Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.67

Numbered Discourses 7.67

7. Mahāvagga

7. The Great Chapter

Nagaropamasutta

The Simile of the Citadel

“Yato kho, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ¹ hoti, catunnañca āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ akaraṇīyaṁ bāhirehi paccatthikehi paccāmittehi.

“Bhikkhus, when a king’s frontier citadel is well provided with seven essentials and gets four kinds of sustenance when needed, without trouble or difficulty, it is then called a king’s frontier citadel that cannot be overrun by external foes and enemies.

Katamehi sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti?

With what seven essentials is a citadel well provided?

Idha, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare esikā hoti gambhīranemā² sunikhātā acalā asampavedhī. Iminā paṭhamena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Firstly, a citadel has a pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable. This is the first essential with which a king’s frontier citadel is well provided, to defend those within and repel those outside.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare parikkhā hoti gambhīrā ceva vitthatā ca. Iminā dutiyena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a citadel has a moat that is deep and wide. This is the second essential …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare anupariyāyapatho hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca. Iminā tatiyena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a citadel has a patrol path that is high and wide. This is the third essential …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ āvudhaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti salākañceva jevanikañca. Iminā catutthena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a citadel has stores of many weapons, both projectile and hand-held. This is the fourth essential …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahubalakāyo paṭivasati, seyyathidaṁ—hatthārohā assārohā rathikā dhanuggahā celakā calakā piṇḍadāyakā uggā rājaputtā pakkhandino mahānāgā sūrā cammayodhino dāsakaputtā. Iminā pañcamena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, many kinds of armed forces reside in a citadel, such as elephant riders, cavalry, charioteers, archers, bannermen, adjutants, food servers, warrior-chiefs, princes, chargers, great warriors, heroes, leather-clad soldiers, and sons of bondservants. This is the fifth essential …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare dovāriko hoti paṇḍito byatto medhāvī aññātānaṁ nivāretā ñātānaṁ pavesetā. Iminā chaṭṭhena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a citadel has a gatekeeper who is astute, competent, and intelligent. He keeps strangers out and lets known people in. This is the sixth essential …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare pākāro hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca vāsanalepanasampanno ca. Iminā sattamena nagaraparikkhārena suparikkhataṁ hoti rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a citadel has a wall that’s high and wide, covered with plaster. This is the seventh essential with which a king’s frontier citadel is well provided, to defend those within and repel those outside.

Imehi sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti.

With these seven essentials a citadel is well provided.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī?

What are the four kinds of sustenance it gets when needed, without trouble or difficulty?

Idha, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tiṇakaṭṭhodakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Firstly, a king’s frontier citadel has much hay, wood, and water stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ sāliyavakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much rice and barley stored up for those within.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tilamuggamāsāparaṇṇaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much food such as sesame, green gram, and black gram stored up for those within.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ bhesajjaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti, seyyathidaṁ—sappi navanītaṁ telaṁ madhu phāṇitaṁ loṇaṁ abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya.

Furthermore, a king’s frontier citadel has much medicine—ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt—stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside.

Imesaṁ kho, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

These are the four kinds of sustenance it gets when needed, without trouble or difficulty.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ imehi sattahi nagaraparikkhārehi suparikkhataṁ hoti, imesañca catunnaṁ āhārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, rañño paccantimaṁ nagaraṁ akaraṇīyaṁ bāhirehi paccatthikehi paccāmittehi. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, yato ariyasāvako sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti, catunnañca jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akaraṇīyo mārassa akaraṇīyo pāpimato. Katamehi sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti?

When a king’s frontier citadel is well provided with seven essentials and gets four kinds of sustenance when needed, without trouble or difficulty, it is then called a king’s frontier citadel that cannot be overrun by external foes and enemies. In the same way, when a noble disciple has seven good qualities, and they get the four jhānas—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty, they are then called a noble disciple who cannot be overrun by Māra, who cannot be overrun by the Wicked One. What are the seven good qualities that they have?

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare esikā hoti gambhīranemā sunikhātā acalā asampavedhī abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ ‘itipi so …pe… buddho bhagavā’ti. Saddhesiko, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā paṭhamena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a king’s frontier citadel has a pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable, to defend those within and repel those outside, in the same way a noble disciple has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ A noble disciple with faith as their pillar gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the first good quality they have.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare parikkhā hoti gambhīrā ceva vitthatā ca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako hirīmā hoti, hirīyati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Hirīparikkho kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā dutiyena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has a moat that is deep and wide, in the same way a noble disciple has a conscience. They’re conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and conscientious about having any bad, unskillful qualities. A noble disciple with a conscience as their moat gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the second good quality they have.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare anupariyāyapatho hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ, kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ottappī hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Ottappapariyāyapatho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā tatiyena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has a patrol path that is high and wide, in the same way a noble disciple is prudent. They’re prudent when it comes to bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and prudent when it comes to acquiring any bad, unskillful qualities. A noble disciple with prudence as their patrol path gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the third good quality they have.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ āvudhaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti salākañceva jevanikañca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. Sutāvudho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā catutthena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has stores of many weapons, both projectile and hand-held, in the same way a noble disciple is very learned. They remember and keep what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and comprehending them theoretically. A noble disciple with learning as their weapon gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the fourth good quality they have.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahubalakāyo paṭivasati, seyyathidaṁ—hatthārohā assārohā rathikā dhanuggahā celakā calakā piṇḍadāyakā uggā rājaputtā pakkhandino mahānāgā sūrā cammayodhino dāsakaputtā abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu. Vīriyabalakāyo, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā pañcamena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as many kinds of armed forces reside in a citadel … in the same way a noble disciple is energetic. They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They are strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. A noble disciple with energy as their armed forces gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the fifth good quality they have.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare dovāriko hoti paṇḍito byatto medhāvī aññātānaṁ nivāretā ñātānaṁ pavesetā abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako satimā hoti paramena satinepakkena samannāgato cirakatampi cirabhāsitampi saritā anussaritā. Satidovāriko, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā chaṭṭhena saddhammena samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has a gatekeeper who is astute, competent, and intelligent, who keeps strangers out and lets known people in, in the same way a noble disciple is mindful. They have utmost mindfulness and alertness, and can remember and recall what was said and done long ago. A noble disciple with mindfulness as their gatekeeper gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the sixth good quality they have.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare pākāro hoti ucco ceva vitthato ca vāsanalepanasampanno ca abbhantarānaṁ guttiyā bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Paññāvāsanalepanasampanno, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akusalaṁ pajahati, kusalaṁ bhāveti; sāvajjaṁ pajahati, anavajjaṁ bhāveti; suddhaṁ attānaṁ pariharati. Iminā sattamena saddhammena samannāgato hoti. Imehi sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti.

Just as a citadel has a wall that’s high and wide, covered with plaster, to defend those within and repel those outside, in the same way a noble disciple is wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. A noble disciple with wisdom as their wall gives up the unskillful and develops the skillful, they give up the blameworthy and develop the blameless, and they keep themselves pure. This is the seventh good quality they have. These are the seven good qualities that they have.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī? Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tiṇakaṭṭhodakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa.

And what are the four jhānas—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—that they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty? Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much hay, wood, and water stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside, in the same way a noble disciple, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon Nibbana.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ sāliyavakaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa.

Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much rice and barley stored up, in the same way, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a noble disciple enters and remains in the second jhāna, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon Nibbana.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ tilamuggamāsāparaṇṇaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa.

Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much food such as sesame, green gram, and black gram stored up, in the same way with the fading away of rapture, a noble disciple enters and remains in the third jhāna, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon Nibbana.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, rañño paccantime nagare bahuṁ bhesajjaṁ sannicitaṁ hoti, seyyathidaṁ—sappi navanītaṁ telaṁ madhu phāṇitaṁ loṇaṁ abbhantarānaṁ ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya bāhirānaṁ paṭighātāya. Evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati attano ratiyā aparitassāya phāsuvihārāya okkamanāya nibbānassa. Imesaṁ catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī.

Just as a king’s frontier citadel has much medicine—ghee, butter, oil, honey, molasses, and salt—stored up for the enjoyment, relief, and comfort of those within and to repel those outside, in the same way, giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, a noble disciple enters and remains in the fourth jhāna, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness. This is for their own enjoyment, relief, and comfort, and for alighting upon Nibbana. These are the four jhānas—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—which they get when they want, without trouble or difficulty.

Yato kho, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako imehi sattahi saddhammehi samannāgato hoti, imesañca catunnaṁ jhānānaṁ ābhicetasikānaṁ diṭṭhadhammasukhavihārānaṁ nikāmalābhī hoti akicchalābhī akasiralābhī. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako akaraṇīyo mārassa akaraṇīyo pāpimato”ti.

When a noble disciple has seven good qualities, and they get the four jhānas—blissful meditations in the present life that belong to the higher mind—when they want, without trouble or difficulty, they are then called a noble disciple who cannot be overrun by Māra, who cannot be overrun by the Wicked One.”

Tatiyaṁ.