Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
45. Magga Saṃyutta
1. Avijjā Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
45. Kindred Sayings on the Way
1. On Ignorance
Sutta 4
Brāhmaṇa Suttaṃ
The Brahmin
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.[1]
Then the venerable Ānanda,
robing himself in the forenoon
and taking bowl and outer robe,
entered Sāvatthī
on his begging round.
Now the venerable Ānanda saw Jānussoni,[2] the brahmin, driving out of Sāvatthī in his car,
drawn by pure white mares.[3]
White were the steeds harnessed thereto
and white the trappings,
white the car.
White were the fittings,
white the reins,
the goad,
the canopy,
his turban,
his clothes
and sandals,
and by a white fan
was he fanned.
And when folk beheld it they cried out:
"Aha!
There's the best of cars!
There's the best of cars for beauty!"
Now the venerable Ānanda,
after going his begging round,
came back and ate his meal
and went to visit the Exalted One,
came to him,
saluted him
and sat down at one side.
So seated
he said this to the Exalted One:
"Here, lord, robing myself in the forenoon
and taking bowl and outer robe,
I entered Sāvatthī on my begging round.
Then, lord, I saw Jānussoni, the brahmin,
driving out of Sāvatthī in his car,
drawn by pure white mares.
White were the steeds harnessed thereto
and white the trappings,
white the car.
White were the fittings,
white the reins,
the goad,
the canopy,
his turban,
his clothes
and sandals,
and by a white fan
was he fanned.
And when folk beheld it they cried out:
'Aha!
There's the best[4] of cars!
There's the best of cars for beauty!'
Pray, lord, can one point out
the best of cars in this Norm and discipline?"
"One can, Ānanda,"
said the Exalted One.
"'Best of cars,' Ānanda, is a term that may be applied
to this very Ariyan eightfold way -
'best of cars,'
'Norm-car,'[5]
'unsurpassed for its conquest in the fight.'[6]
[5] Right view, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right aim, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right speech, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right action, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right living, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right effort, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right mindfulness, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
Right concentration, Ānanda,
if cultivated and made much of,
ends in the restraint of lust,
ends in the restraint of hatred,
ends in the restraint of illusion.
By this method, Ānanda,
you are to understand the words
'best of cars,'
'Norm car,'
'unsurpassed for its conquest in the fight,'
are terms that may be applied
to this same Ariyan eightfold path."
Thus spake the Exalted One.
So saying, the Happy One added this further as Teacher:
Whoso hath Faith and Wisdom, - these two states
For ever yoked together lead him on:
Conscience the pole, and Mind the yoke thereof,
And Heedfulness his watchful charioteer.
The car is furnished forth with Righteousness,
Rapture its axle, Energy its wheels,
And Calm, yokefellow of the balanced mind,
Desirelessness[7] the drapery thereof,
Goodwill and Harmlessness his weapons are,
Together with Detachment of the mind.
Endurance is his leathern coat of mail:[8]
And to attain the Peace this car rolls on.
'Tis built by self, by one's own self becometh
This best of cars, unconquerable (in battle).
Seated therein the sages leave the world,
And verily they win the victory.[9]
[1] Nidanaṇ, source? See Mrs. Rhys Davids's remarks in the Introduction to Kindred Sayings, Vol. IV, on this subject. I have generally translated 'occasion,' hut there are many instances where the word does seem to mean 'source' (nidhāna), or at any rate 'centre.'
[2] Cf. K.S. ii, n,; [But ?, no page or sutta #] A. i, 36. [again ?; pg. 56?]
[3] Four, according to Comy. The fittings were of silver.
[4] Brahma = seṭṭha. Comy.
[5] Cf. S. i, 33; K.S. i, 45; S. iv, 291; K.S. iv, 199.
[6] 'With the passions.' Comy.
[7] Text anicchā; Comy. aniñja.
[8] Text dhamma-sannāho. Comys. vary between camma and vamma (both meaning armour).
[9] Cf. the other chariot-simile, K.S. i, 45.
