Aṇguttara-Nikāya
III. Tika Nipāta
VI. Brāhmaṇa Vagga
The Book of the Gradual Sayings
or
More-Numbered Suttas
III. The Book of the Threes
VI. The Brāhmins
Sutta 51
Paṭhama Dve Brāhmaṇa (Dvejana) Suttaṃ
Two people (a)
Translated from the Pali by
F.L. Woodward, M.A.
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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[1][bodh][than] Thus have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Now two broken-down old brahmins,
aged,
far gone in years,
who had reached life's end,
one hundred and twenty years of age,
came to see the Exalted One.
On coming to him they saluted him and sat down at one side.
As they sat at one side those brahmins said this to the Exalted One:
"We are[1] brahmins, master Gotama,
old brahmins,
aged,
far gone in years,
who have reached life's end,
one hundred and twenty years of age,
but we have done no noble deeds,
no meritorious deeds,
no deeds that can bring assurance to our fears.[2]
Let the worthy Gotama cheer us!
Let the worthy Gotama comfort us,
so that it may be a profit
and a blessing to us
for a long time!"[3]
■
"Indeed you brahmins are old,
aged,
far gone in years,
who have reached life's end,
one hundred and twenty years of age,
but you have done no noble deeds,
no meritorious deeds,
no deeds that can bring assurance to your fears.
Indeed, [139] brahmins,
this world is swept onward
by old age,
by sickness,
by death.
Since this is so,
self-restraint in body,
speech
and thought
(practised) in this life: -
let this be refuge,[4]
cave of shelter,
island of defence,
resting-place
and support
for him who has gone beyond."
Life is swept onward: brief our span of years:
One swept away by eld hath no defence.
Then keep the fear of death before thine eyes,
And do good deeds that lead to happiness.[5]
The self-restraint of body, speech and thought
In this life practised, meritorious deeds,
These make for happiness when one is dead.
[1] Aasu, a strong expletive, which Comy. interprets as 'brāhmiṇs, not men of any other caste.'
[2] Bhīru-ṭṭānā. Cf. A. ii, 174. Lit. 'refuge for the fearful' ( = bhaya-pariyattānā, patiṭṭha-kammaṃ. Comy.).
[3] Cf. K.S. iii, 1.
[4] Lit. peta. Text petasa (for petassa, correct below), explained as paralokaṃ gatassa.
[5] The gāthās are at S. i, 55 (cf. JA. iv, 398, 487). In text the last para, should be printed as verse, both here and in next section.
