Saṁyutta Nikāya 47.6 1.

Sakuṇagghisutta

Ambapālivagga Sakuṇagghisutta “Bhūtapubbaṁ, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi lāpaṁ sakuṇaṁ sahasā ajjhappattā aggahesi.

Once a hawk suddenly seized a bird in its talons.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, lāpo sakuṇo sakuṇagghiyā hariyamāno evaṁ paridevasi: ‘mayamevamha alakkhikā, mayaṁ appapuññā, ye mayaṁ agocare carimha paravisaye.

Then while being carried away by the hawk, the bird lamented: We are indeed unlucky, we who have little merit, for we roamed in foreign territories.

Sacejja mayaṁ gocare careyyāma sake pettike visaye, na myāyaṁ, sakuṇagghi, alaṁ abhavissa, yadidaṁ—yuddhāyā’ti.

If today we had roamed in our own territory, in our ancestral domain, this hawk would not have been enough for us, in terms of fighting.

‘Ko pana te, lāpa, gocaro sako pettiko visayo’ti?

But what is your territory, your ancestral domain?

‘Yadidaṁ—naṅgalakaṭṭhakaraṇaṁ leḍḍuṭṭhānan’ti.

That is: plowing and harrowing the fields.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi sake bale apatthaddhā sake bale asaṁvadamānā lāpaṁ sakuṇaṁ pamuñci: ‘gaccha kho tvaṁ, lāpa, tatrapi me gantvā na mokkhasī’ti.

Then the hawk, not feeling confident in its own strength, not finding a way to argue, released the bird: Go then, bird, even there you will not escape me.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, lāpo sakuṇo naṅgalakaṭṭhakaraṇaṁ leḍḍuṭṭhānaṁ gantvā mahantaṁ leḍḍuṁ abhiruhitvā sakuṇagghiṁ vadamāno aṭṭhāsi: ‘ehi kho dāni me, sakuṇagghi, ehi kho dāni me, sakuṇagghī’ti.

Then the bird went to the plowing and harrowing fields, climbed a large clod, and stood challenging the hawk: Come now to me, hawk, come now to me, hawk.

Atha kho sā, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi sake bale apatthaddhā sake bale asaṁvadamānā ubho pakkhe sannayha lāpaṁ sakuṇaṁ sahasā ajjhappattā.

Then she the hawk, not feeling confident in its own strength, not finding a way to argue, suddenly seized both sides of the bird.

Yadā kho, bhikkhave, aññāsi lāpo sakuṇo ‘bahuāgato kho myāyaṁ sakuṇagghī’ti, atha tasseva leḍḍussa antaraṁ paccupādi.

When the bird realized the hawk has come too close to me, it immediately slipped into the gap of that very clod.

Atha kho, bhikkhave, sakuṇagghi tattheva uraṁ paccatāḷesi.

Then the hawk crashed right there.

Evañhi taṁ, bhikkhave, hoti yo agocare carati paravisaye.

Thus it happens to one who roams in foreign territories.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, mā agocare carittha paravisaye.

Therefore do not roam in foreign territories.

Agocare, bhikkhave, carataṁ paravisaye lacchati māro otāraṁ, lacchati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

For those who roam in foreign territories Mara finds an opportunity, Mara finds a foothold.

Ko ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno agocaro paravisayo?

And what is the foreign territory for a disciple?

Yadidaṁ—pañca kāmaguṇā.

That is: the five strands of sense satisfaction.

Katame pañca?

What five?

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā, sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe…

Forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, endearing, associated with sense satisfaction, and enticing, sounds cognizable by the ear...

ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …pe…

smells cognizable by the nose...

jivhāviññeyyā rasā …pe…

tastes cognizable by the tongue...

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā— ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno agocaro paravisayo.

tactile objects cognizable by the body that are wished for, desirable, agreeable, endearing, associated with sense satisfaction, and enticing:

Gocare, bhikkhave, caratha sake pettike visaye.

This is the foreign territory for a disciple.

Roam in your own territory, in your ancestral domain, disciples.

Gocare, bhikkhave, carataṁ sake pettike visaye na lacchati māro otāraṁ, na lacchati māro ārammaṇaṁ.

For those who roam in their own territory, in their ancestral domain Mara does not find an opportunity, Mara does not find a foothold.

Ko ca, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno gocaro sako pettiko visayo?

And what is the disciple's own territory, his ancestral domain?

Yadidaṁ— cattāro satipaṭṭhānā.

That is: the four dwellings of mindfulness.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ; vedanāsu …pe…

Here a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away craving and aversion for the world; in feelings...

citte …pe…

in mind...

dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ— ayaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno gocaro sako pettiko visayo”ti. Chaṭṭhaṁ.

in phenomena he dwells contemplating phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away craving and aversion for the world:

This is the disciple's own territory, his ancestral domain.