Irritable

“Mendicants, these seven things that please and assist an enemy happen to an irritable woman or man.What seven?

“Sattime, bhikkhave, dhammā sapattakantā sapattakaraṇā kodhanaṁ āgacchanti itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā. Katame satta?

“Mendicants, these seven things that please and assist an enemy happen to an irritable woman or man.“Sattime, bhikkhave, dhammā sapattakantā sapattakaraṇā kodhanaṁ āgacchanti itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā. What seven?Katame satta?

Firstly, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only they’d become ugly!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have a beautiful enemy.An irritable individual, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, is ugly, even though they’re nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, and wearing white clothes.This is the first thing that pleases and assists an enemy which happens to an irritable woman or man.

Idha, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ dubbaṇṇo assā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa vaṇṇavatāya nandati. Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, kiñcāpi so hoti sunhāto suvilitto kappitakesamassu odātavatthavasano; *Kodhanoyaṁ → kodhanāyaṁ (mr) | odātavatthavasano → odātavatthavāsano (sya-all); odātavasano (mr)atha kho so dubbaṇṇova hoti kodhābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Firstly, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Idha, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only they’d become ugly!’‘aho vatāyaṁ dubbaṇṇo assā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have a beautiful enemy.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa vaṇṇavatāya nandati. An irritable individual, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, is ugly, even though they’re nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, and wearing white clothes.Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, kiñcāpi so hoti sunhāto suvilitto kappitakesamassu odātavatthavasano; *Kodhanoyaṁ → kodhanāyaṁ (mr) | odātavatthavasano → odātavatthavāsano (sya-all); odātavasano (mr)atha kho so dubbaṇṇova hoti kodhābhibhūto. This is the first thing that pleases and assists an enemy which happens to an irritable woman or man.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only they’d sleep badly!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy who sleeps at ease.An irritable individual, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, sleeps badly, even though they sleep on a couch spread with woolen covers—shag-piled, pure white, or embroidered with flowers—and spread with a fine deer hide, with a canopy above and red pillows at both ends.This is the second thing …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ dukkhaṁ sayeyyā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa sukhaseyyāya nandati. Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, kiñcāpi so pallaṅke seti gonakatthate paṭalikatthate kadalimigapavarapaccattharaṇe sauttaracchade ubhatolohitakūpadhāne; atha kho so dukkhaññeva seti kodhābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only they’d sleep badly!’‘aho vatāyaṁ dukkhaṁ sayeyyā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy who sleeps at ease.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa sukhaseyyāya nandati. An irritable individual, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, sleeps badly, even though they sleep on a couch spread with woolen covers—shag-piled, pure white, or embroidered with flowers—and spread with a fine deer hide, with a canopy above and red pillows at both ends.Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, kiñcāpi so pallaṅke seti gonakatthate paṭalikatthate kadalimigapavarapaccattharaṇe sauttaracchade ubhatolohitakūpadhāne; atha kho so dukkhaññeva seti kodhābhibhūto. This is the second thing …Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only their needs are not amply satisfied!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy whose needs are amply satisfied.When an irritable individual, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, gets what they don’t need they think, ‘I’ve got what I need.’ When they get what they need they think, ‘I’ve got what I don’t need.’When an angry person gets these things that are the exact opposite of what they need, it’s for their lasting harm and suffering.This is the third thing …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ na pacurattho assā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa pacuratthatāya nandati. Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, anatthampi gahetvā ‘attho me gahito’ti maññati, atthampi gahetvā ‘anattho me gahito’ti maññati. Tassime dhammā aññamaññaṁ vipaccanīkā gahitā dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti kodhābhibhūtassa. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only their needs are not amply satisfied!’‘aho vatāyaṁ na pacurattho assā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy whose needs are amply satisfied.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa pacuratthatāya nandati. When an irritable individual, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, gets what they don’t need they think, ‘I’ve got what I need.’ When they get what they need they think, ‘I’ve got what I don’t need.’Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, anatthampi gahetvā ‘attho me gahito’ti maññati, atthampi gahetvā ‘anattho me gahito’ti maññati. When an angry person gets these things that are the exact opposite of what they need, it’s for their lasting harm and suffering.Tassime dhammā aññamaññaṁ vipaccanīkā gahitā dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya saṁvattanti kodhābhibhūtassa. This is the third thing …Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only they weren’t wealthy!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy who is wealthy.When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, the rulers seize the legitimate wealth they’ve earned by their efforts, built up with their own hands, gathered by the sweat of their brow.This is the fourth thing …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ na bhogavā assā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa bhogavatāya nandati. Kodhanassa, bhikkhave, purisapuggalassa kodhābhibhūtassa kodhaparetassa, yepissa te honti bhogā uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā sedāvakkhittā dhammikā dhammaladdhā, tepi rājāno rājakosaṁ pavesenti kodhābhibhūtassa. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only they weren’t wealthy!’‘aho vatāyaṁ na bhogavā assā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy who is wealthy.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa bhogavatāya nandati. When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, the rulers seize the legitimate wealth they’ve earned by their efforts, built up with their own hands, gathered by the sweat of their brow.Kodhanassa, bhikkhave, purisapuggalassa kodhābhibhūtassa kodhaparetassa, yepissa te honti bhogā uṭṭhānavīriyādhigatā bāhābalaparicitā sedāvakkhittā dhammikā dhammaladdhā, tepi rājāno rājakosaṁ pavesenti kodhābhibhūtassa. This is the fourth thing …Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, catuttho dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only they weren’t famous!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have a famous enemy.When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, any fame they have acquired by diligence falls to dust.This is the fifth thing …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ na yasavā assā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa yasavatāya nandati. Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, yopissa so hoti yaso appamādādhigato, tamhāpi dhaṁsati kodhābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only they weren’t famous!’‘aho vatāyaṁ na yasavā assā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have a famous enemy.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa yasavatāya nandati. When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, any fame they have acquired by diligence falls to dust.Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto, yopissa so hoti yaso appamādādhigato, tamhāpi dhaṁsati kodhābhibhūto. This is the fifth thing …Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only they had no friends!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy with friends.When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, their friends and colleagues, relatives and kin avoid them from afar.This is the sixth thing …

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ na mittavā assā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa mittavatāya nandati. Kodhanaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalaṁ kodhābhibhūtaṁ kodhaparetaṁ, yepissa te honti mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā, tepi ārakā parivajjanti kodhābhibhūtaṁ. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only they had no friends!’‘aho vatāyaṁ na mittavā assā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy with friends.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa mittavatāya nandati. When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, their friends and colleagues, relatives and kin avoid them from afar.Kodhanaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalaṁ kodhābhibhūtaṁ kodhaparetaṁ, yepissa te honti mittāmaccā ñātisālohitā, tepi ārakā parivajjanti kodhābhibhūtaṁ. This is the sixth thing …Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, chaṭṭho dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:‘If only, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell!’Why is that?Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy who goes to a good place.When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.This is the seventh thing that pleases and assists an enemy which happens to an irritable woman or man.

Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘aho vatāyaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyyā’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa sugatigamane nandati. Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati. So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya …pe… kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati kodhābhibhūto. Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.

Furthermore, an enemy wishes for an enemy:Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa evaṁ icchati: ‘If only, when their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell!’‘aho vatāyaṁ kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyyā’ti. Why is that?Taṁ kissa hetu? Because an enemy doesn’t like to have an enemy who goes to a good place.Na, bhikkhave, sapatto sapattassa sugatigamane nandati. When an individual is irritable, overcome and overwhelmed by anger, they do bad things by way of body, speech, and mind.Kodhanoyaṁ, bhikkhave, purisapuggalo kodhābhibhūto kodhapareto kāyena duccaritaṁ carati, vācāya duccaritaṁ carati, manasā duccaritaṁ carati. So kāyena duccaritaṁ caritvā vācāya …pe… When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell.kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjati kodhābhibhūto. This is the seventh thing that pleases and assists an enemy which happens to an irritable woman or man.Ayaṁ, bhikkhave, sattamo dhammo sapattakanto sapattakaraṇo kodhanaṁ āgacchati itthiṁ vā purisaṁ vā.