Brahmins

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

[315]

[1] THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.

Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.

The Exalted One said:

"Monks, the brahmins proclaim this practice
which leads to prosperity:
they instruct their disciples in it thus:

'Come, good fellow!

Rise up betimes
and go facing east.

Don't avoid a hole,^[1]
a village pool
or cess-pit.

You should go to meet your death^[2]
wherever you may fall.

Thus, good fellow,
on the break up of body,
after death
you will be reborn in the Happy Lot,
in the Heaven World.'

■

But, monks, this practice of the brahmins
is the way of fools,
it is the way of infatuation.

It conduces not to revulsion,
to dispassion,
to cessation,
to calm,
to full comprehension,
to the wisdom,
it conduces not to Nibbāna.

■

Now, monks, I too proclaim,
in the Ariyan discipline,
a practice which leads to prosperity,
but it is one which con- [316] duces to downright revulsion,
dispassion,
cessation
to calm,
to full comprehension,
to the wisdom,
to Nibbāna.

And what sort of practice
is that which so leads?

Herein, monks, the Ariyan disciple has
unwavering loyalty to the Buddha,
thus:

'He it is the Exalted One,
Arahant,
a fully Enlightened One,
perfect in knowledge and practice,
a Happy One,
world-knower,
unsurpassed charioteer
of men to be tamed,
teacher of devas and mankind,
a Buddha,
an Exalted One.'

He has unwavering loyalty to the Norm,
thus:

'Well proclaimed by the Exalted One
is the Norm,
seen in this very life,
a thing not involving time,
inviting one to come and see,
leading onward,
to be known for themselves
by the wise.'

He has unwavering loyalty to the Order,
thus:

'Walking righteously is the Exalted One's Order,
walking uprightly,
walking in the right way,
walking dutifully
is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples:
namely,
the four pairs of men,
the eight sorts of men.

That is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples.

Worthy of honour are they,
worthy of reverence,
worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutations with clasped hands, -
a field of merit unsurpassed for the world.'

He has virtues dear to the Ariyans,
virtues unbroken,
whole,
unspotted,
untarnished,
giving freedom,
praised by the wise:
virtues untainted (by craving or delusion),
which lead to concentration of the mind.

This, monks, is the practice which leads to prosperity,
one which conduces to downright revulsion,
dispassion,
cessation
to calm,
to full comprehension,
to the wisdom,
to Nibbāna."

^[1] Text has semhaṇ (spittle) for v.l. sombhaṇ, which evidently should be sobbhaṇ.

^[2] Comy. takes this to mean men maraṇaṇ iccheyyāsi.

Saṃyutta Nikāya 5. Mahā-Vagga 55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta 2. Sahassaka or Rājakārama Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings 5. The Great Chapter 55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning 2. Thousandfold or Royal Park

Sutta 12

Brāhmaṇā Suttaṃ

Brahmins

Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
55. Sot'Āpatti Saṃyutta
2. Sahassaka or Rājakārama Vagga

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
55. Kindred Sayings on Streamwinning
2. Thousandfold or Royal Park