Minor Collection
1. Guaranteed

Sure Bet: a past life story

Khuddaka Nikāya
1. Apaṇṇakavagga
Apaṇṇakajātaka
Minor Collection
1. Guaranteed
Sure Bet: a past life story
Khuddaka Nikāya
1. Apaṇṇakavagga
Apaṇṇakajātaka
Sure Bet: a past life story

This discourse regarding Truth was delivered by the Blessed One, while he was dwelling in the Great Monastery at Jetavana near Savatthi. But who, you ask, was it that led up to this tale?

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Sure Bet: a past life story
1. Apaṇṇakajātaka
Sure Bet: a past life story
1. Apaṇṇakajātaka
Sure Bet: a past life story1. Apaṇṇakajātaka

Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened BuddhaBuddhaEl nombre dado a quien redescubre por sí mismo el sendero liberador del Dhamma, tras un largo período de haber sido olvidado por el mundo. Según la tradición, una larga línea de Buddhas se extiende hasta el pasado distante. El Buddha más reciente nació como Siddhattha Gotama en la India alrededor del año 500 a.e.c. Un joven bien educado y acomodado, renunció a su familia y su herencia principesca en la flor de la vida para buscar la verdadera libertad y el fin del sufrimiento (dukkha). Después de siete años de austeridades en el bosque, redescubrió el «camino medio» y alcanzó su meta, convirtiéndose en el Buddha.Ver en el glosario!

Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa.

Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!
Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa.

Homage to him, the blessed one, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa.

Some stand on a sure bet,*Apaṇṇaka (“sure bet”) is a gambling term, where paṇṇa appears as a form of the number five. While a hand of four dice was “perfect” (kaṭa), the fifth “losing” (kali) die was all-powerful, since just one extra die meant you lose everything (Rig Veda 10.34.2, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 5.4.4.6). Apaṇṇaka is therefore literally a “set without a fifth” and metaphorically “without fail”, a “sure bet”. See further note on MN 60:12.5.while sophists speak of a second way.*In the prose story, the “sophists” (takkikā) are compared to a native spirit (yakkha) who tried to persuade a caravan to abandon its water in the desert.An intelligent person, knowing this,would take up the sure bet.*This line draws on the gambling imagery: one would “take up” (gaṇhe) a “sure bet”, namely a “winning hand” (kaṭaggāha). In the ancient Vedic game of chance, a large quantity of vibhītaka (“bedda”) nuts were placed in a hollow, from which players would take a handful. If the number of nuts was divisible by four, it was said to be a “perfect” (kaṭa) “hand” (gāha).

“Apaṇṇakaṁ ṭhānameke, Dutiyaṁ āhu takkikā; Etadaññāya medhāvī, Taṁ gaṇhe yadapaṇṇakan”ti. *Taṁ gaṇhe yadapaṇṇakan”ti → taṁ gaṇheyya apaṇṇakaṁ (mr)

Some stand on a sure bet,*Apaṇṇaka (“sure bet”) is a gambling term, where paṇṇa appears as a form of the number five. While a hand of four dice was “perfect” (kaṭa), the fifth “losing” (kali) die was all-powerful, since just one extra die meant you lose everything (Rig Veda 10.34.2, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 5.4.4.6). Apaṇṇaka is therefore literally a “set without a fifth” and metaphorically “without fail”, a “sure bet”. See further note on MN 60:12.5.
“Apaṇṇakaṁ ṭhānameke,
while sophists speak of a second way.*In the prose story, the “sophists” (takkikā) are compared to a native spirit (yakkha) who tried to persuade a caravan to abandon its water in the desert.
Dutiyaṁ āhu takkikā;
An intelligent person, knowing this,
Etadaññāya medhāvī,
would take up the sure bet.*This line draws on the gambling imagery: one would “take up” (gaṇhe) a “sure bet”, namely a “winning hand” (kaṭaggāha). In the ancient Vedic game of chance, a large quantity of vibhītaka (“bedda”) nuts were placed in a hollow, from which players would take a handful. If the number of nuts was divisible by four, it was said to be a “perfect” (kaṭa) “hand” (gāha).
Taṁ gaṇhe yadapaṇṇakan”ti. *Taṁ gaṇhe yadapaṇṇakan”ti → taṁ gaṇheyya apaṇṇakaṁ (mr)

Some stand on a sure bet,*Apaṇṇaka (“sure bet”) is a gambling term, where paṇṇa appears as a form of the number five. While a hand of four dice was “perfect” (kaṭa), the fifth “losing” (kali) die was all-powerful, since just one extra die meant you lose everything (Rig Veda 10.34.2, Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 5.4.4.6). Apaṇṇaka is therefore literally a “set without a fifth” and metaphorically “without fail”, a “sure bet”. See further note on MN 60:12.5.“Apaṇṇakaṁ ṭhānameke, while sophists speak of a second way.*In the prose story, the “sophists” (takkikā) are compared to a native spirit (yakkha) who tried to persuade a caravan to abandon its water in the desert.Dutiyaṁ āhu takkikā; An intelligent person, knowing this,Etadaññāya medhāvī, would take up the sure bet.*This line draws on the gambling imagery: one would “take up” (gaṇhe) a “sure bet”, namely a “winning hand” (kaṭaggāha). In the ancient Vedic game of chance, a large quantity of vibhītaka (“bedda”) nuts were placed in a hollow, from which players would take a handful. If the number of nuts was divisible by four, it was said to be a “perfect” (kaṭa) “hand” (gāha).Taṁ gaṇhe yadapaṇṇakan”ti. *Taṁ gaṇhe yadapaṇṇakan”ti → taṁ gaṇheyya apaṇṇakaṁ (mr)

Apaṇṇakajātakaṁ paṭhamaṁ.

Apaṇṇakajātakaṁ paṭhamaṁ.

Apaṇṇakajātakaṁ paṭhamaṁ.