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# SN 48.54 · In the Foot (Pade Sutta)
- URL: https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-48-54/
- Published: 2026-06-20T01:21:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-13T16:55:59.000Z
- Description: Saṁyutta Nikāya · SN 48.54. Translated by Maurice O'Connell Walshe.
- Author: Ninth Heaven Literature & Arts Association (NHLAA)
- Tags: Buddhism, Text, Indian, The Buddha, Maurice O'Connell Walshe, Saṁyutta Nikāya, Discourse, English, Early Buddhist, Library, #Import 2026-07-06 06:23, Sutta Piṭaka

"Just as monks, all the foot-characteristics of all jungle creatures\[1\] are combined in the elephant's and the elephant's foot is reckoned chief of them in size, so too, monks, of all the elements\[2\] that conduce to enlightenment the faculty of wisdom\[3\] is reckoned their chief as regards the attainment of enlightenment.

"And which, are those elements that conduce to enlightenment? The faculty of faith, monks, conduces to enlightenment, the faculties of energy, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom conduce to enlightenment.

"Just as, monks, all the foot-characteristics of all jungle creatures are combined in the elephant's foot and the elephant's foot is reckoned chief of them in size, so too, monks, of all the elements that conduce to enlightenment the faculty of wisdom is reckoned chief as regards the attainment of enlightenment."

# Notes

1.

Reverting to *jangalaana.m* in Feer's text, as opposed to Woodward's "creatures as roam about" based on a dubious *jangaman.am* (for *cankamana.m*) of some MSS.

2.

*Padaani* lit. "feet" is an untranslatable pun. *Pada.m* "foot" has even more metaphorical meanings in Pali than the English word: see *Pali-English Dictionary* (PTS).

3.

*Paññindriya*. The fifth of the five "spiritual faculties": 1\. Faith (*saddhaa*), 2\. Energy (*viriya*), 3\. Mindfulness (*sati*), 4\. Concentration (*samaadhi*), 5\. Wisdom (*paññaa*). See *Buddhist Dictionary* (2nd ed., by Ven. Nyaa.natiloka, Ven. Nyaa.naponika, ed., Colombo 1972) s.v. *Indriya* and also *Indriya-samatta*. It will be noticed that these five partly overlap with the seven *bojjhangas* ([SN 46.53](https://www.journal.ninthheaven.co/civilisation/trad-buddhism/sn-46-53/), n. 1).

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*Translated from the Pali by Maurice O'Connell Walshe.* From [Access to Insight](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn48/sn48.054.wlsh.html?ref=journal.ninthheaven.co) (BCBS Edition). Licensed under free distribution only (see source for the specific license) — for free distribution only. Never sold.