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26. ParābhavasuttaṁThe Discourse on Ruin
Evaṁ me sutaṁ—Thus I have heard:I have heard thatSo I have heard.
ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. at one time the Fortunate One was dwelling near Sāvatthī at Anāthapiṇḍika’s grounds in Jeta’s Wood. at one time the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.
Atha kho aññatarā devatā abhikkantāya rattiyā abhikkantavaṇṇā kevalakappaṁ jetavanaṁ obhāsetvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Then a certain god, towards the end of the night, whose surpassing beauty lit up the whole of Jeta’s Wood, approached the Fortunate One, and after approaching and worshipping the Fortunate One, he stood on one side.Then a certain deva, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta’s Grove, went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, she stood to one side.Then, late at night, a glorious deity, lighting up the entire Jeta’s Grove, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side.
Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho sā devatā bhagavantaṁ gāthāya ajjhabhāsi: While standing on one side that god recited a verse to the Fortunate One:As she was standing there, she addressed him with a verse:Standing to one side, that deity addressed the Buddha in verse:
“Parābhavantaṁ purisaṁ, “We ask (reverend) Gotama“About the man in decline“We ask Gotama
mayaṁ pucchāma gotama; regarding the man going to ruin -we ask Gotama,about a man’s downfall.
Bhavantaṁ puṭṭhumāgamma, we have come to ask the Fortunate One,having come to question the Blessed One:We have come to ask you, sir:
kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the cause of ruination?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Suvijāno bhavaṁ hoti, “The thriving man is easy to know,“Easily known is the one of good prospects;“It’s easy to understand success,
suvijāno parābhavo; the ruining man is easy to know,easily known,1 the one in decline.understanding downfall is just as easy.
Dhammakāmo bhavaṁ hoti, the thriving man loves the Dhamma,The one of good prospects loves the Dhamma,One who loves the teaching succeeds,
dhammadessī parābhavo”. the ruining man hates the Dhamma.”the one in decline detests it.”but a hater of the teaching meets their downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
paṭhamo so parābhavo; this is the first ruin (of man).That’s the first one in decline.this is the first downfall.
Dutiyaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the second:Tell us the second, Blessed One:
kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the second cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Asantassa piyā honti, “The bad are dear to him,“The wicked are dear to him,“The bad are dear to him,
sante na kurute piyaṁ; he does not endear the good,the good he doesn’t hold dear.he has no love for the good.
Asataṁ dhammaṁ roceti, he is pleased with the Dhamma of the bad,He approves of the ideas of the wicked:He believes the teaching of the bad;
taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
dutiyo so parābhavo; this is the second ruin (of man).That’s the second one in decline.this is the second downfall.
Tatiyaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the third:Tell us the third, Blessed One:
kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the third cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Niddāsīlī sabhāsīlī, “That man who is fond of sleep, fond of society,“Prone to sleep, prone to company,“Fond of sleep, fond of company,
anuṭṭhātā ca yo naro; unaroused,the man with no initiative,a man who does no work;
Alaso kodhapaññāṇo, lazy, and marked by anger,lazy & known for his anger:he’s lazy, marked by anger,
taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
tatiyo so parābhavo; this is the third ruin (of man).That’s the third one in decline.this is the third downfall.
Catutthaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the fourth:Tell us the fourth, Blessed One:
kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the fourth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Yo mātaraṁ pitaraṁ vā, “He who, when his mother or father has grown old,“One’s mother or father,“Though able, he does not look after
jiṇṇakaṁ gatayobbanaṁ; with their youth gone,old, their youth over & done—his mother and father
Pahu santo na bharati, though having much, does not support them,though capable, one doesn’t support them:when elderly, past their prime,
taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
catuttho so parābhavo; this is the fourth ruin (of man).That’s the fourth one in decline.this is the fourth downfall.
Pañcamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the fifth:Tell us the fifth, Blessed One:
kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the fifth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Yo brāhmaṇaṁ samaṇaṁ vā, ° “He who deceives a brahmin, or an ascetic,“A brahman, contemplative,“He deceives with lies
Aññaṁ vāpi vanibbakaṁ; or another mendicantor other mendicant—ascetics and brahmins
Musāvādena vañceti, with words that are false,whoever deceives them with a lie:and other supplicants,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Pañcamo so parābhavo; this is the fifth ruin (of man).That’s the fifth one in decline.this is the fifth downfall.
Chaṭṭhamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the sixth:Tell us the sixth, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the sixth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Pahūtavitto puriso, “That man who has abundant wealth,“The man of great wealth,“A man with plenty of wealth,
Sahirañño sabhojano; who has gold, who has food,with gold & food,including gold coin and food,
Eko bhuñjati sādūni, but who eats his sweetmeats alone,enjoys his luxuries alone:eats delicacies alone,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Chaṭṭhamo so parābhavo; this is the sixth ruin (of man).That’s the sixth one in decline.this is the sixth downfall.
Sattamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the seventh:Tell us the seventh, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the seventh cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Jātitthaddho dhanatthaddho, “That man who is proud of his birth,“The man proud of his birth, proud of his wealth,“Vain of birth, wealth,
Gottatthaddho ca yo naro; his wealth, and his ancestry,proud of his clan,and clan, a man
Saññātiṁ atimaññeti, and who despises his kinsfolk,despises his own relatives:looks down on his own family,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Sattamo so parābhavo; this is the seventh ruin (of man).That’s the seventh one in decline.this is the seventh downfall.
Aṭṭhamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the eighth:Tell us the eighth, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the eighth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Itthidhutto surādhutto, “That man who is a womanizer,“The man debauched with women, debauched in drink,“In womanizing, drinking,
Akkhadhutto ca yo naro; a drunkard, and a gambler,debauched in gambling,and gambling, a man
Laddhaṁ laddhaṁ vināseti, who destroys whatever is gained,squanders his earnings:wastes all that he has earned,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Aṭṭhamo so parābhavo; this is the eighth ruin (of man).That’s the eighth one in decline.this is the eighth downfall.
Navamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the ninth:Tell us the ninth, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the ninth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Sehi dārehi asantuṭṭho, “(He who is) not satisfied with his own wives,“One uncontent with his own wives,“Not content with his own partners,
Vesiyāsu padussati; and is seen with prostitutes,misbehaves with prostituteshe debauches himself with prostitutes,
Dussati paradāresu, and is seen with other mens’ wives,& the wives of others2:and with others’ partners,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Navamo so parābhavo; this is the ninth ruin (of man).That’s the ninth one in decline.this is the ninth downfall.
Dasamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the tenth:Tell us the tenth, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the tenth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Atītayobbano poso, “A man who, being past his youth,“His youth past,“A man well past his prime
Āneti timbarutthaniṁ; brings home a young girl (for his wife),a man takes a young woman with timbara-fruit breasts,marries a girl with budding breasts;
Tassā issā na supati, and cannot sleep through jealousy,and, jealous of her, doesn’t sleep:he cannot sleep for jealousy,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Dasamo so parābhavo; this is the tenth ruin (of man).That’s the tenth one in decline.this is the tenth downfall.
Ekādasamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the eleventh:Tell us the eleventh, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the eleventh cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Itthiṁ soṇḍiṁ vikiraṇiṁ, “A woman given to drink, a spendthrift,“A woman given to drink & squandering,“He places in authority
Purisaṁ vāpi tādisaṁ; or a man of similar sort,or a man of that sort—a woman or a man
Issariyasmiṁ ṭhapeti, appointing (such a one) as overlord,to place them in authority:who’s a drunkard and a wastrel,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. that is a cause of ruination.”That is the way leading to decline.”and that leads to his downfall.”
“Iti hetaṁ vijānāma, “Indeed it is so, this we know,“We know, indeed, that that is so.“We understand what you’re saying,
Ekādasamo so parābhavo; this is the eleventh ruin (of man).That’s the eleventh one in decline.this is the eleventh downfall.
Dvādasamaṁ bhagavā brūhi, Please tell us, Fortunate One,May the Blessed One tell the twelfth:Tell us the twelfth, Blessed One:
Kiṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ”. what is the twelfth cause of ruin?”What is the way leading to decline?”what leads to downfall?”
“Appabhogo mahātaṇho, “One who is poor, but has great craving,“One of meager means but great craving,“A man of little wealth and strong craving,
Khattiye jāyate kule; who is born in a family of nobles,born into a noble family,born into an aristocratic family,
So ca rajjaṁ patthayati, and who wants to be king,who aspires to kingship:sets his sights on kingship,
Taṁ parābhavato mukhaṁ. that is a cause of ruination.That is the way leading to decline.and that leads to his downfall.
Ete parābhave loke, The wise man who reflects on (the cause of) these ruinsThese ones in decline in the world,Seeing these downfalls in the world,
Paṇḍito samavekkhiya; in the world,the wise one, having contemplated,an astute and noble person,
Ariyo dassanasampanno, a noble one, endowed with insight,consummate in noble view,accomplished in vision,
Sa lokaṁ bhajate sivan”ti. partakes of the auspicious world.”heads to a world auspicious.”will enjoy a world of grace.”