AN 2.5 let only skin and bones remain

 

AN 2.5 upaññāta: learned for myself

(2024 SP-FLUENT translation by frankk‍ )

“Dvinnāhaṃ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṃ upaññāsiṃ—	“monks, I have learned these two dharmas for myself—
yā ca asantuṭṭhitā kusalesu dhammesu,	1) to never be content with [my current realization of] skillful Dharmas,
yā ca appaṭivānitā padhānasmiṃ.	2) and unrelenting exertion.
Appaṭivānī sudāhaṃ, bhikkhave, padahāmi:	Relentlessly, I exerted myself [,thinking]:

(refrain 1: relentless)

‘kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu,	Gladly, [let only the] skin and tendons and bones remain;
sarīre upa-s-sussatu maṃsa-lohitaṃ,	[let the] body’s flesh-&-blood waste away.
yaṃ taṃ purisa-thāmena purisa-vīriyena	But whatever manly-strength, manly-vigor
purisa-parakkamena pattabbaṃ	And manly-courage can-attain,
na taṃ a-pāpuṇitvā	[as long as] that has not yet been attained,
vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti.	my vigor shall not lessen.

(refrain 2: a-p-pamāda 🐘🐾‍ )

Tassa mayhaṃ, bhikkhave, appamādādhigatā sambodhi,	It was through assiduity that I achieved awakening,
appamādādhigato anuttaro yogakkhemo.	and through assiduity that I achieved the supreme sanctuary.
Tumhe cepi, bhikkhave, appaṭivānaṃ padaheyyātha:	If you are also relentless [,thinking]:
‘kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu,	Gladly, [let only the] skin and tendons and bones remain;
sarīre upa-s-sussatu maṃsa-lohitaṃ,	[let the] body’s flesh-&-blood waste away.
yaṃ taṃ purisa-thāmena purisa-vīriyena	But whatever manly-strength, manly-vigor
purisa-parakkamena pattabbaṃ	And manly-courage can-attain,
na taṃ a-pāpuṇitvā	[as long as] that has not yet been attained,
vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti.	my vigor shall not lessen.
tumhepi, bhikkhave, nacirasseva—	You too will soon [realize]
yass'-atthāya kulaputtā sammadeva agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajanti,	the goal for which people from good families rightly go forth from the lay life to homelessness;
tad-anuttaraṃ—brahmacariya-pariyosānaṃ diṭṭheva dhamme	the supreme culmination of the spiritual path in this very life.
sayaṃ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissatha.	You will live having attained [the goal] with your own insight.

(refrain 3: train like this)

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṃ sikkhitabbaṃ:	So you should train like this:
‘appaṭivānaṃ padahissāma.	‘We will relentlessly exert ourselves [, thinking]:
‘kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu,	Gladly, [let only the] skin and tendons and bones remain;
sarīre upa-s-sussatu maṃsa-lohitaṃ,	[let the] body’s flesh-&-blood waste away.
yaṃ taṃ purisa-thāmena purisa-vīriyena	But whatever manly-strength, manly-vigor
purisa-parakkamena pattabbaṃ	And manly-courage can-attain,
na taṃ a-pāpuṇitvā	[as long as] that has not yet been attained,
vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti.	my vigor shall not lessen.
Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.	That’s how you should train.”

(end of sutta⏹️)