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### Sutta Nipata IV.8

# Pasura Sutta

# To Pasura

Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
For free distribution only.

> "Only here is there purity"
> -- that's what they say --
> "No other doctrines are pure"
> -- so they say.
> Insisting that what they depend on is good,
> they are deeply entrenched in their personal truths.

> Seeking controversy, they plunge into an assembly,
> regarding one another as fools.
> Relying on others' authority,
> they speak in debate.
> Desiring praise, they claim to be skilled.

> Engaged in disputes in the midst of the assembly,
> -- anxious, desiring praise --
> the one defeated is
> chagrined.
> Shaken with criticism, he seeks for an opening.

> He whose doctrine is [judged as] demolished,
> defeated, by those judging the issue:
> He laments, he grieves -- the inferior exponent.
> "He beat me," he mourns.

> These disputes have arisen among contemplatives.
> In them are elation,
> dejection.
> Seeing this, one should abstain from disputes,
> for they have no other goal
> than the gaining of praise.

> He who is praised there
> for expounding his doctrine
> in the midst of the assembly,
> laughs on that account & grows haughty,
> attaining his heart's desire.

> That haughtiness will be his grounds for vexation,
> for he'll speak in pride & conceit.
> Seeing this, one should abstain from debates.
> No purity is attained by them, say the skilled.

> Like a strong man nourished on royal food,
> you go about, roaring, searching out an opponent.
> Wherever the battle is,
> go there, strong man.
> As before, there's none here.

> Those who dispute, taking hold of a view,
> saying, "This, and this only, is true,"
> those you can talk to.
> Here there is nothing --
> no confrontation
> at the birth of disputes.

> Among those who live above confrontation
> not pitting view against view,
> whom would you gain as opponent, Pasura,
> among those here
> who are grasping no more?

> So here you come,
> conjecturing,
> your mind conjuring
> viewpoints.
> You're paired off with a pure one
> and so cannot proceed.

See also: DN 16 (the Buddha's answer to Subhadda's question); MN 18; AN III.73; AN V.159

Revised: Wed 16 May 2001