Mahākhandhako The Great Chapter - Ancient Buddhist Texts

I. The First Teachings - 39
appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvino viharante.
and (only) some who dwelt seeing danger in what is blameworthy and in the next
world. 89
Seyyathā pi nāma uppaliniyaṁ vā paduminiyaṁ vā puṇḍarīkiniyaṁ vā
Just as with water-lilies or lotuses or white lotuses
appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā,
some of those water-lilies or lotuses or white lotuses,
udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakānuggatāni anto nimuggaposīni,
born in the water, flourishing in the water, not rising above water, are nourished
from inside the depths,
appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā,
some of those water-lilies or lotuses or white lotuses,
udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni samodakaṁ ṭhitāni,
born in the water, flourishing in the water, stand level with the water,
appekaccāni uppalāni vā padumāni vā puṇḍarīkāni vā,
some of those water-lilies or lotuses or white lotuses,
udake jātāni udake saṁvaḍḍhāni udakā accuggamma tiṭṭhanti,
born in the water, flourishing in the water, stand above the water,
anupalittāni udakena.
and are untouched by the water. 90
Evam-eva Bhagavā Buddhacakkhunā lokaṁ volokento addasa
Even so while looking around the world with his Buddha-eye the Gracious One saw
satte apparajakkhe mahārajakkhe tikkhindriye mudindriye,
beings having little dust on the eyes, having great dust on the eyes, having sharp
faculties, having undeveloped faculties,
svākāre dvākāre suviññāpaye duviññāpaye,
having good conditions, having poor conditions, easy to instruct, hard to instruct,
appekacce paralokavajjabhayadassāvino viharante,
and (only) some who dwelt seeing danger in what is blameworthy and in the next
world,
89 So explained by the Commentary: paralokañ-ca vajjañ-ca bhayato passanti.
90 The simile offered here gives three possibilities: being below, level with and above the
water, but the text it illustrates offers only two: being with or without dust on the eyes, etc.
which is curious.