PTS cs 10 ‘Reverend Sir, what is the characteristic mark of sensation (Vedanā)?’
‘The being experienced, great king, and enjoyed.’
‘Give me an illustration.’
‘It is like the case of the man on whom the king, pleased with a service he has rendered him, should bestow an office. He while living, through that appointment, in the full possession and enjoyment of all the pleasures of sense, would think: “Formerly I did the king a service. For that the king, pleased with me, gave me this office. It is on that account that I now experience such sensations."—And it is like the case of the man PTS vp Pali 61 who having done good deeds is re-born, on the dissolution of the body after death, into some happy conditions of bliss in heaven. He, while living there in the full possession and enjoyment of all the pleasures of sense, would think: “Formerly I must have done good deeds. It is on that account that I now experience such sensations.” Thus is it, great king, that the being experienced and enjoyed is the characteristic mark of sensation.’
‘Very good, Nāgasena!’ PTS vp En 94
9. Vedanālakkhaṇapañha
9. Vedanālakkhaṇapañha
“Bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇā vedanā”ti? “Vedayitalakkhaṇā, mahārāja, vedanā anubhavanalakkhaṇā cā”ti.
“Bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇā vedanā”ti?
“Vedayitalakkhaṇā, mahārāja, vedanā anubhavanalakkhaṇā cā”ti.
“Bhante nāgasena, kiṁlakkhaṇā vedanā”ti? “Vedayitalakkhaṇā, mahārāja, vedanā anubhavanalakkhaṇā cā”ti.
“Opammaṁ karohī”ti. “Yathā, mahārāja, kocideva puriso rañño adhikāraṁ kareyya, tassa rājā tuṭṭho adhikāraṁ dadeyya, so tena adhikārena pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgibhūto paricareyya, tassa evamassa ‘mayā kho pubbe rañño adhikāro kato, tassa me rājā tuṭṭho adhikāraṁ adāsi, svāhaṁ tatonidānaṁ imaṁ evarūpaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti.
“Yathā, mahārāja, kocideva puriso rañño adhikāraṁ kareyya, tassa rājā tuṭṭho adhikāraṁ dadeyya, so tena adhikārena pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgibhūto paricareyya, tassa evamassa ‘mayā kho pubbe rañño adhikāro kato, tassa me rājā tuṭṭho adhikāraṁ adāsi, svāhaṁ tatonidānaṁ imaṁ evarūpaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti.
“Opammaṁ karohī”ti. “Yathā, mahārāja, kocideva puriso rañño adhikāraṁ kareyya, tassa rājā tuṭṭho adhikāraṁ dadeyya, so tena adhikārena pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgibhūto paricareyya, tassa evamassa ‘mayā kho pubbe rañño adhikāro kato, tassa me rājā tuṭṭho adhikāraṁ adāsi, svāhaṁ tatonidānaṁ imaṁ evarūpaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti.
Yathā vā pana, mahārāja, kocideva puriso kusalaṁ kammaṁ katvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya, so ca tattha dibbehi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgibhūto paricareyya, tassa evamassa ‘svāhaṁ kho pubbe kusalaṁ kammaṁ akāsiṁ, sohaṁ tatonidānaṁ imaṁ evarūpaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, vedayitalakkhaṇā vedanā anubhavanalakkhaṇā cā”ti.
Yathā vā pana, mahārāja, kocideva puriso kusalaṁ kammaṁ katvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya, so ca tattha dibbehi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgibhūto paricareyya, tassa evamassa ‘svāhaṁ kho pubbe kusalaṁ kammaṁ akāsiṁ, sohaṁ tatonidānaṁ imaṁ evarūpaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti.
Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, vedayitalakkhaṇā vedanā anubhavanalakkhaṇā cā”ti.
Yathā vā pana, mahārāja, kocideva puriso kusalaṁ kammaṁ katvā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjeyya, so ca tattha dibbehi pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappito samaṅgibhūto paricareyya, tassa evamassa ‘svāhaṁ kho pubbe kusalaṁ kammaṁ akāsiṁ, sohaṁ tatonidānaṁ imaṁ evarūpaṁ vedanaṁ vedayāmī’ti. Evaṁ kho, mahārāja, vedayitalakkhaṇā vedanā anubhavanalakkhaṇā cā”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
“Kallosi, bhante nāgasenā”ti.
Vedanālakkhaṇapañho navamo.
Vedanālakkhaṇapañho navamo.
Vedanālakkhaṇapañho navamo.