Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Viriyapāramī: [f.] The Perfection of Energy; the Perfection of Heroic Effort. Formed by viriya (energy, vigor, effort) + pāramī (perfection).
Orthodox Definition
Viriya-pāramī is the fifth of the Ten Perfections. It represents the absolute, unyielding, heroic striving required to endure the trillions of lifetimes across saṃsāra necessary to achieve Omniscience.
This perfection is characterized by a refusal to surrender to laziness, despair, or the immensity of the task. The commentaries define its function as the continuous uplifting of associated mental states, ensuring they do not collapse under the weight of suffering. The Bodhisatta’s energy is not a frantic, worldly ambition, but a steady, unbreakable resolve: “Let only skin, sinews, and bone remain, let the flesh and blood dry up, I will not stop until I have attained what can be attained by manly strength.”
Quote
5. upaññātasuttaṃ
“5. The Known Sutta”‘‘dvinnāhaṃ, bhikkhave, dhammānaṃ upaññāsiṃ – yā ca asantuṭṭhitā kusalesu dhammesu, yā ca appaṭivānitā padhānasmiṃ.
“I have known two things, bhikkhus—the dissatisfaction with wholesome states, and the unflagging effort in exertion.”appaṭivānī sudāhaṃ, bhikkhave, padahāmi – ‘kāmaṃ taco ca nhāru ca aṭṭhi ca avasissatu, sarīre upasussatu maṃsalohitaṃ, yaṃ taṃ purisathāmena purisavīriyena purisaparakkamena pattabbaṃ na taṃ apāpuṇitvā vīriyassa saṇṭhānaṃ bhavissatī’ti.
“Unflagging, bhikkhus, I exerted myself, thinking: ‘Let my skin, sinews, and bones remain; let my flesh and blood dry up in my body; but there will be no cessation of effort until I have attained what is to be attained by human strength, human energy, human endeavor.’”tassa mayhaṃ, bhikkhave, appamādādhigatā sambodhi, appamādādhigato anuttaro yogakkhemo.
“Through diligence, bhikkhus, I attained enlightenment; through diligence, I attained the unsurpassed security from bondage (yogakkhema).”— Upaññāta Sutta (AN 2.5)
Textual References
- Sutta: Upaññāta Sutta (AN 2.5) – The Buddha describes the two factors that led to his own awakening: dissatisfaction with wholesome states and unflagging effort in exertion.
- Canonical: Mahājanaka Jātaka (No. 539) – The archetypal story of energy, where the Bodhisatta, shipwrecked in the middle of the ocean, swims continuously for seven days without seeing a shore, purely out of the duty of heroic effort.
- Commentary: Paramatthadīpanī (Treatise on the Pāramīs) – Explaining how energy prevents the other nine perfections from collapsing.