MĀ 11 lavaṇopamasūtram

[Translated originally from the Sanskrit Sarvāstivāda Madhyamāgama to Classical Chinese by a team led by Sarvāstivāda scholar Gautama Saṃghadeva of Kāśmīra in 398CE.
Translated from the Chinese Taisho Tripiṭaka back to Sanskrit by Ramakrishnan Suryanarayanan in 2024-26.]

madhyamāgame karmasaṃyuktavarge dvitīye lavaṇopamasūtraṃ prathamam.

evaṃ mayā śrutam. ekasminsamaye bhagavāñchrāvastyāṃ viharati sma, jetavane'nāthapiṇḍadasyārāme.

tasminsamaye bhagavānbhikṣūnāmantrayata—yadi kaścidevaṃ vadet—yathā yathāyaṃ puruṣaḥ karma karoti, tathā tathā tasya vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayata iti; evaṃ sati, bhikṣavaḥ, brahmacaryavāso na bhavati, samyagduḥkhakṣayāya cāvakāśo na prajñāyate. yadi kaścidevaṃ vadet—yathā yathāyaṃ puruṣo vedanīyaṃ karma karoti, tathā tathā tasya vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayata iti; evaṃ sati, bhikṣavaḥ, brahmacaryavāso bhavati, samyagduḥkhakṣayāya cāvakāśaḥ prajñāyate.

tatkasya hetoḥ? iha kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'bhāvitakāyo bhavatyabhāvitaśīlo'bhāvitacitto'bhāvitaprajño'lpāyuṣkaḥ. evaṃrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvāvaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. tadyathāpi nāma puruṣa ekaṃ lavaṇapalaṃ parītta udake prakṣipya tadudakaṃ lavaṇīkartumapeyaṃ ca kartumicchati. tatkiṃ manyadhve, bhikṣavaḥ, api nu tal lavaṇapalaṃ tatparīttamudakaṃ lavaṇīkuryādapeyaṃ ca kuryāt?

bhikṣava āhuḥ—evaṃ, bhagavan.

tatkasya hetoḥ? lavaṇaṃ prabhūtam, udakaṃ cālpataram; tatastena tadudakaṃ lavaṇīkriyate'peyaṃ ca bhavati.

evameva kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo'bhāvitakāyo bhavati, abhāvitaśīlo'bhāvitacitto'bhāvitaprajño'lpāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate.

punaraparaṃ, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadhārmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadhārmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo bhāvitakāyo bhavati, bhāvitaśīlo bhāvitacitto bhāvitaprajño dīrghāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadhārmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. tadyathāpi nāma puruṣa ekaṃ lavaṇapalaṃ gaṅgānadyāṃ prakṣipya, tasyā udakaṃ lavaṇīkartumapeyaṃ ca kartumicchati. tatkiṃ manyadhve, bhikṣavaḥ, api nu tal lavaṇapalaṃ gaṅgānadyā udakaṃ lavaṇīkuryādapeyaṃ ca kuryāt?

bhikṣava āhuḥ—no hīdam, bhagavan.

tatkasya hetoḥ? gaṅgānadyudakaṃ prabhūtam, ekaṃ ca lavaṇapalamalpataram; tatastena na śakyate tadudakaṃ lavaṇīkartumapeyaṃ ca kartumiti.

evameva kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadhārmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadhārmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo bhāvitakāyo bhavati, bhāvitaśīlo bhāvitacitto bhāvitaprajño dīrghāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadhārmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate.

punaraparaṃ, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo'bhāvitakāyo bhavati, abhāvitaśīlo'bhāvitacitto'bhāvitaprajño'lpāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. tadyathāpi nāma puruṣaḥ parasyaikameḍakamapaharet. kathaṃ ca puruṣaḥ parasyaikameḍakamapaharati? eḍakāpahārakaḥ puruṣo rājā vā bhavati rājamātro vā mahānubhāvaḥ. sa ceḍakasvāmī daridro bhavati kṛpaṇo durbalaḥ. sa durbalatvādnānāvidhaṃ kṛtāñjaliryācamāna evamāha—māriṣa, dīyatāṃ ma eḍakaḥ, mūlyaṃ vā tasya dīyatāmiti. evamrūpaḥ puruṣaḥ parasyaikameḍakamapaharati. evameva, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo'bhāvitakāyo bhavati, abhāvitaśīlo'bhāvitacitto'bhāvitaprajño'lpāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate.

punaraparaṃ, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo bhāvitakāyo bhavati, bhāvitaśīlo bhāvitacitto bhāvitaprajño dīrghāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. tadyathāpi nāma puruṣaḥ parasyaikameḍakamapaharedapahṛtya ca tasya svāminā pratyapahriyate. kathaṃ ca puruṣaḥ parasyaikameḍakamapaharatyapahṛtya ca tasya svāminā pratyapahriyate? eḍakāpahārakaḥ puruṣo daridro bhavati kṛpaṇo durbalaḥ. sa ceḍakasvāmī rājā vā bhavati rājamātro vā mahānubhāvaḥ. sa mahānubhāvatvāttamapahārakaṃ baddhvā svameḍakaṃ pratyapaharati. evamrūpaḥ puruṣaḥ parasyaikameḍakamapaharatyapahṛtya ca tasya svāminā pratyapahriyate. evameva, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo bhāvitakāyo bhavati, bhāvitaśīlo bhāvitacitto bhāvitaprajño dīrghāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate.

punaraparaṃ, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo'bhāvitakāyo bhavati, abhāvitaśīlo'bhāvitacitto'bhāvitaprajño'lpāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. tadyathāpi nāma puruṣaḥ pañca kārṣāpaṇāndhārayandhanikena badhyate, yāvadekaṃ kārṣāpaṇamapi dhārayandhanikena badhyate. kathaṃ ca puruṣaḥ pañca kārṣāpaṇāndhārayandhanikena badhyate, yāvadekaṃ kārṣāpaṇamapi dhārayandhanikena badhyate? sa ṛṇikaḥ puruṣo daridro bhavati kṛpaṇo durbalaḥ. sa daridratvād durbalatvāt pañca kārṣāpaṇāndhārayandhanikena badhyate, yāvadekaṃ kārṣāpaṇamapi dhārayandhanikena badhyate. evamrūpaḥ puruṣaḥ pañca kārṣāpaṇāndhārayandhanikena badhyate, yāvadekaṃ kārṣāpaṇamapi dhārayandhanikena badhyate. evameva, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo'bhāvitakāyo bhavati, abhāvitaśīlo'bhāvitacitto'bhāvitaprajño'lpāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ nairayikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate.

punaraparaṃ, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo bhāvitakāyo bhavati, bhāvitaśīlo bhāvitacitto bhāvitaprajño dīrghāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. tadyathāpi nāma puruṣaḥ śataṃ kārṣāpaṇāndhārayannapi na dhanikena badhyate, yāvat koṭiṃ kārṣāpaṇānapi dhārayanna dhanikena badhyate. kathaṃ ca puruṣaḥ śataṃ kārṣāpaṇāndhārayannapi na dhanikena badhyate, yāvat koṭiṃ kārṣāpaṇānapi dhārayanna dhanikena badhyate? sa ṛṇikaḥ puruṣo'prameyabhogo bhavati mahānubhāvaḥ. sa mahānubhāvatvācchataṃ kārṣāpaṇān dhārayannapi na dhanikena badhyate, yāvat koṭiṃ kārṣāpaṇānapi dhārayanna dhanikena badhyate. evamrūpaḥ puruṣaḥ śataṃ kārṣāpaṇān dhārayannapi na dhanikena badhyate, yāvat koṭiṃ kārṣāpaṇānapi dhārayanna dhanikena badhyate. evameva, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścit pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate. kathaṃ ca pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate? iha, bhikṣavaḥ, kaścitpudgalo bhāvitakāyo bhavati, bhāvitaśīlo bhāvitacitto bhāvitaprajño dīrghāyuṣkaḥ. evamrūpo vai pudgalo'kuśalaṃ karma kṛtvā, avaśyaṃ duḥkhaphalaṃ dṛṣṭadharmikaṃ vipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate, sa dṛṣṭa eva dharme yadi kuśalākuśalakarmavipākaṃ pratisaṃvedayate so'pi laghurbhavati.

idamavocadbhagavān. āttamanasaste bhikṣavo bhagavato bhāṣitamabhyanandiṣuḥ.

lavaṇopamasūtraṃ prathamaṃ samāptam.