AN 8.11 · At Verañjā
AN 8.11 · Verañjasutta
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in Verañjā at the root of a neem tree dedicated to Naḷeru. Then the brahmin Verañja went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā verañjāyaṁ viharati naḷerupucimandamūle. Atha kho verañjo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho verañjo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Worthy Gotama, I have heard that the ascetic Gotama doesn’t bow to old brahmins, the elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat. And this is indeed the case, for the worthy Gotama does not bow to old brahmins, elderly and senior, who are advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; nor does he rise in their presence or offer them a seat. This is not appropriate, worthy Gotama.”
“Sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama: ‘na samaṇo gotamo brāhmaṇe jiṇṇe vuḍḍhe mahallake addhagate vayoanuppatte abhivādeti vā paccuṭṭheti vā āsanena vā nimantetī’ti. Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, tatheva. Na hi bhavaṁ gotamo brāhmaṇe jiṇṇe vuḍḍhe mahallake addhagate vayoanuppatte abhivādeti vā paccuṭṭheti vā āsanena vā nimanteti. Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, na sampannamevā”ti.
“Brahmin, I don’t see anyone in this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans—for whom I should bow down or rise up or offer a seat. If the Realized One bowed down or rose up or offered a seat to anyone, their head would explode!”
“Nāhaṁ taṁ, brāhmaṇa, passāmi sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya yamahaṁ abhivādeyyaṁ vā paccuṭṭheyyaṁ vā āsanena vā nimanteyyaṁ. Yañhi, brāhmaṇa, tathāgato abhivādeyya vā paccuṭṭheyya vā āsanena vā nimanteyya, muddhāpi tassa vipateyyā”ti.
“Worthy Gotama lacks taste.”
“Arasarūpo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I lack taste. For the Realized One has given up taste for sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. In this sense you could rightly say that I lack taste. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘arasarūpo samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ye te, brāhmaṇa, rūparasā saddarasā gandharasā rasarasā phoṭṭhabbarasā, te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘arasarūpo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is indelicate.”
“Nibbhogo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m indelicate. For the Realized One has given up delight in sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. It’s cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated, and unable to arise in the future. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m indelicate. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘nibbhogo samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ye te, brāhmaṇa, rūpabhogā saddabhogā gandhabhogā rasabhogā phoṭṭhabbabhogā, te tathāgatassa pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘nibbhogo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is a teacher of inaction.”
“Akiriyavādo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m a teacher of inaction. For I teach inaction regarding bad bodily, verbal, and mental conduct, and the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a teacher of inaction. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, akiriyaṁ vadāmi kāyaduccaritassa vacīduccaritassa manoduccaritassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ akiriyaṁ vadāmi. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is a teacher of annihilationism.”
“Ucchedavādo bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m a teacher of annihilationism. For I teach the annihilation of greed, hate, and delusion, and the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a teacher of annihilationism. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, ucchedaṁ vadāmi rāgassa dosassa mohassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ucchedaṁ vadāmi. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is disgusted.”
“Jegucchī bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m disgusted. For I’m disgusted by bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and by attainment of the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m disgusted. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, jigucchāmi kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena; jigucchāmi anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is an exterminator.”
“Venayiko bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m an exterminator. For I teach the extermination of greed, hate, and delusion, and the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m an exterminator. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo’ti. Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi rāgassa dosassa mohassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is a mortifier.”
“Tapassī bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m a mortifier. For I say that bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind should be mortified. I say that a mortifier is someone who has given up unskillful qualities that should be mortified. They’ve cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. The Realized One is someone who has given up unskillful qualities that should be mortified. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a mortifier. But that’s not what you’re talking about.”
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo’ti. Tapanīyāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, pāpake akusale dhamme vadāmi kāyaduccaritaṁ vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ. Yassa kho, brāhmaṇa, tapanīyā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘tapassī’ti vadāmi. Tathāgatassa kho, brāhmaṇa, tapanīyā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesī”ti.
“Worthy Gotama is gutless.”
“Apagabbho bhavaṁ gotamo”ti.
“There is, brahmin, a sense in which you could rightly say that I am gutless. I say that a gutless person is someone who has given up future wombs and regeneration into a new state of existence. They’ve cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. The Realized One has given up future wombs and regeneration into a new state of existence. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. In this sense you could rightly say that I am gutless. But that’s not what you’re talking about.
“Atthi khvesa, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo’ti. Yassa kho, brāhmaṇa, āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘apagabbho’ti vadāmi. Tathāgatassa kho, brāhmaṇa, āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Ayaṁ kho, brāhmaṇa, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo’ti, no ca kho yaṁ tvaṁ sandhāya vadesi.
Suppose, brahmin, there was a chicken with eight or ten or twelve eggs. And she properly sat on them to keep them warm and incubated. Now, the chick that is first to break out of the eggshell with its claws and beak and hatch safely: should that be called the eldest or the youngest?”
Seyyathāpi, brāhmaṇa, kukkuṭiyā aṇḍāni aṭṭha vā dasa vā dvādasa vā. Tānāssu kukkuṭiyā sammā adhisayitāni sammā pariseditāni sammā paribhāvitāni. Yo nu kho tesaṁ kukkuṭacchāpakānaṁ paṭhamataraṁ pādanakhasikhāya vā mukhatuṇḍakena vā aṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā sotthinā abhinibbhijjeyya, kinti svāssa vacanīyo: ‘jeṭṭho vā kaniṭṭho vā’”ti?
“Worthy Gotama, that should be called the eldest. For it is the eldest among them.”
“Jeṭṭho tissa, bho gotama, vacanīyo. So hi nesaṁ, bho gotama, jeṭṭho hotī”ti.
“In the same way, in this population lost in ignorance, swaddled in their shells, I alone have broken open the egg of ignorance and realized the supreme perfect awakening. So, brahmin, I am the eldest and the first in the world.
“Evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, avijjāgatāya pajāya aṇḍabhūtāya pariyonaddhāya avijjaṇḍakosaṁ padāletvā ekova loke anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddho. Ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, jeṭṭho seṭṭho lokassa.
My energy was roused up and unflagging, my mindfulness was established and lucid, my body was tranquil and undisturbed, and my mind was immersed and unified in samādhi. Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, I entered and remained in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected were stilled, I entered and remained in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected. And with the fading away of rapture, I entered and remained in the third absorption, where I meditated with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’ With the giving up of pleasure and pain, and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, I entered and remained in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.
Āraddhaṁ kho pana me, brāhmaṇa, vīriyaṁ ahosi asallīnaṁ, upaṭṭhitā sati asammuṭṭhā, passaddho kāyo asāraddho, samāhitaṁ cittaṁ ekaggaṁ. So kho ahaṁ, brāhmaṇa, vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi; vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi; pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi; sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.
When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward recollection of past lives. I recollected many kinds of past lives. That is: one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, a hundred, a thousand, a hundred thousand rebirths; many eons of the world contracting, many eons of the world expanding, many eons of the world contracting and expanding. I remembered: ‘There, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn somewhere else. There, too, I was named this, my clan was that, I looked like this, and that was my food. This was how I felt pleasure and pain, and that was how my life ended. When I passed away from that place I was reborn here.’ And so I recollected my many kinds of past lives, with features and details.
So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte pubbenivāsānussatiñāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ. So anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi, seyyathidaṁ—ekampi jātiṁ dvepi jātiyo tissopi jātiyo catassopi jātiyo pañcapi jātiyo dasapi jātiyo vīsampi jātiyo tiṁsampi jātiyo cattālīsampi jātiyo paññāsampi jātiyo jātisatampi jātisahassampi jātisatasahassampi anekepi saṁvaṭṭakappe anekepi vivaṭṭakappe anekepi saṁvaṭṭavivaṭṭakappe: ‘amutrāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto. So tato cuto amutra udapādiṁ; tatrāpāsiṁ evaṁnāmo evaṅgotto evaṁvaṇṇo evamāhāro evaṁsukhadukkhappaṭisaṁvedī evamāyupariyanto. So tato cuto idhūpapanno’ti. Iti sākāraṁ sauddesaṁ anekavihitaṁ pubbenivāsaṁ anussarāmi.
This was the first knowledge, which I achieved in the first watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. This was my first breaking out, like a chick breaking out of the eggshell.
Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā paṭhame yāme paṭhamā vijjā adhigatā; avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato. Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, paṭhamā abhinibbhidā ahosi kukkuṭacchāpakasseva aṇḍakosamhā.
When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward knowledge of the death and rebirth of sentient beings. With clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds: ‘These dear beings did bad things by way of body, speech, and mind. They denounced the noble ones; they had wrong view; and they chose to act out of that wrong view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. These dear beings, however, did good things by way of body, speech, and mind. They never denounced the noble ones; they had right view; and they chose to act out of that right view. When their body broke up, after death, they were reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.’ And so, with clairvoyance that is purified and superhuman, I saw sentient beings passing away and being reborn—inferior and superior, beautiful and ugly, in a good place or a bad place. I understood how sentient beings pass on according to their deeds.
So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte sattānaṁ cutūpapātañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ. So dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi: ‘ime vata bhonto sattā kāyaduccaritena samannāgatā, vacīduccaritena samannāgatā, manoduccaritena samannāgatā, ariyānaṁ upavādakā, micchādiṭṭhikā, micchādiṭṭhikammasamādānā. Te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapannāti. Ime vā pana bhonto sattā kāyasucaritena samannāgatā, vacīsucaritena samannāgatā, manosucaritena samannāgatā, ariyānaṁ anupavādakā, sammādiṭṭhikā, sammādiṭṭhikammasamādānā. Te kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapannā’ti. Iti dibbena cakkhunā visuddhena atikkantamānusakena satte passāmi cavamāne upapajjamāne hīne paṇīte suvaṇṇe dubbaṇṇe, sugate duggate yathākammūpage satte pajānāmi.
This was the second knowledge, which I achieved in the middle watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. This was my second breaking out, like a chick breaking out of the eggshell.
Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā majjhime yāme dutiyā vijjā adhigatā; avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato. Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, dutiyā abhinibbhidā ahosi kukkuṭacchāpakasseva aṇḍakosamhā.
When my mind had immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—I extended it toward knowledge of the ending of defilements. I truly understood: ‘This is suffering’ … ‘This is the origin of suffering’ … ‘This is the cessation of suffering’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering’. I truly understood: ‘These are defilements’ … ‘This is the origin of defilements’ … ‘This is the cessation of defilements’ … ‘This is the practice that leads to the cessation of defilements’. Knowing and seeing like this, my mind was freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When it was freed, I knew it was freed.
So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte āsavānaṁ khayañāṇāya cittaṁ abhininnāmesiṁ. So ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ; ‘ime āsavā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ āsavasamudayo’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodho’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ, ‘ayaṁ āsavanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ abbhaññāsiṁ. Tassa me evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccittha. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ ahosi.
I understood: ‘Rebirth is ended; the spiritual journey has been completed; what had to be done has been done; there is nothing further for this place.’
‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti abbhaññāsiṁ.
This was the third knowledge, which I achieved in the last watch of the night. Ignorance was banished and knowledge arose; darkness was banished and light arose, as happens for a meditator who is diligent, keen, and resolute. This was my third breaking out, like a chick breaking out of the eggshell.”
Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, rattiyā pacchime yāme tatiyā vijjā adhigatā; avijjā vihatā vijjā uppannā; tamo vihato āloko uppanno, yathā taṁ appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato. Ayaṁ kho me, brāhmaṇa, tatiyā abhinibbhidā ahosi kukkuṭacchāpakasseva aṇḍakosamhā”ti.
When he said this, the brahmin Verañja said to the Buddha:
Evaṁ vutte, verañjo brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“The worthy Gotama is the eldest! The worthy Gotama is the best! Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, worthy Gotama has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
“jeṭṭho bhavaṁ gotamo, seṭṭho bhavaṁ gotamo. Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
Paṭhamaṁ.
AN 8.12 · With Sīha
AN 8.12 · Sīhasutta
At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Now at that time several very prominent Licchavis were sitting together at the town hall, praising the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha in many ways.
Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī santhāgāre sannisinnā sannipatitā anekapariyāyena buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, dhammassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti.
Now at that time General Sīha, a disciple of the Jains, was sitting in that assembly. He thought, “That Blessed One must without a doubt be a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha. For several very prominent Licchavis are praising the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha in many ways. Why don’t I go to see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”
Tena kho pana samayena sīho senāpati nigaṇṭhasāvako tassaṁ parisāyaṁ nisinno hoti. Atha kho sīhassa senāpatissa etadahosi: “nissaṁsayaṁ kho so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhavissati, tathā hime sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī santhāgāre sannisinnā sannipatitā anekapariyāyena buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, dhammassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti. Yannūnāhaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.
Then General Sīha went to the Jain ascetic of the Ñātika clan and said to him, “Sir, I’d like to go to see the ascetic Gotama.”
Atha kho sīho senāpati yena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ etadavoca: “icchāmahaṁ, bhante, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.
“But Sīha, you believe in the doctrine of action. Why should you go to see the ascetic Gotama, who teaches a doctrine of inaction? For the ascetic Gotama believes in a doctrine of inaction, he teaches inaction, and he guides his disciples in that way.”
“Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, sīha, kiriyavādo samāno akiriyavādaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissasi? Samaṇo hi, sīha, gotamo akiriyavādo, akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī”ti.
Then Sīha’s determination to go and see the Buddha died down.
Atha kho sīhassa senāpatissa yo ahosi gamiyābhisaṅkhāro bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, so paṭippassambhi.
For a second time, several prominent Licchavis were sitting together at the town hall, praising the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha in many ways. And for a second time Sīha thought: “Why don’t I go to see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”
Dutiyampi kho sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī santhāgāre sannisinnā sannipatitā anekapariyāyena buddhassa …pe… dhammassa …pe… saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti. Dutiyampi kho sīhassa senāpatissa etadahosi: “nissaṁsayaṁ kho so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhavissati, tathā hime sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī santhāgāre sannisinnā sannipatitā anekapariyāyena buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, dhammassa …pe… saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti. Yannūnāhaṁ taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.
Then General Sīha went to the Jain Ñātika …
Atha kho sīho senāpati yena nigaṇṭho nāṭaputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā nigaṇṭhaṁ nāṭaputtaṁ etadavoca: “icchāmahaṁ, bhante, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamitun”ti.
“Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, sīha, kiriyavādo samāno akiriyavādaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissasi? Samaṇo hi, sīha, gotamo akiriyavādo akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī”ti.
Then for a second time Sīha’s determination to go and see the Buddha died down.
Dutiyampi kho sīhassa senāpatissa yo ahosi gamiyābhisaṅkhāro bhagavantaṁ dassanāya, so paṭippassambhi.
For a third time, several prominent Licchavis were sitting together at the town hall, praising the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha in many ways. And for a third time Sīha thought, “That Blessed One must without a doubt be a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha. For several very prominent Licchavis are praising the Buddha, his teaching, and the Saṅgha in many ways. What can these Jains do to me, whether I take leave of them or not? Why don’t I, without taking leave of them, go to see that Blessed One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha!”
Tatiyampi kho sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī santhāgāre sannisinnā sannipatitā anekapariyāyena buddhassa …pe… dhammassa …pe… saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti. Tatiyampi kho sīhassa senāpatissa etadahosi: “nissaṁsayaṁ kho so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho bhavissati, tathā hime sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā licchavī santhāgāre sannisinnā sannipatitā anekapariyāyena buddhassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, dhammassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti, saṅghassa vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti. Kiṁ hime karissanti nigaṇṭhā apalokitā vā anapalokitā vā? Yannūnāhaṁ anapaloketvāva nigaṇṭhe taṁ bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkameyyaṁ arahantaṁ sammāsambuddhan”ti.
Then Sīha, with around five hundred chariots, set out from Vesālī in the middle of the day to see the Buddha. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and went by foot. Then General Sīha went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:
Atha kho sīho senāpati pañcamattehi rathasatehi divādivassa vesāliyā niyyāsi bhagavantaṁ dassanāya. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi, yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova agamāsi. Atha kho sīho senāpati yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:
“Sir, I have heard this: ‘The ascetic Gotama believes in a doctrine of inaction, he teaches inaction, and he guides his disciples in that way.’ I trust those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism? For we don’t want to misrepresent the Blessed One.”
“Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti. Ye te, bhante, evamāhaṁsu: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti, kacci te, bhante, bhagavato vuttavādino na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhanti dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaronti na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchati? Anabbhakkhātukāmā hi mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantan”ti.
“There is, Sīha, a sense in which you could rightly say that I believe in inaction, I teach inaction, and I guide my disciples in that way.
“Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I believe in action, I teach action, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘kiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, kiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I believe in annihilationism, I teach annihilation, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo, ucchedāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m disgusted, I teach disgust, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo, jegucchitāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m an exterminator, I teach extermination, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo, vinayāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m a mortifier, I teach mortification, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo, tapassitāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m gutless, I teach gutlessness, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo, apagabbhatāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And there is a sense in which you could rightly say that I’m ambitious, I teach ambition, and I guide my disciples in that way.
Atthi, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘assāsako samaṇo gotamo, assāsāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I believe in inaction, I teach inaction, and I guide my disciples in that way? I teach inaction regarding bad bodily, verbal, and mental conduct, and the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I teach inaction.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Ahañhi, sīha, akiriyaṁ vadāmi kāyaduccaritassa vacīduccaritassa manoduccaritassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ akiriyaṁ vadāmi. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘akiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, akiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I believe in action, I teach action, and I guide my disciples in that way? I teach action regarding good bodily, verbal, and mental conduct, and the many kinds of skillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I teach action.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘kiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, kiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Ahañhi, sīha, kiriyaṁ vadāmi kāyasucaritassa vacīsucaritassa manosucaritassa; anekavihitānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ kiriyaṁ vadāmi. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘kiriyavādo samaṇo gotamo, kiriyāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I believe in annihilationism, I teach annihilation, and I guide my disciples in that way? I teach the annihilation of greed, hate, and delusion, and the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I teach annihilationism.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo, ucchedāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Ahañhi, sīha, ucchedaṁ vadāmi rāgassa dosassa mohassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ucchedaṁ vadāmi. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘ucchedavādo samaṇo gotamo, ucchedāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I’m disgusted, I teach disgust, and I guide my disciples in that way? I’m disgusted by bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind, and by attainment of the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m disgusted.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo, jegucchitāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Ahañhi, sīha, jigucchāmi kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena; jigucchāmi anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘jegucchī samaṇo gotamo, jegucchitāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I’m an exterminator, I teach extermination, and I guide my disciples in that way? I teach the extermination of greed, hate, and delusion, and the many kinds of unskillful things. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m an exterminator.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo, vinayāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Ahañhi, sīha, vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi rāgassa dosassa mohassa; anekavihitānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ vinayāya dhammaṁ desemi. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘venayiko samaṇo gotamo, vinayāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I’m a mortifier, I teach mortification, and I guide my disciples in that way? I say that bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind should be mortified. I say that a mortifier is someone who has given up unskillful qualities that should be mortified. They’ve cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. The Realized One is someone who has given up unskillful qualities that should be mortified. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m a mortifier.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo, tapassitāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Tapanīyāhaṁ, sīha, pāpake akusale dhamme vadāmi kāyaduccaritaṁ vacīduccaritaṁ manoduccaritaṁ. Yassa kho, sīha, tapanīyā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘tapassī’ti vadāmi. Tathāgatassa kho, sīha, tapanīyā pāpakā akusalā dhammā pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘tapassī samaṇo gotamo, tapassitāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I’m gutless, I teach gutlessness, and I guide my disciples in that way? I say that a gutless person is someone who has given up future wombs and rebirth into a new state of existence. They’ve cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. The Realized One has given up future wombs and regeneration into a new state of existence. He has cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them, so that they’re unable to arise in the future. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m gutless.
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo, apagabbhatāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Yassa kho, sīha, āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā, tamahaṁ ‘apagabbho’ti vadāmi. Tathāgatassa kho, sīha, āyatiṁ gabbhaseyyā punabbhavābhinibbatti pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṅkatā āyatiṁ anuppādadhammā. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘apagabbho samaṇo gotamo, apagabbhatāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti.
And what’s the sense in which you could rightly say that I’m ambitious, I teach ambition, and I guide my disciples in that way? I’m ambitious to offer solace, the highest solace, I teach solace, and I guide my disciples in that way. In this sense you could rightly say that I’m ambitious.”
Katamo ca, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘assāsako samaṇo gotamo, assāsāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’ti? Ahañhi, sīha, assāsako paramena assāsena, assāsāya dhammaṁ desemi, tena ca sāvake vinemi. Ayaṁ kho, sīha, pariyāyo, yena maṁ pariyāyena sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘assāsako samaṇo gotamo, assāsāya dhammaṁ deseti, tena ca sāvake vinetī’”ti.
When he said this, General Sīha said to the Buddha, “Excellent, sir! Excellent! From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
Evaṁ vutte, sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bhante, abhikkantaṁ, bhante …pe… upāsakaṁ maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
“Sīha, you should act after careful consideration. It’s good for well-known people such as yourself to act after careful consideration.”
“Anuviccakāraṁ kho, sīha, karohi. Anuviccakāro tumhādisānaṁ ñātamanussānaṁ sādhu hotī”ti.
“Now I’m even more delighted and satisfied with the Buddha, since he tells me to act after careful consideration. For if the followers of other religions were to gain me as a disciple, they’d carry a banner all over Vesālī, saying: ‘General Sīha has become our disciple!’ And yet the Buddha tells me to act after careful consideration. For a second time, I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
“Imināpāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato bhiyyoso mattāya attamano abhiraddho, yaṁ maṁ bhagavā evamāha: ‘anuviccakāraṁ kho, sīha, karohi. Anuviccakāro tumhādisānaṁ ñātamanussānaṁ sādhu hotī’ti. Mañhi, bhante, aññatitthiyā sāvakaṁ labhitvā kevalakappaṁ vesāliṁ paṭākaṁ parihareyyuṁ: ‘sīho amhākaṁ senāpati sāvakattaṁ upagato’ti. Atha ca pana bhagavā evamāha: ‘anuviccakāraṁ, sīha, karohi. Anuviccakāro tumhādisānaṁ ñātamanussānaṁ sādhu hotī’ti. Esāhaṁ, bhante, dutiyampi bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
“For a long time now, Sīha, your family has been a well-spring of support for the Jain ascetics. You should consider giving to them when they come.”
“Dīgharattaṁ kho te, sīha, nigaṇṭhānaṁ opānabhūtaṁ kulaṁ, yena nesaṁ upagatānaṁ piṇḍakaṁ dātabbaṁ maññeyyāsī”ti.
“Now I’m even more delighted and satisfied with the Buddha, since he tells me to consider giving to the Jain ascetics when they come. Sir, I have heard that the ascetic Gotama says this: ‘Gifts should only be given to me, and to my disciples. Only what is given to me is very fruitful, not what is given to others. Only what is given to my disciples is very fruitful, not what is given to the disciples of others.’ Yet the Buddha encourages me to give to the Jain ascetics. Well, sir, we’ll know the proper time for that. For a third time, I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”
“Imināpāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavato bhiyyoso mattāya attamano abhiraddho, yaṁ maṁ bhagavā evamāha: ‘dīgharattaṁ kho te, sīha, nigaṇṭhānaṁ opānabhūtaṁ kulaṁ, yena nesaṁ upagatānaṁ piṇḍakaṁ dātabbaṁ maññeyyāsī’ti. Sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante: ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha— mayhameva dānaṁ dātabbaṁ, mayhameva sāvakānaṁ dātabbaṁ; mayhameva dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ, na aññesaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ; mayhameva sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalaṁ, na aññesaṁ sāvakānaṁ dinnaṁ mahapphalan’ti, atha ca pana maṁ bhagavā nigaṇṭhesupi dāne samādapeti. Api ca, bhante, mayamettha kālaṁ jānissāma. Esāhaṁ, bhante, tatiyampi bhagavantaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ, bhante, bhagavā dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.
Then the Buddha taught Sīha step by step, with a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He revealed the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation. And when the Buddha knew that Sīha’s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he revealed the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye, in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in General Sīha: “Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”
Atha kho bhagavā sīhassa senāpatissa anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathesi, seyyathidaṁ— dānakathaṁ sīlakathaṁ saggakathaṁ, kāmānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ pakāsesi. Yadā bhagavā aññāsi sīhaṁ senāpatiṁ kallacittaṁ muducittaṁ vinīvaraṇacittaṁ udaggacittaṁ pasannacittaṁ, atha yā buddhānaṁ sāmukkaṁsikā dhammadesanā taṁ pakāsesi— dukkhaṁ samudayaṁ nirodhaṁ maggaṁ. Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ vatthaṁ apagatakāḷakaṁ sammadeva rajanaṁ paṭiggaṇheyya; evamevaṁ sīhassa senāpatissa tasmiṁyeva āsane virajaṁ vītamalaṁ dhammacakkhuṁ udapādi: “yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ nirodhadhamman”ti.
Then Sīha saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions. He said to the Buddha, “Sir, would the Buddha together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept tomorrow’s meal from me?” The Buddha consented with silence. Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Sīha rose from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.
Atha kho sīho senāpati diṭṭhadhammo pattadhammo viditadhammo pariyogāḷhadhammo tiṇṇavicikiccho vigatakathaṅkatho vesārajjappatto aparappaccayo satthusāsane bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “adhivāsetu me, bhante, bhagavā svātanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena. Atha kho sīho senāpati bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.
Then Sīha addressed a certain man, “My man, please find out if there is any meat ready for sale.” And when the night had passed General Sīha had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he had the Buddha informed of the time, saying, “Sir, it’s time. The meal is ready.”
Atha kho sīho senāpati aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: “gaccha tvaṁ, ambho purisa, pavattamaṁsaṁ jānāhī”ti. Atha kho sīho senāpati tassā rattiyā accayena sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocāpesi: “kālo, bhante, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti.
Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to Sīha’s home, where he sat down on the seat spread out together with the Saṅgha of mendicants. Now at that time many Jain ascetics in Vesālī went from street to street and from square to square, calling out with raised arms: “Today General Sīha has slaughtered a fat calf for the ascetic Gotama’s meal. The ascetic Gotama knowingly eats meat prepared specially for him: this is a deed he caused.”
Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena sīhassa senāpatissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā nigaṇṭhā vesāliyaṁ rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ bāhā paggayha kandanti: “ajja sīhena senāpatinā thūlaṁ pasuṁ vadhitvā samaṇassa gotamassa bhattaṁ kataṁ. Taṁ samaṇo gotamo jānaṁ uddissakataṁ maṁsaṁ paribhuñjati paṭiccakamman”ti.
Then a certain person went up to Sīha and whispered in his ear, “Please sir, you should know this. Many Jain ascetics in Vesālī are going from street to street and square to square, calling out with raised arms: ‘Today General Sīha has slaughtered a fat calf for the ascetic Gotama’s meal. The ascetic Gotama knowingly eats meat prepared specially for him: this is a deed he caused.’”
Atha kho aññataro puriso yena sīho senāpati tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sīhassa senāpatissa upakaṇṇake ārocesi: “yagghe, bhante, jāneyyāsi. Ete sambahulā nigaṇṭhā vesāliyaṁ rathikāya rathikaṁ siṅghāṭakena siṅghāṭakaṁ bāhā paggayha kandanti: ‘ajja sīhena senāpatinā thūlaṁ pasuṁ vadhitvā samaṇassa gotamassa bhattaṁ kataṁ. Taṁ samaṇo gotamo jānaṁ uddissakataṁ maṁsaṁ paribhuñjati paṭiccakamman’ti.
“Enough, master. For a long time those venerables have wanted to discredit the Buddha, his teaching, and his Saṅgha. They’ll never stop misrepresenting the Buddha with their incorrect, hollow, false, untruthful claims. We would never deliberately take the life of a living creature, not even for life’s sake.”
Alaṁ ayyo dīgharattañhi te āyasmanto avaṇṇakāmā buddhassa avaṇṇakāmā dhammassa avaṇṇakāmā saṅghassa. Na ca panete āyasmanto jiridanti taṁ bhagavantaṁ asatā tucchā musā abhūtena abbhācikkhituṁ; na ca mayaṁ jīvitahetupi sañcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropeyyāmā”ti.
Then Sīha served and satisfied the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Sīha sat down to one side. Then the Buddha educated, encouraged, fired up, and inspired him with a Dhamma talk, after which he rose from his seat and left.
Atha kho sīho senāpati buddhappamukhaṁ bhikkhusaṅghaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi. Atha kho sīho senāpati bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho sīhaṁ senāpatiṁ bhagavā dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmīti.
Dutiyaṁ.