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2026-05-27

Ud 4.1 Meghiyasutta

See Ud 4.1 discussed at 2026-05-07 (spiritual companions) and 2025-07-29 (jhāna practice).

"Khuddā vitakkā sukhumā vitakkā, / Anugatā manaso uppilāvā;

Ete avidvā manaso vitakke, / Hurā huraṁ dhāvati bhantacitto.

Ete ca vidvā manaso vitakke, / Ātāpiyo saṁvaratī satīmā;

Anugate manaso uppilāve, / Asesamete pajahāsi buddho"ti.

khudda 2 (adj) inferior; base adj
vitakka 1 (masc) thought; reflection; pondering [vi + √takk + a] masc, from vitakketi
sukhuma 1 (adj) fine; subtle; refined adj
anugata 2 (pp) followed; conforming (to) [anu + √gam + ta] pp of anugacchati
manas (masc) mind; mental faculty; intellect [√man + as] masc, mano group, from maññati
uppilāva (masc) (something which causes) excitement; stirring up (of) [ud + pilava > pilāva + *a]
avidita (pp) unknown; not realised [na + √vid + ita], pp of na vedeti
avidvant (masc) fool; who is ignorant; ignoramus [na > a + √vid + vant]
hurā (ind) from here; from this world; from this life ind, adv
huraṁ (ind) there; in another world ind, adv
dhāvati (pr) runs; races; sprints; flies (to) [dhāva + ti] pr
bhantacitta (adj) with a wandering mind; with runaway thoughts; mentally out of control
ātāpiya (adj) energetic; zealous; exerting oneself adj
saṁvaratī (pr) restrains; controls [saṁ + vara + ti > saṁvaratī] pr, irreg form of saṁvarati
satīmant (adj) mindful; fully present; attentive [sati + mant] adj, from sati
asesa (adj) complete; without remainder [na > a + √sis > ses + *a] adj, from na sissati
pajahāsi (aor) gave up; left; abandoned; let go (of) [pa + jaha + āsi] aor of pajahati

Definition of name-and-form and contact

(MN 9) Vedanā, saññā, cetanā, phasso, manasikāro --- idaṁ vuccatāvuso, nāmaṁ;
cattāri ca mahābhūtāni, catunnañca mahābhūtānaṁ upādāyarūpaṁ --- idaṁ vuccatāvuso, rūpaṁ.
Iti idañca nāmaṁ idañca rūpaṁ --- idaṁ vuccatāvuso, nāmarūpaṁ.

Viññāṇasamudayā nāmarūpasamudayo, viññāṇanirodhā nāmarūpanirodho, ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo
nāmarūpanirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ --- sammādiṭṭhi ... sammāsamādhi.

cetanā (fem) intending; willing [√cit > cet + *anā] fem, abstr, act, from ceteti
phusati (pr) touches; contacts; feels; experiences [√phus + a + ti]
phassa (masc) sense contact; sense impingement; sense impression [√phus > phass + a]
manasikāra (masc) attention (to); bringing-to-mind; noticing [manasi + kāra]
vuccati (pr) is said to be; is called [vucca + ti] pr, pass of vacati
mahābhūta (nt) four great elements [mahā + bhūta] nt, comp
upādāyarūpa (nt) derived materiality (of) [upādāya + rūpa] nt, comp

(MN 18) Cakkhuñcāvuso, paṭicca rūpe ca uppajjati cakkhuviññāṇaṁ, tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso ...

Manañcāvuso, paṭicca dhamme ca uppajjati manoviññāṇaṁ, tiṇṇaṁ saṅgati phasso,
phassapaccayā vedanā, yaṁ vedeti taṁ sañjānāti, yaṁ sañjānāti taṁ vitakketi,
yaṁ vitakketi taṁ papañceti, yaṁ papañceti
tatonidānaṁ purisaṁ papañcasaññāsaṅkhā samudācaranti
atītānāgatapaccuppannesu manoviññeyyesu dhammesu.

paṭicca 1 (ger) dependent; depending (on); because (of); [pati + √i + tya] ger of pacceti
uppajjati 1 (pr) appears; arises; occurs; takes place (for or in) [ud + pajja + ti] pr
tiṇṇaṁ (card) of three [ti + ānaṁ] card, masc & nt gen pl of ti
saṅgati 1 (fem) union; coming together; meeting (of) [saṁ + √gam + ti]
vedeti 1 (pr) feels; experiences; senses [vede + ti] pr
sañjānāti (pr) knows; knows as; perceives; conceives; recognizes [saṁ + jānā + ti] pr
vitakketi (pr) thinks (about); reflects (on); ponders (over) [vi + takke + ti] pr
papañceti (pr) proliferates; forms various opinions (about) [pa + pañce + ti] pr
tatonidānaṁ (ind) because of that; for that reason [tato + nidāna + aṁ]
purisa 1 (masc) man; male; person masc
papañcasaññāsaṅkhā (fem) proliferation of opinions, concepts and constructs;
papañca (masc) various opinions; proliferation; endless conceptualization;
lit. expanding; spreading
samudācarati 2.1 (pr) overwhelms; assails; assaults; (comm) occurs [saṁ + ud + ā + cara + ti] pr
atītānāgatapaccuppanna (adj) in the past, the future and the present [atīta + anāgata + paccuppanna]
manoviññeyya (adj) knowable; known by the mind [mano + viññeyya] adj, comp

(See further in the discussion at 2025-03-05)

DN 11 Kevaṭṭasutta

Atha kho so, kevaṭṭa, bhikkhu maṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi, ekamantaṁ nisinno kho, kevaṭṭa,
so bhikkhu maṁ etadavoca: 'kattha nu kho, bhante, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti,
seyyathidaṁ --- pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū'ti?

maṁ 1 (pron) me (object) [amha + aṁ] pron, 1st acc sg of ahaṁ
abhivādetvā (abs) having bowed down; having paid high respect (to) abs of abhivādeti
ekamantaṁ 1 (ind) to one side; aside [ekaṁ + anta + aṁ]
nisīdi 1 (aor) sat (on); sat down (in) [ni + sīda + i] aor of nisīdati
etadavoca (aor) said this (to) [etad + avoca] aor, comp vb
kattha 1.1 (ind) where? [ka + ttha] ind, adv, interr, from ka
nu (ind) (adds a question mark) surely?; didn't?; wouldn't?; which?
mahābhūtā (masc) primary states; great elements; [mahā + bhūta + ā]
dhātu (fem) state; property; condition; element [√dhā + tu]
√dhā place, support
aparisesa (adj) without remainder; complete adj, from na sesa
nirujjhati (pr) dissolves; finishes; stops; ceases; vanishes [ni + rujjha + ti]
pathavīdhātu (fem) solids; solid state; earth element [pathavī + dhātu]
āpodhātu (fem) liquids; liquid state; (comm) element of cohesion [āpo + dhātu]
tejodhātu (fem) fiery state [tejo + dhātu]
vāyodhātu (fem) gas; gaseous state [vāyo + dhātu]

Dhātu: modes of behaviour. See Wettimuny, Ch 1. Grasping https://its-essential-meaning.github.io/

... sāmuddikā vāṇijā tīradassiṁ sakuṇaṁ gahetvā ... Evameva kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu,
yato yāva brahmalokā pariyesamāno imassa pañhassa veyyākaraṇaṁ nājjhagā,
atha mamaññeva santike paccāgato. Na kho eso, bhikkhu, pañho evaṁ pucchitabbo:
'kattha nu kho, bhante, ime cattāro mahābhūtā aparisesā nirujjhanti, seyyathidaṁ ---
pathavīdhātu āpodhātu tejodhātu vāyodhātū'ti?

sāmuddika (adj) seafaring; ocean-going [samudda + *ika] adj, from samudda
vāṇija (masc) trader; dealer; merchant [vaṇija > vāṇija + *a] masc, from vaṇija
tīradassī 2 (adj) shore-spotting; land-sighting [tīra + dassī] adj, comp
sakuṇa (masc) bird masc
gahetvā 1 (abs) having taken; having held [gahe + tvā] abs of gaṇhāti
evameva (sandhi) similarly; in the same way; so too; just so [evaṁ + eva] sandhi, adv + ind
tvaṁ 1 (pron) you (subject) [tumha + aṁ > tuvaṁ > tvaṁ] pron, 2nd nom sg of tumha
yato 1 (ind) from where; from which; wherever [ya + to] ind, adv, abl sg of ya
yāva 1 (ind) as long as; as far as; so much so; up to; until; from... to ind, adv
pariyesamāna (prp) searching; seeking; looking (for) [pari + [y] + esa + māna] prp of pariyesati
imassa 1 (pron) for this; for him [ima + ssa] pron, masc dat sg of ima
pañha 1 (nt) question; enquiry [√pañh + a] nt
veyyākaraṇa (nt) answer; reply [vi > vy > veyy + ā + √kar + aṇa + *a]
nājjhagā (imperf) did not get; did not obtain; did not find; imperf of na adhigacchati
mamaññeva (sandhi) just me [mamaṁ + eva] sandhi, pron + ind
santike 1 (ind) to; in the presence (of); near (to); nearby; [santika + e]
paccāgata 1 (pp) returned; went back (to) [pati > paty > pacc + ā + √gam + ta] pp of paccāgacchati
eso (pron) this; this thing; this person; he; it [esa + o] pron, masc nom sg of eta
pucchitabba (ptp) should be asked; could be asked [√pucch + itabba] ptp of pucchati

Evañca kho eso, bhikkhu, pañho pucchitabbo:

'Kattha āpo ca pathavī, / tejo vāyo na gādhati;
Kattha dīghañca rassañca, / aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ;
Kattha nāmañca rūpañca, / asesaṁ uparujjhatī'ti.

gādhati (pr) finds a footing; is well grounded; finds a support [gādha + ti] pr
dīgha 1 (adj) long (in space or time); tall; deep adj
rassa 1 (adj) short; small adj
aṇu 1 (adj) small; tiny; minute; minuscule adj
thūla 1 (adj) massive; large [√thūl + a] adj
subhāsubha (adj) beautiful and ugly; attractive and repulsive [subha + asubha] adj, comp
asesaṁ (ind) completely; entirely; totally; without remnant ind, adv, acc sg of na sesa
uparujjhati (pr) is stopped; is ended; is finished [upa + rujjha + ti] pr, pass of uparundhati

Tatra veyyākaraṇaṁ bhavati:

'Viññāṇaṁ anidassanaṁ, / anantaṁ sabbatopabhaṁ;

Ettha āpo ca pathavī, / tejo vāyo na gādhati.
Ettha dīghañca rassañca, / aṇuṁ thūlaṁ subhāsubhaṁ;

Ettha nāmañca rūpañca, / asesaṁ uparujjhati;
Viññāṇassa nirodhena, / etthetaṁ uparujjhatī'"ti.

tatra 1 (ind) there; in that place [ta + tra] ind, adv, from ta
bhavati 2 (pr) exists (for) [bhava + ti] pr
anidassana (adj) attribute-less; non-manifesting; sign-less; featureless; invisible; epithet of Nibbāna
[na > a + ni + dassa + ana]
ananta (adj) infinite; endless; boundless; without limit [na > an + anta] adj, from na anta
sabbatopabha (adj) radiant in every direction; luminous all around; [sabbato + pabha] adj, comp
ettha 1 (ind) here; in this place; in this case; in this regard [ima + ttha]
etaṁ 1 (pron) this; this thing (subject) [eta + aṁ] pron, nt nom sg of eta

Different assumptions in the question:

What exists? (tetralemma) VS How does it arise and cease? (dependent origination). See also: Sermon 15

MN 1 Mūlapariyāyasutta: Difference in understanding of experience in the case of the puthujjana, sekha, and the arahant

Ud 1.10 Bāhiyasutta

Tasmātiha te, bāhiya, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: 'diṭṭhe diṭṭhamattaṁ bhavissati, sute sutamattaṁ bhavissati, mute mutamattaṁ bhavissati, viññāte viññātamattaṁ bhavissatī'ti.

... Yato tvaṁ, bāhiya, na tattha, tato tvaṁ, bāhiya, nevidha na huraṁ na ubhayamantarena. Esevanto dukkhassā'ti.

(Ñāṇananda) Well then, Bāhiya, you had better train yourself thus. In the seen there will be just the seen, in the heard there will be just the heard, in the sensed there will be just the sensed, in the cognized there will be just the cognized.

... And when to you, Bāhiya, there will be in the seen just the seen, in the heard just the heard, in the sensed just the sensed, in the cognized just the cognized, then, Bāhiya, you are not by it. And when you are not by it, you are not in it. And when, Bāhiya, you are not in it, then, Bāhiya, you are neither here, nor there, nor in between. This itself is the end of suffering.

"Yattha āpo ca pathavī, / tejo vāyo na gādhati ...

Na saññasaññī ...

(See further in the discussion at 2025-03-05)

Translation by Bhikkhu K. Ñāṇananda in Nibbāna Sermon 27:

Snp 4.11 (SC, SSP) Kalahavivādasutta

Na saññasaññī na visaññasaññī,
Nopi asaññī na vibhūtasaññī;
Evaṁ sametassa vibhoti rūpaṁ,
Saññānidānā hi papañcasaṅkhā.

He is not conscious of normal perception,
nor is he unconscious,
He is not devoid of perception,
nor has he rescinded perception,
It is to one thus constituted
that form ceases to exist,
For reckonings through prolificity
have perception as their source.

Here the last line states a crucial fact. Reckonings, designations and the like, born of prolificity, are traceable to perception in the last analysis. That is to say, all that is due to perception.

Another reason why form has received special attention here, is the fact that it is a precondition for contact. When there is form, there is the notion of resistance. That is already implicit in the question that comes in a verse at the beginning of the Kalahavivādasutta:

Kismiṁ vibhūte na phusanti phassā,

when what is not there, do touches not touch?

The answer to that query is:

Rūpe vibhūte na phusanti phassā,

when form is not there, touches do not touch.