The Nikaṇṭha Sutta
On the Three Purifications (Nijjarā-visuddhi)
[514] Once, the Venerable Ānanda (ānanda) was staying in the Gabled Hall (Kūṭāgāra-sālā) in the Great Wood (Mahāvana) near Vesālī. At that time, Prince Abhaya the Licchavi (abhaya licchavi) and Prince Paṇḍitakumāra the Licchavi came to visit him. After paying homage to Venerable Ānanda, they sat respectfully to one side.
Prince Abhaya said:
“Venerable sir, Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta (nigaṇṭha nāṭaputta) claims to be omniscient (sabbaññū) and all-seeing (sabbadassāvī). He asserts an unbroken knowledge-and-vision (ñāṇa-dassana), saying:
‘Whether walking, standing, sleeping, or awake, I possess constant and uninterrupted knowledge-and-vision.’
He teaches that old kamma is exhausted by austerity (tapa), that new kamma ceases through non-doing, and thus:
- when kamma ends, suffering ends;
- when suffering ends, feeling ends;
- and when feeling ends, all suffering is entirely worn away.
He calls this the attainment of liberation through purification by attrition (nijjarā-visuddhi), which is directly visible (sanditthika).
Venerable sir, how does the Blessed One teach regarding this in the Dhamma and Discipline?”
Ānanda’s Reply
Venerable Ānanda said:
“Prince Abhaya, the three purifications by attrition (nijjarā-visuddhi) have been well taught by the Blessed One — the One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Fully Enlightened One — for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the fading away of bodily and mental suffering, for the attainment of true Dhamma, for the realization of Nibbāna.
And what are these three purifications?
1. Purification through Virtue (sīla-nijjarā-visuddhi)
Here, a bhikkhu in this Dhamma and Discipline is endowed with virtue (sīla) … undertaking and training in the precepts. Such a bhikkhu does not create new kamma, and he allows old kamma to wear away.
This purification is:
- directly visible (sanditthika)
- immediate / not delayed (akālika)
- inviting inspection (ehipassika)
- leading inward (opanayika)
- to be realized individually by the wise (paccattaṃ veditabbaṃ viññūhi).
2. Purification through Concentration (samādhi-nijjarā-visuddhi)
Endowed with such virtue, he becomes secluded from sensual pleasures … secluded from unwholesome qualities, and enters the first jhāna (paṭhama-jhāna) … up to the fourth jhāna (catuttha-jhāna).
He does not create new kamma, and he allows old kamma to wear away.
This purification too is directly visible, immediate, inviting inspection, leading inward, to be realized individually by the wise.
3. Purification through Liberation (vimutti-nijjarā-visuddhi)
Endowed with such virtue and such concentration, he realizes for himself — with higher wisdom — the taint-free liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and the taint-free liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti), in this very life.
Having destroyed the taints (āsava), he does not create new kamma, and he allows old kamma to wear away.
This purification as well is directly visible, immediate, inviting inspection, leading inward, and individually realized by the wise.
Conclusion
“These, Prince Abhaya, are the three purifications by attrition (nijjarā-visuddhi) well taught by the Blessed One — for the purification of beings … and for the realization of Nibbāna.”
When Venerable Ānanda had finished teaching, Prince Paṇḍitakumāra said to Prince Abhaya:
“Friend Abhaya, will you not praise Venerable Ānanda’s excellent exposition?”
Prince Abhaya replied:
“Friend, how could I not praise Venerable Ānanda’s good teaching? Whoever does not approve his excellent words — his head would split open.”
End of the Fourth Nikaṇṭha Sutta.
Short Pāli Glossary (concise, intensive)
- Nijjarā-visuddhi — “purification by attrition”; the wearing away of old kamma without creating new.
- Sīla / samādhi / paññā — virtue, concentration, wisdom.
- Jhana (jhāna) — meditative absorption in four stages.
- Cetovimutti — liberation of mind (defilement-free).
- Paññāvimutti — liberation through wisdom.
- Sabbadassāvī / sabbaññū — all-seeing / all-knowing.
- Ñāṇa-dassana — knowledge-and-vision; direct knowing and seeing.
- Tapa — austerity; severe ascetic practices of the Nigaṇṭhas.
- Sanditthika / akālika / ehipassika / opanayika / paccattaṃ veditabbaṃ — qualities of the Dhamma: visible here-and-now, timeless, inviting inspection, to be brought inward, individually realized.
- Āsava — taints: sensuality, becoming, wrong views, ignorance.