The Sabbath With Eight Factors, In BriefSaṅkhittūposathasutta

So I have heard.Evaṁ me sutaṁ— At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants,Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “Mendicants!”“bhikkhavo”ti.

“Venerable sir,” they replied.“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. The Buddha said this:Bhagavā etadavoca:

“Mendicants, the observance of the sabbath with its eight factors is very fruitful and beneficial and dazzling and bountiful.“Aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato, bhikkhave, uposatho upavuttho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro. And how should it be observed?Kathaṁ upavuttho ca, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro? It’s when a noble disciple reflects:Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako iti paṭisañcikkhati: ‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. They are scrupulous and kind, and live full of sympathy for all living beings.‘yāvajīvaṁ arahanto pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā nihitadaṇḍā nihitasatthā lajjī dayāpannā, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampino viharanti. I, too, for this day and night will give up killing living creatures, renouncing the rod and the sword. I’ll be scrupulous and kind, and live full of sympathy for all living beings.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ pāṇātipātaṁ pahāya pāṇātipātā paṭivirato nihitadaṇḍo nihitasattho lajjī dayāpanno, sabbapāṇabhūtahitānukampī viharāmi. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its first factor.Iminā paṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up stealing. They take only what’s given, and expect only what’s given. They keep themselves clean by not thieving.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭiviratā dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharanti. I, too, for this day and night will give up stealing. I’ll take only what’s given, and expect only what’s given. I’ll keep myself clean by not thieving.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ adinnādānaṁ pahāya adinnādānā paṭivirato dinnādāyī dinnapāṭikaṅkhī, athenena sucibhūtena attanā viharāmi. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its second factor.Iminā dutiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up unchastity. They are chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārino ārācārino viratā methunā gāmadhammā. I, too, for this day and night will give up unchastity. I will be chaste, set apart, refraining from the vulgar act of sex.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ abrahmacariyaṁ pahāya brahmacārī ārācārī virato methunā gāmadhammā. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its third factor.Iminā tatiyena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up lying. They speak the truth and stick to the truth. They’re honest and dependable, and don’t trick the world with their words.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭiviratā saccavādino saccasandhā thetā paccayikā avisaṁvādako lokassa. I, too, for this day and night will give up lying. I’ll speak the truth and stick to the truth. I’ll be honest and dependable, and won’t trick the world with my words.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ musāvādaṁ pahāya musāvādā paṭivirato saccavādī saccasandho theto paccayiko avisaṁvādako lokassa. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its fourth factor.Iminā catutthena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. I, too, for this day and night will give up intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its fifth factor.Iminā pañcamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night and from food at the wrong time.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto ekabhattikā rattūparatā viratā vikālabhojanā. I, too, for this day and night will eat in one part of the day, abstaining from eating at night and food at the wrong time.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ ekabhattiko rattūparato virato vikālabhojanā. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its sixth factor.Iminā chaṭṭhena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up seeing shows of dancing, singing, and music; and attiring and adorning themselves with garlands, fragrance, and makeup.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. I, too, for this day and night will give up seeing shows of dancing, singing, and music; and attiring and adorning myself with garlands, fragrance, and makeup.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānaṁ pahāya naccagītavāditavisūkadassanamālāgandhavilepanadhāraṇamaṇḍanavibhūsanaṭṭhānā paṭivirato. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its seventh factor.Iminā sattamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

‘As long as they live, the perfected ones give up high and luxurious beds. They sleep in a low place, either a cot or a grass mat.‘Yāvajīvaṁ arahanto uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭiviratā nīcaseyyaṁ kappenti—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. I, too, for this day and night will give up high and luxurious beds. I’ll sleep in a low place, either a cot or a grass mat.Ahampajja imañca rattiṁ imañca divasaṁ uccāsayanamahāsayanaṁ pahāya uccāsayanamahāsayanā paṭivirato nīcaseyyaṁ kappemi—mañcake vā tiṇasanthārake vā. I will observe the sabbath by doing as the perfected ones do in this respect.’Imināpaṅgena arahataṁ anukaromi, uposatho ca me upavuttho bhavissatī’ti. This is its eighth factor.Iminā aṭṭhamena aṅgena samannāgato hoti.

The observance of the sabbath with its eight factors in this way is very fruitful and beneficial and dazzling and bountiful.”Evaṁ upavuttho kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭhaṅgasamannāgato uposatho mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṁso mahājutiko mahāvipphāro”ti.