Suttanta PARĀBHAVA SUTTA (Failure or downfall)
Suttanipata p-295
Commentary p-149
6. ParÈbhavasutta
EvaÑ me sutaÑ–ekaÑ samayaÑ BhagavÈ SÈvatthiyaÑ viharati Jetavane AnÈthapiÓÉikassa ÈrÈme. Atha kho aÒÒatarÈ devatÈ abhikkantÈya rattiyÈ abhikkantavaÓÓÈ kevalakappaÑ JetavanaÑ obhÈsetvÈ yena BhagavÈ tenupasa~kami, upasa~kamitvÈ BhagavantaÑ abhivÈdetvÈ ekamantaÑ aÔÔhÈsi, ekamantaÑ ÔhitÈ kho sÈ devatÈ BhagavantaÑ gÈthÈya ajjhabhÈsi–
Thus have I heard. Once the Blessed One was staying at Savatthi in the Jetavana in Anathapiṇḍika's park. Then as night was passing away, a deity of surpassing radiance,illuminating the whole Jetavana, came up to the Blessed One and stood on one side after saluting him. Standing there that deity adressed the Blessed one with a verse.
Having come to ask the Blessed One,
we ask Gotama about the (unsuccessful man).
What is the cause of the (unsuccessful man)?
The (succeful one) is easy to know;
the unsuccessful one is easy to know,
the successful one loves (the doctrine);
the unsuccessful one hates (the doctrine).
DutiyaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (3)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the first failure.
Tell us the second one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsucessful (man).
Bad men are dear to him;
he do not hold good men dear.
He approves of the bad men's [(evil) doctrine].
That is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
95. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, dutiyo so parÈbhavo.
TatiyaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (5)
"We know that to be so indeed;
that is the second failure.
Tell us the third one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
If any man is fond of sleep, fond of society,
and does not exert himself, (but) is lazy,
and [has anger as a characteristic],
that is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
97. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, tatiyo so parÈbhavo.
CatutthaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (7)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the third failure.
Tell us the fourth one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
If anyone, (although) being able,
does not support his mother or father
when they are old and past their youth,
that is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
99. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, catuttho so parÈbhavo.
PaÒcamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (9)
We know that to be so indeed:
that is the fourth failure.
Tell us the fifth one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
If anyone by speaking falsely deceives a Brahman
or ascetic or [even another mendicant],
that is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
101. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, paÒcamo so parÈbhavo.
ChaÔÔhamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (11)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the fifth failure.
Tell us the sixth one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
A man with abundant wealth,
having gold (and) food, enjoys his dainties alone.
That is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
103. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, chaÔÔhamo so parÈbhavo.
SattamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (13)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the sixth failure.
Tell us the seventh one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
If any man, being haughty
because of his birth, wealth, and clan,
despises his own relative,
that is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
105. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, sattamo so parÈbhavo.
AÔÔhamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (15)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the seventh failure.
Tell us the eight one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
If any man, being a rogue with women, drink, and dice,
squanders whatever he has received,
that is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
107. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, aÔÔhamo so parÈbhavo.
NavamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (17)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the eighth failure.
Tell us the ninth one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unusccessful (man)?
Being dissatisfied with his own wife,
he is seen among prostitutes,
(and) he is seen among other men's wives.
That is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
109. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, navamo so parÈbhavo.
DasamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (19)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the ninth failure.
Tell us the tenth one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
A man past his youth brings home (a girl)
with breasts like timbru fruit.
He cannot sleep for jealousy of her.
That is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
111. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, dasamo so parÈbhavo.
EkÈdasamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (21)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the tenth failure.
Tell us the eleventh one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
He places in (a position of) authority a woman
who is addicted to drink or a spendthrift,
or even a man of similar character.
That is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
113. Iti hetaÑ vijÈnÈma, ekÈdasamo so parÈbhavo.
DvÈdasamaÑ BhagavÈ br|hi, kiÑ parÈbhavato mukhaÑ. (23)
We know that to be so indeed;
that is the eleventh failure.
Tell us the twelth one, Blessed One.
What is the cause of the unsuccessful (man)?
One with little wealth (but) great craving
is born in a khattiya family.
He desires kingship in this world.
That is the cause of the unsuccessful (man).
Seeing these failures in the world,
[a wise man, a noble one endowed with insight,
resorts to the blissful world.
ParÈbhavasuttaÑ chaÔÔhaÑ.
~Preacher = The Blessed One
~Time = The second day after delivering the Discourse on the blessings (Maṅgala Sutta).
~Place = At the Jetavana monastery of Anathapindika in Savatthi,
~Listeners = The devas from the tenthousand worlds,
~Suplicants = A deva sent by the king of devas,
~Purpose = For hearing the Discourse on thercauses of Downfal,
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Q: Who will be prosperous and who is a victim of downfall?
A person who practises the ten wholesome courses of action (Dasakusalakammapatha) or the ten kinds of good conduct/deed (Dasasucarita) is prosperous and a person who does not practise. It is a victim of downfall.
Q: What is the cause of prosperity and what is the cause of downfall?
To abide by the ten wholesome courses of action or the ten kinds of good conduct/deed is the cause of prosperity and to hate and to disobey or violate them is the cause of downfall.
Q: What is the [first] cause of downfall?
To love wicked/bad ones and like their false doctrine,but not to love the virtuous ones and their doctrine isjthe [first] cause of downfall.
Q: What are the ten wholesome courses of action (Dasakusalakammapatha) or the ten kinds of good conduct /deed (Dasasucarita)?
The ten wholesome courses of action (Dasakusalakammapatha) or the ten kinds of good conduct/deed (Dasasucarita) are as follows:
I. Kayakammas - bodily actions;
1. Pāṇātipātā veramani = Abstinence from taking life,
2. Adinnādānā veramani = Abstinence from taking what is not given,
3. Kamesumicchācarā veramani = Abstinence from sexual misconduct,
II. Vacikammas - Verbal actions;
1. Musāvādā veramani = Abstinence from false speech,
2. Pisuṇavācāā veramani = Abstinence from malicious speech,
3. Pharusavācā veramani = Abstinence from harsh speech,
4. Samphappalāpā veramani = Abstinence from frivolous talk.
III. Manokammas - Mental actions;
1. Anabhijjhā = Absence of covetousness,
2. Abyāpāda (Avyāpāda) = Absence of ill-will and,
3. Sammadiṭṭhi = Right view.
Q; What are the ten unwholesome courses of action or the ten kinds of bad conduct/deed?
I. Kayakammas - bodily actions;
1.Pāṇātipātā = taking life,
2. Adinnādānā = taking what is not given,
3. Kāmesumicchācārā = sexual misconduct,
II. Vacikammas - Verbal actions
1. Musāvādā = false speech,
2. Pisuṇavācāā = malicious speech,
3. Pharusāvācā = harsh speech,
4. Samphappalāpā = frivolous talk,
III. Manokammas - mental actions;
1. Abhijjhā = covetousness, (abhi+dhyā>jhe+ya)
2. Byāpāda = ill-will,
3. Micchadiṭṭhi = wrong view.
Q: Who are the wicked ones (Asanta)?
The wicked ones are the six great Heretical Teachers and also those who are not endowed with the good conduct in body, speech and mind.
The great Heretical Teachers are
(1) Purānakassapa,
(2) Makkhaligosāla,
(3) Ajitakesakambala,
(4) Pakudhakaccāyana,
(5) Nigaṇṭhaṇataputta and
(6) Sañcayabelaṭṭhaputta.
Q: Who the virtuous ones (Santa)?
The virtuous ones are the Buddha, the silent Buddha, the disciples of the Buddha and also those who are endowed with the good conduct in body, speech and mind.
Q: What is the wicked ones 'false doctrine (Asantadhamma)?
The Asanta-dhammas are the sixty two wrong views or the ten unwholesome courses of action (Dasa-akusalakammapatha) or the ten kinds of evil conduct (Dasaduccarita).
Q: What are the[second] scauses of one' downfall?
Q: What are the [third] causes of one's downfall?
Q: What are the [fourth] causes of one's downfall?
Q: What are the [fifth] causes of one's downfall?
Q: What are the [sixth] causes of one's downfall?
Q: What are the [seventh] causes of one's downfall?
Jātitthaddho - Being proud of one's birth means that one does not bow to anyone by being swollen with pride like a leather bag full of air, thinking, "I am of high birth'.
Saññatiṃ atimaññeti - One despises one's own relative means that one despise one's own relative regarding birth (like Vitatūbha, the Sakyans). He also despises regarding wealth, thinking, "This person has a poor coin." and also he does not pay even respect to them. His relatives wish only his downfall.
Q: What are the [eighth] causes of one's downfall?
Q: What are the [ninth] causes of one's downfall?
Q: What is the [tenth] cause of one's downfall?
Q: What is the [eleventh] cause of one's downfall?
Q: What is the [twelfth] cause of one's downfall?
CAUSES OF DOWNFALL
(From "The Buddha and His Teaching - the basic level")
Page 272
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1. To love and abide by the ten kinds of good conduct (sucarita) is the cause of one's prosperity whereas to hate and disobey the ten kinds of good conduct is the cause of one's downfall.
2.To love the ignoble persons and associate with them, and also to dislike the noble persons and dissociate with them are the causes of one's downfall.
3. To indulge in excessive sleep, to indulge in companionship, to lack in effort, to be lazy and to be easily angry are the causes of one's downfall.
4. Not to support and attend to old parents although one has the ability to support and attend to them is the cause of one's downfall.
5. To deceive monks or other donees with false speech is a cause of one's downfall.
6. to enjoy one's great fortune only for one's benefit without sharing it with others is a cause of one's downfall.
7. To be proud of one's birth, wealth and lineage, and to despise and disrespect one's own kinsmen is a cause of one's downfall.
8. To indulge in womanizing, drinking and to squander whatever one possesses are the causes of one's downfall.
9. To indulge in sexual misconduct with courtesans and other's spouses is a cause of one's downfall.
10. To marry a young person inspite of ones old age is a cause of one's downfall.
11. To give authority to a person who indulges excessively in food and dress and who is also a spendthrift is a cause of one's downfall.
12 To aspire to possess something or some position which is out of one's reach or ability is a cause of one's downfall.
Conclusion
A wise person, considering these causes of deterioration carefully, shapes the course of life to free from these bad causes and attain peace and prosperity in the present life as well as in future lives.
Refer to Vnese Text transtated by Ven. Minh Chau
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[1] Parābhava [m] ruin; disgrace; degeneration.
[2] Bhavanta [pp of bhavati] becoming; existing. (adj.), prosperous; a polite word often used in the place of "you".
[3] Puṭṭha2 [pp. of pucchati, Vedic pṛsṭa] asked S II.36; Sn 84, 122, 510 sq., 1036; DhA IV.132; PvA 10 (after acc.) 68, 72 with samāno A I.197. See also pucchita.
[4] Mukha [nt] mouth; face; entrance; opening; front. (adj.), foremost.
[5] Suvijāna [adj] easily understood.
[6] Dhammadessī [m] a hater of the Norm.
[7] iti [ind
[9] Asanta [adj] non-existing; the wicked.
[10] Piya [adj] dear; amiable; beloved. (m.) the husband. (nt.) a dear thing.
[11] Santa [pp of sammati] 1. calmed; peaceful; 2. tired; wearied. (adj.), existing. (m.), a virtuous man.
[12] Roceti [√ruc + e] gives one's consent; likes.
[13] Niddāsīlī [adj] fond of sleep; of drowsy habits
[14] anuṭṭhātu [adj] One who does not rouse himself; inactive (person).
[15] Alasa [adj] idle; lazy.
[16] Kodha [m] anger. + paññāṇa [nt] a mark; sign; token.
[17] jiṇṇa [pp of jirati = √jir + a] became old; decayed. à jiṇṇaka [m] an old person à jiṇṇatā [f] Decrepitude (.
[18] Gatayobhana [adj] one who has passed his youth.
[19] Pahū [adj] able.
[20] Bharati [√bhar + a] bears; supports; maintains.
[21] Añña [adj] other, another; else.
[22] Vāpi [f] tank; a reservoir for water.
[23] Vanin (adj.--n.) [either fr. Sk. vani (=P. vaṇi) in meaning "begging," or poetical abbreviation of vaṇibbin] poor, begging; one who asks (for alms) or begs, a mendicant J VI.232 (=vanibbaka C.).
[24] vañceti [√vañc + e] cheats; deceives.
[25] Hirañña [nt] unwrought gold, gold bullion
[26] Sādu [adj] sweet; pleasant.
[27] Jātitthaddha [adj] proud of (one's own), birth.// jāti [f] birth; rebirth; race; nation; genealogy; a sort of; a kind of.
Thaddha [adj] hard; stiff; callous.
[28] Dhanatthaddha [adj] proud of wealth.
[29] Gotta [nt] clan; ancestry.
[30] ñāti [m] kinsman
[31] Atimaññati [ati + √man + ya] despises.
[32] Itthi [f] woman; female. – Itthidhutta [m] one who indulges in women.
[33] Surā [f] intoxicating liquor. -- sūra [adj.] valiant; courageous. [m.] a hero; the sun. – sūradhutta [m] a drunkard.// dhutta [m] one who leads a corrupted life; a scoundrel; a cheat.
[34] Akkhadhutta [adj] addicted to gambling. [m.], gambler.
[35] Laddha [pp of labhati or labbhati] obtained; received.
[36] Vināseti [vi + √nas + e] causes ruin; destroys; spoils.
[37] Dāra & Dārā [f.] [Sk. dāra [m.] & dārā [f.], more freq. dārā [m.pl.]; instr. sg. dārena J IV.7; Pv IV.177, etc.; instr, pl. --- dārehi Sn 108 (sehi d. asantuṭṭho not satisfied with his own wife)
[38] Asantuṭṭha [adj] unhappy; not pleased with. -- asantuṭṭhi [f] displeasure; dissatisfaction.
[39] Vesiyā [f] a harlot; a prostitute.
[40] Padussati [pa + √dus + ya] does wrong; offends against; is corrupted.
[41] Dussati [√dus + ya] offends against; becomes corrupted or angry.
[42] Paradāra [m] somebody else's wife.
[43] Atīta [adj] past; gone by. (m.), the past. + yobbana [nt] youth.
[44] Posa [m] man
[45] Āneti [ā + √ni + a] brings; fetches.
[46] Timbaru [m] the tree ¹iospyros embryopteris. + thana
[47] Supati [√sup + a] sleeps.
[48] Soṇḍa [adj] addicted to. -- soṇḍā [f] an elephant's trunk; a woman addicted to drink, etc.
[49] Vikiraṇa [nt] scattering; dispersion.
[50] Vāpi [f] tank; a reservoir for water.
[51] Tādisa [adj] such; of such quality.
[52] Ṭhapeti [√ṭhā + āpe] places; keeps; sets up; fixes (a date); establishes; sets aside.
[53] Appa [adj] small; little; insignificant. (nt.), a little. – Bhoga [m] possession; wealth; enjoyment; the coil of a snake.
[54] Khattiya [m] a man of the warrior caste. (adj.), to belonging Khattiyas.
[55] Kula [nt] a family; clan; caste.
[56] Rajja [nt] kingdom; kingship.
[58] Samavekkhati [saṃ + ava + √ikkh + a] considers; examines.
[59] Dassana [nt] sight; intuition; insight. – Sampanna [pp of sampajjati = saṃ + √pad + ya] succeeded; prospered; happened; become.
[60] Bhajati [√bhaj + a] associates with; keeps company.
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