Anguttara Nikaya

AN 5.140 Sota Sutta (Attentive Listener) AN 5.140

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The Numerical Discourses: Book V: Suttas 131-140: "The Section on Kings." (Duration: 1:06:52)

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AN 5.140
Sota Sutta
“Attentive Listener”
Translated by Bhikkhu Candana

Bhikkhus, by possessing these five things, the king’s bull elephant becomes worthy,
suitable, and fit to be in the king’s royal services, proudly considered as a symbol of kingship.
What are these five?

Here, Bhikkhus, the king’s bull elephant listens attentively; he is a destroyer; he is a protector; he
patiently endures and is one who courageously marches forward.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the king’s elephant listen attentively?

Here, Bhikkhus, the king’s bull elephant calls to mind whatever the elephant trainer has trained
him to do; whether that training was given earlier or not, the king’s bull elephant listens carefully
and attentively, heeding it, directing his mind to what was said, as he recalls everything. In this
manner, the king's bull elephant listens attentively.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the king’s bull elephant become a destroyer?

Here, Bhikkhus, when the king’s bull elephant has gone to the battlefield, he destroys the
enemy’s elephants, their riders, horses, riders on horses, battle chariots, and their charioteers,
along with the foot soldiers. In this manner, the king's bull elephant is a destroyer.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the king’s bull elephant become a protector?
Here, Bhikkhus, when the king’s bull elephant has gone to the battlefield, he protects the front
part of his body, the hind part of his body, his front legs, his hind legs, his head, his ears, his
tusks, his trunk, his tail, and the rider on his back. In this manner, the king's bull elephant is a
protector.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the king’s bull elephant patiently endure?

Here, Bhikkhus, when the king’s bull elephant has gone to the battlefield, he endures blows from
long spears, swords, arrows, and thrown axes; he endures the sounds of large deafening drums
and conches, and the pouring of heated liquids. In this manner, the king's bull elephant patiently
endures.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the king’s bull elephant courageously march forward?

Here, Bhikkhus, in whatever direction the elephant trainer sends him, the king's bull elephant
goes in the direction or region his trainer sends him to, whether having gone there before or not,

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he goes in the direction and region and does so quietly. In this manner, the king's bull elephant
courageously marches forward.
Therefore, by possessing these five things, the king’s bull elephant becomes worthy, suitable,
and fit to be in the king’s royal services, proudly considered as a symbol of kingship.

In the same manner, Bhikkhus, by possessing these five traits, a Bhikkhu becomes worthy of
gifts, deserving of offerings, qualified to receive hospitality, well-suited to receive reverential
salutations with one’s palms at the heart, and fit to be called the “unsurpassed field of merits for
the world.” What are these five?

Here, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu listens attentively; he is a destroyer; he is a protector; he patiently
endures; and is one who courageously marches forward.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the Bhikkhu listen attentively?

Here, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu recalls whatever teaching he has heard in the Dhamma and
Discipline as taught by the Tathāgata, while he carefully and attentively listens to the Dhamma,
heeding it, and directing his mind to what was said, as he recalls everything. In this manner, the
Bhikkhu listens attentively.

And how Bhikkhus, does the Bhikkhu become a destroyer?

Here, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu does not entertain nor hold on to any arisen sensual thoughts, and
instead he quickly removes his attention from them, as he dispels and destroys them by not
allowing them to arise again.
Also, the Bhikkhu does not entertain nor hold on to any arisen angry thoughts, and instead he
quickly removes his attention from them, as he dispels and destroys them by not allowing them
to arise again.
Further, the Bhikkhu does not entertain nor hold on to any arisen harmful thoughts, and instead
he quickly removes his attention from them, as he dispels and destroys them by not allowing
them to arise again.
Further, the Bhikkhu does not entertain nor hold on to any arisen evil thoughts, and instead he
quickly removes his attention from them, as he dispels and destroys them by not allowing them
to arise again. In this manner, the Bhikkhu becomes a destroyer.

And how, Bhikkhus, does the Bhikkhu become a protector?

Here, Bhikkhus, whenever the Bhikkhu happens to see a visible object with his eyes, he does not
allow himself to get pulled into nor grab onto its details or specific features, for he knows
perfectly well, that if he were to leave his eye faculty uncontrolled, then vile and dreadful
unwholesome states of mind of longing and sorrow would soon overwhelm him, and because of
this clear understanding, the Bhikkhu practices restraint.

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Similarly, whenever he happens to hear an audible sound with his ears, he does not allow himself
to get pulled into nor grab onto its details or specific features, for he knows perfectly well, that if
he were to leave his ear faculty uncontrolled, then vile and dreadful unwholesome states of mind
of longing and sorrow would soon overwhelm him, and because of this clear understanding, the
Bhikkhu practices restraint.
Similarly, whenever he happens to smell an odor with his nose, he does not allow himself to get
pulled into nor grab onto its details or specific features, for he knows perfectly well, that if he
were to leave his nose faculty uncontrolled, then vile and dreadful unwholesome states of mind
of longing and sorrow would soon overwhelm him, and because of this clear understanding, the
Bhikkhu practices restraint.
Similarly, whenever he happens to taste a flavor with his tongue, he does not allow himself to get
pulled into nor grab onto its details or specific features, for he knows perfectly well, that if he
were to leave his tongue faculty uncontrolled, then vile and dreadful unwholesome states of mind
of longing and sorrow would soon overwhelm him, and because of this clear understanding, the
Bhikkhu practices restraint.
Similarly, whenever he happens to touch a tactile object with his body, he does not allow himself
to get pulled into nor grab onto its details or specific features, for he knows perfectly well, that if
he were to leave his body faculty uncontrolled, then vile and dreadful unwholesome states of
mind of longing and sorrow would soon overwhelm him, and because of this clear
understanding, the Bhikkhu practices restraint.
And similarly, whenever he happens to think about a cognizable thought or memory with his
mind, he does not allow himself to get pulled into nor grab onto its details or specific features,
for he knows perfectly well, that if he were to leave his mind faculty uncontrolled, then vile and
dreadful unwholesome states of mind of longing and sorrow would soon overwhelm him, and
because of this clear understanding, the Bhikkhu practices restraint. In this manner, the Bhikkhu
becomes a protector.
And how, Bhikkhus, does the Bhikkhu patiently endure?

Here, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu patiently endures the cold, heat, hunger, thirst, the sting of yellow
flies, mosquitoes, gadflies, creeping things, the wind, and the scorching sun, as well as
withstanding the painful feelings resulting from derogatory and harsh words spoken to him. He
also patiently bears the arisen painful bodily feelings that are sharp, excruciating, and difficult to
face, and that drain one of physical vitality, causing life to end. In this manner, the Bhikkhu is
one who patiently endures.

And how Bhikkhus, is the Bhikkhu one who courageously marches forward?

Here, Bhikkhus, the Bhikkhu quickly goes in whatever direction or region, which he had never
gone to before, even though having traversed in vast existences throughout the beginning-less
time. Thus, he traverses into the uncharted territories of stilling all mental conjurings, the giving

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up and relinquishment of all acquisitions, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, and
Nibbāna. It is in this manner that the Bhikkhu courageously marches forward.
Thus, Bhikkhus, by possessing these five traits, a Bhikkhu becomes worthy of gifts, deserving of
offerings, qualified to receive hospitality, well-suited to receive reverential salutations with one’s
palms at the heart, and fit to be called the “unsurpassed field of merits for the world.”

Sadhu

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