Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa

3.4.7 Kosambiyasuttaṃ

Quarrel Breeds Disharmony!

Kosambiyasuttaṃ Quarrel Breeds Disharmony!

‘‘Taṃ kiṃ maññatha, bhikkhave,

"What do you think, Bhikkhus,

yasmiṃ tumhe samaye bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā

vivādāpannā aññamaññaṃ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharatha,

at a time of quarrelling, arguing,

being deep in disputes,

using verbal daggers,

api nu tumhākaṃ tasmiṃ samaye mettaṃ kāyakammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca,

do you at such a period maintain acts of mettā by body towards your companions in the holy life

in private and openly,

mettaṃ vacīkammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca,

do you at such a period maintain acts of mettā in speech towards your companions in the holy life in private and openly,

mettaṃ manokammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho cā’’ti?

do you at such a period maintain acts of mettā in your mind towards your companions in the holy life in private and openly?” 

‘‘No hetaṃ, bhante’’

“Surely not, Bhante!”

‘‘Iti kira, bhikkhave, yasmiṃ tumhe samaye bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā

aññamaññaṃ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharatha,

“This said, Bhikkhus, thus at a time of quarrelling, arguing, being deep in disputes,

using verbal daggers,

neva tumhākaṃ tasmiṃ samaye mettaṃ

kāyakammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca

you don’t at such a period maintain acts of mettā in body towards your companions in the holy life in private and openly.

na mettaṃ vacīkammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca,

“You don’t at such a period maintain acts of mettā in speech towards you companions in the holy life in private and openly,

na mettaṃ manokammaṃ paccupaṭṭhitaṃ hoti sabrahmacārīsu āvi ceva raho ca.

and you don’t at such a period maintain acts of mettā by mind towards your companions in the holy life in private and openly.

Atha kiñcarahi tumhe, moghapurisā, kiṃ jānantā kiṃ passantā bhaṇḍanajātā kalahajātā vivādāpannā aññamaññaṃ mukhasattīhi vitudantā viharatha,

“Foolish person, what then do you know, what do you see that would be worthwhile to fall to quarrelling, arguing, being deep in disputes and using verbal daggers?

te na ceva aññamaññaṃ saññāpetha,

na ca saññattiṃ upetha,

Neither will you understand each other

nor getting convinced by another,

na ca aññamaññaṃ nijjhāpetha,

na ca nijjhattiṃ upetha?

neither will you persuade another

nor be given to understanding. 

Tañhi tumhākaṃ, moghapurisā, bhavissati dīgharattaṃ ahitāya dukkhāyā’’ti.

“Then and here, foolish person, will it lead to disadvantage and impairment for a long period.”

Kosambiyasuttaṃ, Cūḷayamakavaggo, Mūlapaṇṇāsapāḷi, Majjhimanikāyo, selected


Last modified: Monday, 21 July 2025, 12:43 PM