Sutta Pitaka
Samyutta Nikāya
Division I –– Sagātha
Book 7 –– Brahmaṇa Saṃyutta
Chapter 2 –– Upāsaka Vaggo
(11) Kasi –– The Farmer Bhāradvāja
1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the Brahmin village Ekanaliya in the southern hills of Magadha.
2. At that time about five hundred ploughs were yoked to plough the fields of the brahmin Kasi Bhāradvāja.
3. The Blessed One putting on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes approached the work place of the brahmin Kasi Bhāradvāja.
4. At that time the brahmin Kasi Bhāradvāja was attending to the distribution of food.
5. The Blessed One approached the place where the food was distributed and stood on a side.
6. The Brahmin Kasi Bhāradvāja seeing the Blessed One standing for alms said: “Recluse, I plough, sow and then partake food. Recluse, you too plough, sow and then partake food.”
7. “Brahmin, I too plough, sow and then partake food
8. “We doṇot see good Gotama’s yoke, or plough or ploughshare or goad or buffaloes, yet good Gotama says Brahmin I plough, sow and then partake food.”
9. Then the Brahmin Kasi Bhāradvāja said these stanzas to the Blessed One:
(The Blessed One:)
(Kasi:)
(The Blessed One:)
Then the Brahmin Kasi Baradvaja said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(12) Udaya –– The Brahmin Udaya
1. The origin is Sāvatthi.
2. The Blessed One putting on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes approached the Brahmin Udaya’s house.
3. The Brahmin Udaya filled the Blessed One’s bowl with rice.
4. For the second time, the Blessed One putting on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes approached the Brahmin Udaya’s house.
The Brahmin Udaya filled the Blessed One’s bowl with rice.
5. For the third time, the Blessed One putting on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes approached the Brahmin Udaya’s house.
The Brahmin Udaya filled the Blessed One’s bowl with rice and said: “It is annoying the recluse Gotama comes again and again.”
6. Then the Blessed One said:
7. Then the Brahmin Udaya said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(13) Devahito –– The Brahmin Devahita
1. The origin is Sāvatthi.
2. At that time the Blessed One was suffering from airiness and venerable Upavana was attending on the Blessed One.
3. The Blessed One addressed venerable Upavana saying: “Upavana provide me some warm water.”
4. Venerable Upavana saying, “Yes, venerable sir.” Put on his robes and taking bowl and robes approached the house of the Brahmin Devahita and stood on a side silently.
5. The Brahmin Devahita seeing venerable Upavana standing silently on a side said this stanza:
(Upavana:)
7. The Brahmin Devahita gave venerable Upavana some warm water with a pingo and a man to carry it and some molasses in a bag.
8. Then venerable Upavana approached the Blessed One, bathed the Blessed One in the warm water and gave the molasses mixed in warm water to the Blessed One.
9. The Blessed One overcame that illness.
10. The Brahmin Devahita, then approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side.
11. Seated, the Brahmin Devahita said this stanza to the Blessed One:
(The Blessed One:)
13. Then the Brahmin Devahita said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(14) Mahāsāḷa or Lukapapurana –– Decayed Cloak
1. The origin is Sāvatthi.
2. A certain Brahmin who had huge halls, dressed in a decayed cloak approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings, and sat on side.
3. Then the Blessed One asked the Brahmin: “Brahmin, why are you dressed in a decayed cloak?”
4. “Listen good Gotama, I had four sons, they discussed with their wives and sent me out of the house.”
5. “Brahmin, learn these stanzas, go to places where many people gather, and when your sons are also seated there, recite them:
6. The Brahmin who had large halls learned these stanzas from the Blessed One, went to places where people gathered and when his sons were also seated he said these stanzas.
7. Then the sons of the Brahmin who had large halls took him home, bathed him and each dressed him in a pair of new clothes
8. The Brahmin who had many halls taking a pair of clothes approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side.
9. The seated Brahmin said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, I wish to do the duty of honoring a Brahmin teacher.”
10. The Blessed One accepted this gift out of compassion.”
11. Then the Brahmin who had many halls said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(15) Mānatthaddo –– The Conceited Brahmin
1. The origin is Savatthli.
2. At that time, a Brahmin named Mānatthadda lived in Sāvatthi. He never worshipped mother or father, his teacher or elder brother.
3. At that time the Blessed One was preaching a large gathering.
4. And it occurred to the Brahmin Mānatthadda: “This recluse Gotama is preaching to a large gathering, what if I too approach. If the recluse Gotama speaks to me, I will speak. If he does not speak to me, I too will not speak to him.”
5. Then the Brahmin Mānatthadda approached the Blessed One and silently stood on a side.
6. The Blessed One did not speak to him.
7. The Brahmin Mānatthadda, thinking the recluse Gotama does not know anything about me, liked to stay there longer.
8. The Blessed One knowing the thought and thought process of the Brahmin Mānatthadda said this stanza:
9. Then the Brahmin Mānatthadda, knowing, “The recluse Gotama knows my mind,” put his head at the feet of the Blessed One, kissed the feet and stroked the feet with his hands and made his name heard saying, “I am Mānatthadda. Good Gotama. I am Mānatthadda.”
10. The gathering was astonished and said, “This brahmin Mānatthadda never worshipped mother or father, his teacher or elder brother Yet he falls low at the feet of the Blessed One with devotion.”
11. Then the Blessed One said to the Brahmin Mānatthadda: “That’s enough Brahmin, sit on your seat, I know that you are pleased about me.”
12. The Brahmin Mānatthadda sat on his own seat and said these stanzas to the Blessed One:
(The Blessed One:)
14. Then the Brahmin Mānatthadda said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(16) Paccanīka –– The Brahmin Paccanīka
1. The origin is Savatthli.
2. At that time, a Brahmin named Paccanīkasata lived in Sāvatthi.
3. It occurred to the Brahmin Paccanīkasata “If I were to approach the recluse Gotama, to whatever the recluse Gotama says, I will speak adversely to those words.”
4. At that time the Blessed One was walking with mindful awareness in open space.
5. The Brahmin Paccanīkasata approached the Blessed One’s walk and followed him when walking and said: “Recluse, preach me.”
7. Then the Brahmin Paccanīkasata said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(17) Navakammika –– The Builder Brahmin
1. At that time the Blessed One was living in a stretch of forest in the country of Kosala.
2. At that time the builder Bhāradvāja Brahmin was getting some work done in that forest stretch.
3. The builder Bhāradvāja Brahmin saw the Blessed One sitting at the root of a certain Sal tree, legs crossed, keeping the body straight and mindfulness established in front of him.
4. Seeing the Blessed One it occurred to him: “I enjoy doing some work in this stretch of forest. This recluse Gotama, doing what, does he enjoy in this forest stretch?”
5. Then the builder, the Bhāradvāja Brahmin approached the Blessed One and said this stanza:
7. Then the builder Bhāradvāja Brahmin said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(18) Kaṭṭhahāra –– Firewood Collectors
1. At that time the Blessed One was living in a stretch of forest in the country of Kosala.
2. At that time many young men were collecting fire wood for a certain Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan and the young men entered that forest stretch.
3. They saw the Blessed One sitting there, legs crossed, keeping the body straight and mindfulness established in front of him. Seeing the Blessed One they approached the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan.
4. Approaching him they said: “Good sir, in that forest stretch there is a recluse sitting, legs crossed, keeping the body straight and mindfulness established in front of him.”
5. Then the Brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan approached that stretch of forest with the young men and saw the Blessed One sitting, legs crossed, keeping the body straight and mindfulness established in front of him. Seeing he approached the Blessed One and said these stanzas:
Then the brahmin of the Bhāradvāja clan said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(19) Matuposako –– The Brahmin who Nourished His Mother
1. The origin is Sāvatthi.
2. Then the brahmin who nourished his mother approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side.
3. And the Brahmin who nourished his mother said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, I earn righteously and nourish mother and father. Good Gotama, acting thus am I doing my duties?”
4. Brahmin, acting thus you are doing your duties. Brahmin, he who earns by righteous means and nourishes his mother and father accrues much merit.
5. Then the Brahmin Matuposaka said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(20) Bhikkhako –– The begging Brahmin
1. The origin is Sāvatthi.
2. Then the brahmin who begged for his food approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side.
3. And the Brahmin who begged for his food said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, I beg my food, and the good one too begs food. What is the difference between us?”
5. Then the Brahmin who begged food said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(21) Sangarava –– The Brahmin Sangarava
1. The origin is Sāvatthi.
2. At that time a Brahmin by the name Sangarava was living in Sāvatthi. He did water ablution, believing purity through water. He lived yoked to diving in the water at dawn and dusk.
3. Venerable Ānanda putting on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes entered Sāvatthi for alms. Going the alms round in Sāvatthi and after the meal approached the Blessed One, worshipped and sat on a side.
4. Seated, venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, a Brahmin by the name Sangarava living in Sāvatthi does water ablution, believing purity through water, he lives yoked to diving in the water at dawn and dusk. Venerable sir, it is good, if the Blessed One approaches him out of compassion.”
5. The Blessed One accepted it in silence.
6. The Blessed One put on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes approached the house of the Brahmin Sangarava and sat on the prepared seat.
7. Then the Brahmin Sangarava approached the Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings and sat on a side.
8. To the Brahmin Sangarava, seated on a side the Blessed One said: “Brahmin, is it true that you do water ablution, believing purity through water. Do you live, with the habit of diving in the water at dawn and dusk?”
9. “Yes, good Gotama, I do it.”
10. “Brahmin, seeing what benefit do you do the water ablution, believing purity through water and live yoked to diving in the water at dawn and dusk?”
11. “Good Gotama, whatever demerit, had been done by me during the day is washed off at dusk. And whatever demerit, had been done by me during the night is washed off at dawn. Seeing this good, I do the water ablution, believing purity through water and live yoked to diving in the water at dawn and dusk.
13. Then the Brahmin Sangarava said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now I understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now I take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. I am a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until I die.”
(22) Khomadussa –– In the Hamlet Khomadussa
1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the hamlet Khomadussa in the country of the Sakyas.
2. The Blessed One put on robes in the morning and taking bowl and robes entered the hamlet Khomadussa for the alms round.
3. At that time the Brahmin householders of the hamlet Khomadussa had gathered for some purpose and drops rain were also falling.
4. The Blessed One approached that gathering.
5. The Brahmin householders of the hamlet Khomadussa saw the Blessed One approaching in the distance.
6. Seeing they said: “Who is that shaven headed recluse? Does he know, to conduct a meeting?”
7. Then the Blessed One said a stanza to the Brahmin householders of the Khomadussa hamlet.
8. Then the Brahmin brahmin householders of the hamlet Khomadussa said to the Blessed One: “Good Gotama, now we understand. It’s like something overturned is put upright. Something covered is made manifest. It’s like one who was lost was shown the path. It’s like a lamp lighted for the darkness, for those who have sight to see forms. In this and other ways the Teaching is well explained. Now we take refuge in good Gotama, in the Teaching and the Community of bhikkhus. We are lay disciples who have taken refuge from today until we die.”