Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.41

Numbered Discourses 8.41

5. Uposathavagga

5. Uposatha 

Saṅkhittūposathasutta

The Uposatha day With Eight Factors, In Brief

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There the Buddha addressed the bhikkhus, “Bhikkhus!”

“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato, bhikkhave, uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro. Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

“Bhikkhus, the observance of the Uposatha day with its eight factors is very fruitful and beneficial and splendid and bountiful. And how should it be observed? It’s when a noble disciple reflects: ‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They are scrupulous and kind, and live full of compassion for all living beings. I, too, for this day and night will give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. I’ll be scrupulous and kind, and live full of compassion for all living beings. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its first factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratā dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharanti. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharāmi. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā dutiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up stealing. They take only what’s given, and expect only what’s given. They keep themselves clean by not thieving. I, too, for this day and night will give up stealing. I’ll take only what’s given, and expect only what’s given. I’ll keep myself clean by not thieving. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its second factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārino ārācārino viratā methunā gāmadhammā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārī ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā tatiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up unchastity. They are celibate, set apart, avoiding the vulgar act of sex. I, too, for this day and night will give up unchastity. I will be celibate, set apart, avoiding the vulgar act of sex. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its third factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratā saccavādino saccasandhā thetā paccayikā avisaṁvādako lokassa. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato saccavādī saccasandho theto paccayiko avisaṁvādako lokassa. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā catutthena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up lying. They speak the truth and stick to the truth. They’re honest and trustworthy, and don’t trick the world with their words. I, too, for this day and night will give up lying. I’ll speak the truth and stick to the truth. I’ll be honest and trustworthy, and won’t trick the world with my words. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its fourth factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā pañcamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. I, too, for this day and night will give up alcoholic drinks that cause negligence. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its fifth factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto ekabhattikā rattūparatā viratā vikālabhojanā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ ekabhattiko rattūparato virato vikālabhojanā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā chaṭṭhena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night and from food at the wrong time. I, too, for this day and night will eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night and food at the wrong time. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its sixth factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā sattamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up seeing shows of dancing, singing, and music ; and beautifying and adorning themselves with garlands, fragrance, and makeup. I, too, for this day and night will give up seeing shows of dancing, singing, and music ; and beautifying and adorning myself with garlands, fragrance, and makeup. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its seventh factor.

‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappenti—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemi—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up high and luxurious beds. They sleep in a low place, either a small bed or a straw mat. I, too, for this day and night will give up high and luxurious beds. I’ll sleep in a low place, either a small bed or a straw mat. I will observe the Uposatha day by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’ This is its eighth factor.

Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro”ti.

The observance of the Uposatha day with its eight factors in this way is very fruitful and beneficial and splendid and bountiful.”

Paṭhamaṁ.