Linked Discourses 46.44 5. A Wheel-Turning Monarch Witless (SN46.44)

1.1

Atha kho aññataro bhikkhu yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then a mendicant went up to the Buddha … and asked him,

1.2

“‘duppañño eḷamūgo, duppañño eḷamūgo’ti, bhante, vuccati.

“Sir, they speak of ‘a witless idiot’.

1.3

Kittāvatā nu kho, bhante, ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccatī”ti?

How is a witless idiot defined?”

1.4

“Sattannaṁ kho, bhikkhu, bojjhaṅgānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccati.

“Mendicant, they’re called a witless idiot because they haven’t developed and cultivated the seven awakening factors.

1.5

Katamesaṁ sattannaṁ?

What seven?

1.6

Satisambojjhaṅgassa …pe… upekkhāsambojjhaṅgassa—

The awakening factors of mindfulness, investigation of principles, energy, rapture, tranquility, immersion, and equanimity.

1.7

imesaṁ kho, bhikkhu, sattannaṁ bojjhaṅgānaṁ abhāvitattā abahulīkatattā ‘duppañño eḷamūgo’ti vuccatī”ti.

They’re called a witless idiot because they haven’t developed and cultivated these seven awakening factors.”

1.8

Catutthaṁ.