Aṅguttara Nikāya
X. Dasaka-Nipāta
XVII: Jāṇussoṇi-Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
X. The Book of the Tens
XVII: Jāṇussoṇi
Sutta 167
Brāhmaṇa Pacc'Orohaṇī Suttaɱ
The Ariyan Descent (c)[1]
Translated from the Pali by F. L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] THUS have I heard:
Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.
Now on that occasion the brāhmin Jāṇussoṇi,
the day being the sabbath,
having washed his head
and put on a fresh pair of linen cloths,
holding a handful of wet kusa grass,
was standing aside
not far from the Exalted One.
And the Exalted One saw the brāhmin Jāṇussoṇi
this sabbath day,
having washed his head
and put on a fresh pair of linen cloths,
thus standing aside
holding a handful of wet hum grass,
and on seeing him said this:
"How is it, brāhmin, that you
on this sabbath day,
having washed your head
and put on a fresh pair of linen cloths,
thus stand aside
holding a handful of wet hum grass?"
"Today, Master Gotama,
is the (ceremony of) descent
of the brāhmin clan."
■
"In what manner, brāhmin,
is this descent?"
"Herein, Master Gotama,
it being the sabbath,
brāhmins wash the head,
put on a fresh pair of cloths,
smear the floor with wet cowdung,
strew it with wet husa grass,
and make their bed
between the boundary and the fire-house.
Rising up thrice in that night,
with clasped hands
they do homage to fire,
saying:
'We come down to your worship,
we come down to your worship!'
Then they feed the fire
with oblation of oil
of butter
and fresh butter.
When the night has passed
they feed brāhmins
with choice food
both hard and soft.
Thus, Master Gotama,
is the descent of the brāhmins."
■
"Brāhmin, the descent (ceremony) of the brāhmins is one thing,
the descent by the discipline of the Ariyan
is quite another thing."
"Pray, Master Gotama,
in what way is the descent by the discipline of the Ariyan done?
Well for me
if the worthy Gotama would teach me dhamma
as to the descent by the discipline of the Ariyan."
"Then, brāhmin, do you listen."
"I will, master,"
replied the brāhmin Jāṇussoṇi[2] to the Exalted One,
who said:
§
"In this matter, brāhmin, the Ariyan disciple thus ponders:
'Of the act of taking life
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons taking life,
he descends from taking life.
■
'Of taking what is not given
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons taking what is not given,
he descends from taking what is not given.
■
'Of wrong conduct in things sexual
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons wrong conduct in things sexual,
he descends from wrong conduct in things sexual.
■
'Of falsehood
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons falsehood,
he descends from falsehood.
■
'Of spiteful speech
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons spiteful speech,
he descends from spiteful speech.
■
'Of bitter speech
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons bitter speech,
he descends from bitter speech.
■
'Of idle babble
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons idle babble,
he descends from idle babble.
■
'Of coveting
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons coveting,
he descends from coveting.
■
'Of harmfulness
the ripening is evil
both in this same visible state
and in that to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons harmfulness,
he descends from harmfulness.
■
'Of wrong view
the ripening is evil,
both in this same visible state
and in the state to come.'
Thus pondering
he abandons wrong view,
he descends from wrong view.
Thus, brāhmin, is the descent
by the discipline of the Ariyan."
§
"Indeed, Master Gotama,
one thing is the descent of the brāhmins,
quite another thing is the descent
by the discipline of the Ariyan.
Why, Master Gotama,
compared with the descent by the discipline of the Ariyan
that of the brāhmins is not worth one sixteenth part of it.[3]
[172] It is excellent, Master Gotama!
It is excellent, Master Gotama!
It is as if one should raise the fallen,
open up the hidden,
point out the way
to one gone astray,
hold up a shining light
so that they who have eyes
may see objects.
Thus has dhamma been expounded in divers ways by the worthy Gotama.
I myself, worthy Gotama,
do go for resort to the awakened one,
to dhamma
and to the order of monks.
Let the worthy Gotama reckon me as a lay-follower
from this day forth,
so long as life shall last,
as one who has gone to him as resort."
[1] There are no more uddānas till the Elevens. I have therefore given titles to suit the context.
[2] Cf. above, §119.
