14. Ignorance

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“Nāhaṁ, bhikkhave, aññaṁ ekanīvaraṇampi samanupassāmi yena nīvaraṇena nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsaranti yathayidaṁ, bhikkhave, avijjānīvaraṇaṁ.

Avijjānīvaraṇena hi, bhikkhave, nivutā pajā dīgharattaṁ sandhāvanti saṁsarantī”ti.

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca.

Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“Natthañño ekadhammopi,

yenevaṁ nivutā pajā;

Saṁsaranti ahorattaṁ,

yathā mohena āvutā.

Ye ca mohaṁ pahantvāna,

tamokhandhaṁ padālayuṁ;

Na te puna saṁsaranti,

hetu tesaṁ na vijjatī”ti.

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Catutthaṁ.

This was said by the Lord…

“Bhikkhus, I do not perceive any single hindrance other than the hindrance of ignorance by which humankind is so obstructed and for so long a time runs on and wanders in saṁsāra. It is indeed through the hindrance of ignorance that humankind is obstructed and for a long time runs on and wanders in saṁsāra.”

No other single thing exists
Like the hindrance of delusion,
Which so obstructs humankind
And makes it wander on forever.

Those who have abandoned delusion,
Cleaving through this mass of darkness,
No longer roam and wander on;
In them the cause is found no more.