MN 1 - mūlaparyāyasūtram

[Translated from the Pali Majjhima Nikāya to Sanskrit by Ramakrishnan Suryanarayanan in 2024-26.]

madhyamanikāye mūlaparyāyavarge mūlaparyāyasūtraṃ prathamam

evaṃ mayā śrutam — ekasminsamaye bhagavānutkaṭāyāṃ viharati sma subhagavane śālarājamūle. tatra khalu bhagavānbhikṣūnāmantrayata—bhikṣava iti. bhadanteti te bhikṣavo bhagavate pratyaśrauṣuḥ. bhagavānetadavocat—

sarvadharmamūlaparyāyaṃ vo bhikṣavo deśayiṣyāmi. tacchṛṇuta, sādhu manasikuruta, bhāṣiṣya iti. evaṃ bhadanteti te bhikṣavo bhagavate pratyaśrauṣuḥ. bhagavānetadavocat—

iha bhikṣavo'śrutavānpṛthagjana āryāṇāmadarśyāryadharmasyākovida āryadharme'vinītaḥ satpuruṣāṇāmadarśī satpuruṣadharmasyākovidaḥ satpuruṣadharme'vinītaḥ pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvena saṃjānāti. pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvena saṃjñāya pṛthivīṃ manyate, pṛthivyāṃ manyate, pṛthivīto manyate, pṛthivī ma iti manyate, pṛthivīmabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

apo'ptvena saṃjānāti. apo'ptvena saṃjñāyāpo manyate, apsu manyate, adbhyo manyate, āpo ma iti manyate, apo'bhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

tejastejastvena saṃjānāti. tejastejastvena saṃjñāya tejo manyate, tejasi manyate, tejasto manyate, tejo ma iti manyate, tejo'bhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

vāyuṃ vāyutvena saṃjānāti. vāyuṃ vāyutvena saṃjñāya vāyuṃ manyate, vāyau manyate, vāyuto manyate, vāyurma iti manyate, vāyumabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

bhūtāni bhūtatvena saṃjānāti. bhūtāni bhūtatvena saṃjñāya bhūtāni manyate, bhūteṣu manyate, bhūtato manyate, bhūtāni ma iti manyate, bhūtānyabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

devāndevatvena saṃjānāti. devāndevatvena saṃjñāya devānmanyate, deveṣu manyate, devato manyate, devā ma iti manyate, devānabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

prajāpatiṃ prajāpatitvena saṃjānāti. prajāpatiṃ prajāpatitvena saṃjñāya prajāpatiṃ manyate, prajāpatau manyate, prajāpatito manyate, prajāpatirma iti manyate, prajāpatimabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

brahmāṇaṃ brahmatvena saṃjānāti. brahmāṇaṃ brahmatvena saṃjñāya brahmāṇaṃ manyate, brahmaṇi manyate, brahmato manyate, brahmā ma iti manyate, brahmāṇamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

ābhāsvarānābhāsvaratvena saṃjānāti. ābhāsvarānābhāsvaratvena saṃjñāyābhāsvarānmanyate, ābhāsvareṣu manyate, ābhāsvarato manyate, ābhāsvarā ma iti manyate, ābhāsvarānabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

śubhakṛtsnāñśubhakṛtsnatvena saṃjānāti. śubhakṛtsnāñśubhakṛtsnatvena saṃjñāya śubhakṛtsnānmanyate, śubhakṛtsneṣu manyate, śubhakṛtsnato manyate, śubhakṛtsnā ma iti manyate, śubhakṛtsnānabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

bṛhatphalānbṛhatphalatvena saṃjānāti. bṛhatphalānbṛhatphalatvena saṃjñāya bṛhatphalānmanyate, bṛhatphaleṣu manyate, bṛhatphalato manyate, bṛhatphalā ma iti manyate, bṛhatphalānabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

abhibhuvamabhibhutvena saṃjānāti. abhibhuvamabhibhutvena saṃjñāyābhibhuvaṃ manyate, abhibhuvi manyate, abhibhuto manyate, abhibhūrma iti manyate, abhibhuvamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

ākāśānantyāyatanamākāśānantyāyatanatvena saṃjānāti. ākāśānantyāyatanamākāśānantyāyatanatvena saṃjñāyākāśānantyāyatanaṃ manyate, ākāśānantyāyatane manyate, ākāśānantyāyatanato manyate, ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ ma iti manyate, ākāśānantyāyatanamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ vijñānānantyāyatanatvena saṃjānāti. vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ vijñānānantyāyatanatvena saṃjñāya vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ manyate, vijñānānantyāyatane manyate, vijñānānantyāyatanato manyate, vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ ma iti manyate, vijñānānantyāyatanamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

ākiñcanyāyatanamākiñcanyāyatanatvena saṃjānāti. ākiñcanyāyatanamākiñcanyāyatanatvena saṃjñāyākiñcanyāyatanaṃ manyate, ākiñcanyāyatane manyate, ākiñcanyāyatanato manyate, ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ ma iti manyate, ākiñcanyāyatanamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanatvena saṃjānāti. naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanatvena saṃjñāya naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ manyate, naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatane manyate, naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanato manyate, naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ ma iti manyate, naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

dṛṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭatvena saṃjānāti. dṛṣṭaṃ dṛṣṭatvena saṃjñāya dṛṣṭaṃ manyate, dṛṣṭe manyate, dṛṣṭato manyate, dṛṣṭaṃ ma iti manyate, dṛṣṭamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

śrutaṃ śrutatvena saṃjānāti. śrutaṃ śrutatvena saṃjñāya śrutaṃ manyate, śrute manyate, śrutato manyate, śrutaṃ ma iti manyate, śrutamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

mataṃ matatvena saṃjānāti. mataṃ matatvena saṃjñāya mataṃ manyate, mate manyate, matato manyate, mataṃ ma iti manyate, matamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

vijñātaṃ vijñātatvena saṃjānāti. vijñātaṃ vijñātatvena saṃjñāya vijñātaṃ manyate, vijñāte manyate, vijñātato manyate, vijñātaṃ ma iti manyate, vijñātamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

ekatvamekatvatvena saṃjānāti. ekatvamekatvatvena saṃjñāyaikatvaṃ manyate, ekatve manyate, ekatvato manyate, ekatvaṃ ma iti manyate, ekatvamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

nānātvaṃ nānātvatvena saṃjānāti. nānātvaṃ nānātvatvena saṃjñāya nānātvaṃ manyate, nānātve manyate, nānātvato manyate, nānātvaṃ ma iti manyate, nānātvamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

sarvaṃ sarvatvena saṃjānāti. sarvaṃ sarvatvena saṃjñāya sarvaṃ manyate, sarvasminmanyate, sarvato manyate, sarvaṃ ma iti manyate, sarvamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvena saṃjānāti. nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvena saṃjñāya nirvāṇaṃ manyate, nirvāṇe manyate, nirvāṇato manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti manyate, nirvāṇamabhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? aparijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

pṛthagjanavaśena prathamanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

yo'pi sa bhikṣavo bhikṣuḥ śaikṣo'prāptamānaso'nuttaraṃ yogakṣemaṃ prārthayamāno viharati, so'pi pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti. pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ mā maṃsta, pṛthivyāṃ mā maṃsta, pṛthivīto mā maṃsta, pṛthivī ma iti mā maṃsta, pṛthivīṃ mābhinandīt. tatkasya hetoḥ? parijñeyaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ mā maṃsta, nirvāṇe mā maṃsta, nirvāṇato mā maṃsta, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti mā maṃsta, nirvāṇaṃ mābhinandīt. tatkasya hetoḥ? parijñeyaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

śaikṣavaśena dvitīyanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

yo'pi sa bhikṣavo bhikṣurarhankṣīṇāsrava uṣitavānkṛtakṛtyo'vahitabhāro'nuprāptasadarthaḥ parikṣīṇabhavasaṃyojanaḥ samyagājñāvimuktaḥ, so'pi pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti; pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ na manyate, pṛthivyāṃ na manyate, pṛthivīto na manyate, pṛthivī ma iti na manyate, pṛthivīṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? parijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ na manyate, nirvāṇe na manyate, nirvāṇato na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? parijñātaṃ tasyeti vadāmi.

kṣīṇāsravavaśena tṛtīyanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

yo'pi sa bhikṣavo bhikṣurarhankṣīṇāsrava uṣitavānkṛtakṛtyo'vahitabhāro'nuprāptasadarthaḥ parikṣīṇabhavasaṃyojanaḥ samyagājñāvimuktaḥ, so'pi pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti; pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ na manyate, pṛthivyāṃ na manyate, pṛthivīto na manyate, pṛthivī ma iti na manyate, pṛthivīṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? kṣayādrāgasya, vītarāgatvāt.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ na manyate, nirvāṇe na manyate, nirvāṇato na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? kṣayādrāgasya, vītarāgatvāt.

kṣīṇāsravavaśena caturthanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

yo'pi sa bhikṣavo bhikṣurarhankṣīṇāsrava uṣitavānkṛtakṛtyo'vahitabhāro'nuprāptasadarthaḥ parikṣīṇabhavasaṃyojanaḥ samyagājñāvimuktaḥ, so'pi pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti; pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ na manyate, pṛthivyāṃ na manyate, pṛthivīto na manyate, pṛthivī ma iti na manyate, pṛthivīṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? kṣayāddveṣasya, vītadveṣatvāt.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ na manyate, nirvāṇe na manyate, nirvāṇato na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? kṣayāddveṣasya, vītadveṣatvāt.

kṣīṇāsravavaśena pañcamanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

yo'pi sa bhikṣavo bhikṣurarhankṣīṇāsrava uṣitavānkṛtakṛtyo'vahitabhāro'nuprāptasadarthaḥ parikṣīṇabhavasaṃyojanaḥ samyagājñāvimuktaḥ, so'pi pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti; pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ na manyate, pṛthivyāṃ na manyate, pṛthivīto na manyate, pṛthivī ma iti na manyate, pṛthivīṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? kṣayādmohasya, vītamohatvāt.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ na manyate, nirvāṇe na manyate, nirvāṇato na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? kṣayādmohasya, vītamohatvāt.

kṣīṇāsravavaśena ṣaṣṭhanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

tathāgato'pi bhikṣavo'rhansamyaksambuddhaḥ pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti; pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ na manyate, pṛthivyāṃ na manyate, pṛthivīto na manyate, pṛthivī ma iti na manyate, pṛthivīṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? parijñātaṃ tattathāgatasyeti vadāmi.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ na manyate, nirvāṇe na manyate, nirvāṇato na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? parijñātaṃ tattathāgatasyeti vadāmi.

tathāgatavaśena saptamanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

tathāgato'pi bhikṣavo'rhansamyaksambuddhaḥ pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijānāti; pṛthivīṃ pṛthivītvenābhijñāya pṛthivīṃ na manyate, pṛthivyāṃ na manyate, pṛthivīto na manyate, pṛthivī ma iti na manyate, pṛthivīṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? nandī duḥkhasya mūlamiti viditvā bhavājjātirbhūtasya jarāmaraṇamiti. tasmādiha bhikṣavastathāgataḥ sarvaśastṛṣṇānāṃ kṣayādvirāgādnirodhāttyāgātpratinisargādanuttarāṃ samyaksambodhimabhisambuddha iti vadāmi.

apaḥ …(pūrvavat)… tejaḥ … vāyuṃ … bhūtāni … devān … prajāpatiṃ … brahmāṇaṃ … ābhāsvarān … śubhakṛtsnān … bṛhatphalān … abhibhuvaṃ … ākāśānantyāyatanaṃ … vijñānānantyāyatanaṃ … ākiñcanyāyatanaṃ … naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanaṃ … dṛṣṭaṃ … śrutaṃ … mataṃ … vijñātaṃ … ekatvaṃ … nānātvaṃ … sarvaṃ … nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijānāti; nirvāṇaṃ nirvāṇatvenābhijñāya nirvāṇaṃ na manyate, nirvāṇe na manyate, nirvāṇato na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ ma iti na manyate, nirvāṇaṃ nābhinandati. tatkasya hetoḥ? nandī duḥkhasya mūlamiti viditvā bhavājjātirbhūtasya jarāmaraṇamiti. tasmādiha bhikṣavastathāgataḥ sarvaśastṛṣṇānāṃ kṣayādvirāgādnirodhāttyāgātpratinisargādanuttarāṃ samyaksambodhimabhisambuddha iti vadāmi.

tathāgatavaśenāṣṭamanayabhūmiparicchedo niṣṭhitaḥ.

idamavocadbhagavān. na te bhikṣavo bhagavato bhāṣitamabhyanandiṣuriti.

mūlaparyāyasūtraṃ niṣṭhitaṃ prathamam.