tuṇhī + bhāva] masc, abstr, comp, from tuṇhībhavati
viditvā 2.1 (abs) having known; having perceived; having understood [√vid + itvā] abs of vidati
tāyaṁ (pron) in that; on that; at that [ta + āyaṁ] pron, fem loc sg of ta
velā 1 (fem) time; point in time fem

"Vipassissa ca namatthu, / cakkhumantassa sirīmato;
Sikhissapi ca namatthu, sabbabhūtānukampino.

Vessabhussa ca namatthu, / nhātakassa tapassino;
Namatthu kakusandhassa, / mārasenāpamaddino.

vipassī 1 (masc) name of the 6th previous Buddha [vi + passa + ī] from vipassati
namatthu (sandhi) homage (to); salutation (to) [namo + atthu] sandhi, masc + imp
cakkhumant 1 (adj) with eyes; who can see; who has vision; gifted with sight [cakkhu + mant]
sirīmant 2 (adj) glorious; illustrious; eminent; (comm) possessing merit [sirī + mant]
sikhī 3 (masc) name of the 5th previous Buddha [sikhā + ī] masc, from sikhā
sikhā 5 (fem) flame fem
sabbabhūtānukampī (adj) compassionate for all beings [sabbabhūta + anukampī] adj, comp
vessabhū 1 (masc) name of the 4th previous Buddha [vessa + bhū] masc, comp
vessa 1.1 (masc) man of the merchant and agricultural caste masc
nhātaka 1 (masc) who is perfected; who is purified [nhāta + ka] masc, from nhāta
tapassī 1 (masc) ascetic [√tap + as + sī], [tapas + sī] masc, agent, from tapas
kakusandha (masc) name of the 3rd previous Buddha masc
mārasenāpamaddī (adj) crushing Māra's army [mārasenā + pamaddī] adj, comp

Koṇāgamanassa namatthu, / brāhmaṇassa vusīmato;

Kassapassa ca namatthu, / vippamuttassa sabbadhi.

Aṅgīrasassa namatthu, / sakyaputtassa sirīmato;

Yo imaṁ dhammaṁ desesi, / sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṁ.

koṇāgamana (masc) name of the 2nd previous Buddha masc
brāhmaṇa 2 (masc) arahant; awakened being; saint; paragon masc, from brahma
vusīmant (adj) who is completed; who is finished; who is perfected; epithet of an arahant
kassapa 1 (masc) name of the 1st previous Buddha masc, patr
vippamutta (pp) freed (from); released (from); saved (from) [vi + pa + √muc + ta]
sabbadhi (ind) everywhere; in every way; in all respects [sabba + dhi] ind, adv, from sabba
aṅgīrasa 1 (masc) epithet of the Buddha; (comm) emitting rays from the limbs
sakyaputta 1 (masc) young Sakyan [sakya + putta] masc, comp
imaṁ (pron) this; this person; this thing [ima + aṁ] pron, masc fem & nt acc sg of ima
desesi (aor) taught (to); explained (to) [dese + si] aor of deseti
sabbadukkhāpanūdana (adj) which dispels all suffering [sabbadukkha + apanūdana] adj, comp

Ye cāpi nibbutā loke, / yathābhūtaṁ vipassisuṁ;

Te janā apisuṇātha, / mahantā vītasāradā.

Hitaṁ devamanussānaṁ, / yaṁ namassanti gotamaṁ;

Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ, / mahantaṁ vītasāradaṁ.

... Vijjācaraṇasampannaṁ, / buddhaṁ vandāma gotaman'ti.

cāpi (sandhi) or even; and even; as well as [ca + api] sandhi, ind + ind
nibbuta 1 (pp) (of mental defilement) quenched; emancipated; cooled pp of nibbāti
loka 1 (masc) world; universe; cosmos [√lok + a] masc
yathābhūtaṁ (ind) as it truly is; in reality [yathā + bhūta + aṁ], [yathābhūta + aṁ]
vipassi (aor) saw clearly, had intuition [vi + passa +] aor of vipassati
janā (masc) men; people; population [√jan + a + ā], [jana + ā] masc pl of jana
apisuṇa (adj) (of speech) not divisive; not malicious [na > a + √pis + uṇa] adj
mahanta 1 (adj) big; great; large; grand; vast; extensive [maha + nta] adj
vītasārada (adj) confident; self-assured [vīta + sārada] adj, comp
hita 1 (pp) beneficial; good; advantageous [√dhā > (da)h + ita] pp of dahati
namassati (pr) worships; venerates; reveres; honours [namassa + ti] pr
vijjā 1 (fem) knowledge; wisdom; understanding [√vid + yā] fem, abstr
caraṇa 1.1 (nt) behaviour; conduct; (theory and) practice [√car + aṇa] nt, in comps, from carati
sampanna 6 (pp) perfect; excellent; exquisite (in) [saṁ + √pad + na] pp of sampajjati
vandati (pr) honours; pays respect (to); bows down (to) [vanda + ti] pr

Ayaṁ kho sā, mārisa, āṭānāṭiyā rakkhā bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ
upāsakānaṁ upāsikānaṁ guttiyā rakkhāya avihiṁsāya phāsuvihārāya.

... Santi hi, mārisa, amanussā caṇḍā ruddhā rabhasā, te neva mahārājānaṁ ādiyanti,
na mahārājānaṁ purisakānaṁ ādiyanti, na mahārājānaṁ purisakānaṁ purisakānaṁ ādiyanti.
Te kho te, mārisa, amanussā mahārājānaṁ avaruddhā nāma vuccanti.

ayaṁ (pron) this; this person; this thing pron, masc & fem nom sg of ima
(pron) she; that; it pron, fem nom sg of ta
mārisa (masc) venerable; sir masc
caṇḍa 1 (adj) fierce; violent; savage; hostile [√caṇḍ + a] adj
ruddha 1.1 (adj) fierce; wild; savage; violent adj
rabhasa (adj) violent; aggressive [√rabh + as + a], [rabhas + a] adj, from rabhas
neva 1 (sandhi) neither; not [na + eva] sandhi, ind + ind
ādiyati 3 (pr) obeys; follows; accepts [ādiya + ti] pr
purisaka 1 (masc) man; employee; somebody's man [purisa + ka] masc, dimin of purisa
avaruddha (pp) put under restraint, besieged, imprisoned [ava + √rudh + ta] pp of avarundhati
nāma 2 (ind) called; means; by the name of; namely ind, adv
vuccati (pr) is said to be; is called [vucca + ti] pr, pass of vacati

Seyyathāpi, mārisa, rañño māgadhassa vijite mahācorā.
Te neva rañño māgadhassa ādiyanti, na rañño māgadhassa purisakānaṁ ādiyanti,
na rañño māgadhassa purisakānaṁ purisakānaṁ ādiyanti.
Te kho te, mārisa, mahācorā rañño māgadhassa avaruddhā nāma vuccanti.

rañño 1 (masc) to a king; for the king [√rāj + a + ino] masc, dat sg of rāja, irreg
māgadha (adj) of Magadha [magadha > māgadha + *a] adj, from magadha
vijita 1 (nt) kingdom; realm [vi + √ji + ta] nt, pp of vijināti
mahācora (masc) master thief; criminal mastermind [mahā + cora] masc, comp

... Atha kho bhagavā tassā rattiyā accayena bhikkhū āmantesi:
"Imaṁ, bhikkhave, rattiṁ cattāro mahārājā ...

Uggaṇhātha, bhikkhave, āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ. Pariyāpuṇātha, bhikkhave, āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ.
Dhāretha, bhikkhave, āṭānāṭiyaṁ rakkhaṁ. Atthasaṁhitā, bhikkhave, āṭānāṭiyā rakkhā
bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ upāsakānaṁ upāsikānaṁ guttiyā rakkhāya avihiṁsāya phāsuvihārāyā"ti.

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamanā te bhikkhū bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.

tassā 2 (pron) of her; hers; of that [ta + ssā] pron, fem gen sg of ta
ratti (fem) night fem, irreg
accayena 1 (ind) after the passing (of); [accaya + ena] ind, adv, instr sg of accaya
uggaṇhāti 1 (pr) picks up [ud + gaṇhā + ti] pr
pariyāpuṇāti (pr) studies well; learns thoroughly; masters [pari + [y] + ā + apuṇā + ti] pr
dhāreti 3 (pr) bears in mind; keeps in mind; remembers (something about) [dhāre + ti] pr
atthasaṁhita (adj) profitable; meaningful; beneficial [attha + saṁhita] adj, comp
idamavoca (sandhi) one said this (to) [idaṁ + avoca] sandhi, pron + aor
attamana (adj) pleased; happy; delighted; elated [atta + mana] adj, comp
bhagavato 1 (masc) to the Buddha; for the Buddha [bhagavant + to] masc, dat sg of bhagavant
bhāsita 1 (nt) saying; speech; statement; utterance; talk; words [√bhās + ita] nt, pp of bhāsati
abhinandi 1 (aor) delighted (in); was pleased (with); [abhi + √nand + i] aor of abhinandati

Notes

Mārasenā - the Ten Armies of Māra

Snp 3.2 Padhāna Sutta (SC, Aj Thanissaro)

  1. Sensual pleasures (kāmā)
  2. Discontent (arati)
  3. Hunger and thirst (khuppipāsā)
  4. Craving (taṇhā)
  5. Sloth and torpor (thinamiddha)
  6. Fear (bhīru)
  7. Doubt (vicikicchā)
  8. Contempt and obstinacy / stubbornness (makkha, thambha)
  9. Gain, praise, and honor, misbegotten fame
  10. Self-exaltation and disparaging others

Nāmuci (Māra) approaches the Bodhisatta while he is meditating at the bank of the Nerañja river and tries to distract him.

Sensual passions are your first army.
Your second is called Discontent.
Your third is Hunger & Thirst.
Your fourth is called Craving.
Fifth is Sloth & Torpor.
Sixth is called Cowardice.
Your seventh is Uncertainty.
Hypocrisy & Stubbornness, your eighth.
Gains, Offerings, Fame, & Status
wrongly gained,
and whoever would praise self
& disparage others:
That, Nāmuci, is your army,
the Dark One's commando force.
A coward can't defeat it,
but one having defeated it
gains bliss.

(Aj Thanissaro's translation)

Letter from Māra by Ajahn Puṇṇadhammo