Experts in the Three Vedas

So I have heard. At one time the BuddhaBuddhaEl nombre dado a quien redescubre por sí mismo el sendero liberador del Dhamma, tras un largo período de haber sido olvidado por el mundo. Según la tradición, una larga línea de Buddhas se extiende hasta el pasado distante. El Buddha más reciente nació como Siddhattha Gotama en la India alrededor del año 500 a.e.c. Un joven bien educado y acomodado, renunció a su familia y su herencia principesca en la flor de la vida para buscar la verdadera libertad y el fin del sufrimiento (dukkha). Después de siete años de austeridades en el bosque, redescubrió el «camino medio» y alcanzó su meta, convirtiéndose en el Buddha.Ver en el glosario was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large SaṅghaSaṅghaEste término denota tanto: la «comunidad monástica» (comunidades de monjes y monjas budistas) en quienes los seguidores laicos toman refugio; como aquellos seguidores del Buddha, laicos u ordenados, que han alcanzado al menos la entrada en la corriente (ver sotāpanna), el primero de los senderos transcendentes (ver magga) que culmina en nibbāna. Recientemente en EE.UU., el término «sangha» se ha transformado para significar el sentido más amplio de «comunidad de seguidores en el sendero budista», aunque este uso no tiene base en el canon pali. El término parisā se usa en este sentido más amplio en los textos tempranos.Ver en el glosario of five hundred mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Manasākaṭa.*Manasākaṭa is mentioned only here. He stayed in a mango grove on a bank of the river Aciravatī to the north of Manasākaṭa.*Aciravatī is called Rapti today. It was one of the great rivers that flowed from the Himalayas through Kosala into the Ganges.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi yena manasākaṭaṁ nāmanāmaOriginalmente se refería a la función psicológica central de conceptualizar y nombrar cosas. Gradualmente evolucionó para abarcar todos los fenómenos mentales. En los suttas a veces se define como vedanā (sensación), saññā (percepción), cetanā (intención, volición), phassa (contacto sensorial), y manasikāra (atención, advertencia). Comparar con rūpa. En el Abhidhamma, nāma pasó a referirse a los componentes mentales de los cinco khandhas.Ver en el glosario kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā manasākaṭe viharati uttarena manasākaṭassa aciravatiyā nadiyā tīre ambavane.

So I have heard. Evaṁ me sutaṁ—At one time the BuddhaBuddhaEl nombre dado a quien redescubre por sí mismo el sendero liberador del Dhamma, tras un largo período de haber sido olvidado por el mundo. Según la tradición, una larga línea de Buddhas se extiende hasta el pasado distante. El Buddha más reciente nació como Siddhattha Gotama en la India alrededor del año 500 a.e.c. Un joven bien educado y acomodado, renunció a su familia y su herencia principesca en la flor de la vida para buscar la verdadera libertad y el fin del sufrimiento (dukkha). Después de siete años de austeridades en el bosque, redescubrió el «camino medio» y alcanzó su meta, convirtiéndose en el Buddha.Ver en el glosario was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large SaṅghaSaṅghaEste término denota tanto: la «comunidad monástica» (comunidades de monjes y monjas budistas) en quienes los seguidores laicos toman refugio; como aquellos seguidores del Buddha, laicos u ordenados, que han alcanzado al menos la entrada en la corriente (ver sotāpanna), el primero de los senderos transcendentes (ver magga) que culmina en nibbāna. Recientemente en EE.UU., el término «sangha» se ha transformado para significar el sentido más amplio de «comunidad de seguidores en el sendero budista», aunque este uso no tiene base en el canon pali. El término parisā se usa en este sentido más amplio en los textos tempranos.Ver en el glosario of five hundred mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Manasākaṭa.*Manasākaṭa is mentioned only here.ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi yena manasākaṭaṁ nāmanāmaOriginalmente se refería a la función psicológica central de conceptualizar y nombrar cosas. Gradualmente evolucionó para abarcar todos los fenómenos mentales. En los suttas a veces se define como vedanā (sensación), saññā (percepción), cetanā (intención, volición), phassa (contacto sensorial), y manasikāra (atención, advertencia). Comparar con rūpa. En el Abhidhamma, nāma pasó a referirse a los componentes mentales de los cinco khandhas.Ver en el glosario kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. He stayed in a mango grove on a bank of the river Aciravatī to the north of Manasākaṭa.*Aciravatī is called Rapti today. It was one of the great rivers that flowed from the Himalayas through Kosala into the Ganges.Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā manasākaṭe viharati uttarena manasākaṭassa aciravatiyā nadiyā tīre ambavane.

Now at that time several very well-known well-to-do brahmins were residing in Manasākaṭa. They included the brahmins Caṅkī, Tārukkha, Pokkharasāti, Jānussoṇi, Todeyya, and others.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā brāhmaṇamahāsālā manasākaṭe paṭivasanti, seyyathidaṁ— caṅkī brāhmaṇo tārukkho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti brāhmaṇo jāṇusoṇi brāhmaṇo todeyyo brāhmaṇo aññe ca abhiññātā abhiññātā brāhmaṇamahāsālā.

Now at that time several very well-known well-to-do brahmins were residing in Manasākaṭa. They included Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā abhiññātā abhiññātā brāhmaṇamahāsālā manasākaṭe paṭivasanti, seyyathidaṁ—the brahmins Caṅkī, Tārukkha, Pokkharasāti, Jānussoṇi, Todeyya, and others. caṅkī brāhmaṇo tārukkho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti brāhmaṇo jāṇusoṇi brāhmaṇo todeyyo brāhmaṇo aññe ca abhiññātā abhiññātā brāhmaṇamahāsālā.

Vāseṭṭha said this: “This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of Divinity; namely, that explained by the brahmin Pokkharasāti.”*This must have been earlier than Pokkharasāti’s conversion at DN 3:2.22.1. Pokkharasāti was a family man who denied the reality of superhuman meditative attainments (MN 99:10.4) and emphasized ethics and duties over lineage (MN 98:3.7), which agrees with him being cited on ethical matters at Āpastamba Dharmasūtra 1.6.19.7 and 1.10.28. | Brahmasahabyatā does not mean “union with Brahmā” but rather “rebirth as one of the members of Brahma’s retinue” (see eg. AN 5.34:9.4). The non-dualist concept that the limited personal self merges with the cosmic divinity is expressed in Pali, rather, with such phrases as so attā so loko (“the self is identical with the cosmos”). | For añjasa (“direct route”) see SN 12.65:7.1 and note.

Atha kho vāseṭṭho māṇavo evamāha: “ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā”ti.

Vāseṭṭha said this: Atha kho vāseṭṭho māṇavo evamāha: “This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of Divinity; namely, that explained by the brahmin Pokkharasāti.”*This must have been earlier than Pokkharasāti’s conversion at DN 3:2.22.1. Pokkharasāti was a family man who denied the reality of superhuman meditative attainments (MN 99:10.4) and emphasized ethics and duties over lineage (MN 98:3.7), which agrees with him being cited on ethical matters at Āpastamba Dharmasūtra 1.6.19.7 and 1.10.28. | Brahmasahabyatā does not mean “union with Brahmā” but rather “rebirth as one of the members of Brahma’s retinue” (see eg. AN 5.34:9.4). The non-dualist concept that the limited personal self merges with the cosmic divinity is expressed in Pali, rather, with such phrases as so attā so loko (“the self is identical with the cosmos”). | For añjasa (“direct route”) see SN 12.65:7.1 and note.“ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā”ti.

Bhāradvāja said this: “This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of Divinity; namely, that explained by the brahmin Tārukkha.”*In Pali we never meet Tārukkha and he is only mentioned in his absence. He evidently advocated that lineage rather than conduct made one a brahmin (MN 98:3.4). There is a Tārukṣya whose view was that union (with Brahmā) arose with the conjunction of speech and breath; this was discussed alongside the views of many other brahmins (Aitareya Āraṇyaka 3.1.6.1; Śāṅkhāyana Āraṇyaka 7.19). In Rig Veda 8.46.32 a certain Balbūtha Tarukṣa the Dāsa makes an offering to a sage. Sāyaṇa, the Vedic commentator, says that Balbūtha Tarukṣa was a guardian of cows, evidently alluding to the Aitareya Āraṇyaka, which describes Tārukṣya as a guardian of his teacher’s cows, thus locating Tārukṣya in the lineage of Tarukṣa. Hiraṇyakeśīgṛhyasūtra 2.8.19 also mentions him as a teacher, there spelled Tarukṣa.

Bhāradvājopi māṇavo evamāha: “ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena tārukkhenā”ti.

Bhāradvāja said this: Bhāradvājopi māṇavo evamāha: “This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of Divinity; namely, that explained by the brahmin Tārukkha.”*In Pali we never meet Tārukkha and he is only mentioned in his absence. He evidently advocated that lineage rather than conduct made one a brahmin (MN 98:3.4). There is a Tārukṣya whose view was that union (with Brahmā) arose with the conjunction of speech and breath; this was discussed alongside the views of many other brahmins (Aitareya Āraṇyaka 3.1.6.1; Śāṅkhāyana Āraṇyaka 7.19). In Rig Veda 8.46.32 a certain Balbūtha Tarukṣa the Dāsa makes an offering to a sage. Sāyaṇa, the Vedic commentator, says that Balbūtha Tarukṣa was a guardian of cows, evidently alluding to the Aitareya Āraṇyaka, which describes Tārukṣya as a guardian of his teacher’s cows, thus locating Tārukṣya in the lineage of Tarukṣa. Hiraṇyakeśīgṛhyasūtra 2.8.19 also mentions him as a teacher, there spelled Tarukṣa.“ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena tārukkhenā”ti.

But neither was able to persuade the other. So Vāseṭṭha said to Bhāradvāja, “Bhāradvāja, the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—is staying in a mango grove on a bank of the river Aciravatī to the north of Manasākaṭa. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ Come, let’s go to see him and ask him about this matter. As he answers, so we’ll remember it.”

Neva kho asakkhi vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhāradvājaṁ māṇavaṁ saññāpetuṁ, na pana asakkhi bhāradvājo māṇavo vāseṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ saññāpetuṁ. Atha kho vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhāradvājaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: “ayaṁ kho, bhāradvāja, samaṇo gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito manasākaṭe viharati uttarena manasākaṭassa aciravatiyā nadiyā tīre ambavane. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Āyāma, bho bhāradvāja, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkamissāma; upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ pucchissāma. Yathā no samaṇo gotamo byākarissati, tathā naṁ dhāressāmā”ti.

But neither was able to persuade the other. Neva kho asakkhi vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhāradvājaṁ māṇavaṁ saññāpetuṁ, na pana asakkhi bhāradvājo māṇavo vāseṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ saññāpetuṁ. So Vāseṭṭha said to Bhāradvāja, Atha kho vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhāradvājaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: “Bhāradvāja, the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—is staying in a mango grove on a bank of the river Aciravatī to the north of Manasākaṭa. “ayaṁ kho, bhāradvāja, samaṇo gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito manasākaṭe viharati uttarena manasākaṭassa aciravatiyā nadiyā tīre ambavane. He has this good reputation: Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Come, let’s go to see him and ask him about this matter. Āyāma, bho bhāradvāja, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkamissāma; upasaṅkamitvā etamatthaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ pucchissāma. As he answers, so we’ll remember it.” Yathā no samaṇo gotamo byākarissati, tathā naṁ dhāressāmā”ti.

So they went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and Vāseṭṭha told him of their conversation, adding: “In this matter we have a dispute, a disagreement, a difference of opinion.”

Atha kho vāseṭṭhabhāradvājā māṇavā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idha, bho gotama, amhākaṁ jaṅghavihāraṁ anucaṅkamantānaṁ anuvicarantānaṁ maggāmagge kathā udapādi. Ahaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā’ti. Bhāradvājo māṇavo evamāha: ‘ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena tārukkhenā’ti. Ettha, bho gotama, attheva viggaho, atthi vivādo, atthi nānāvādo”ti.

So they went to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. Atha kho vāseṭṭhabhāradvājā māṇavā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and Vāseṭṭha told him of their conversation, adding: Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idha, bho gotama, amhākaṁ jaṅghavihāraṁ anucaṅkamantānaṁ anuvicarantānaṁ maggāmagge kathā udapādi. Ahaṁ evaṁ vadāmi: ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā’ti. Bhāradvājo māṇavo evamāha: ‘ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena tārukkhenā’ti. “In this matter we have a dispute, a disagreement, a difference of opinion.” Ettha, bho gotama, attheva viggaho, atthi vivādo, atthi nānāvādo”ti.

“So, Vāseṭṭha, it seems that you say that the straight path is that explained by Pokkharasāti, while Bhāradvāja says that the straight path is that explained by Tārukkha. But what exactly is your disagreement about?”

“Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, tvaṁ evaṁ vadesi: ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā’ti. Bhāradvājo māṇavo evamāha: ‘ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena tārukkhenā’ti. Atha kismiṁ pana vo, vāseṭṭha, viggaho, kismiṁ vivādo, kismiṁ nānāvādo”ti?

“So, Vāseṭṭha, it seems that you say that “Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, tvaṁ evaṁ vadesi: the straight path is that explained by Pokkharasāti, ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā’ti. while Bhāradvāja says that Bhāradvājo māṇavo evamāha: the straight path is that explained by Tārukkha. ‘ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya, yvāyaṁ akkhāto brāhmaṇena tārukkhenā’ti. But what exactly is your disagreement about?” Atha kismiṁ pana vo, vāseṭṭha, viggaho, kismiṁ vivādo, kismiṁ nānāvādo”ti?

“About what is the path and what is not the path, worthy Gotama. Even though brahmins describe different paths—the Adhvaryu brahmins, the Taittirīya brahmins, the Chāndogya brahmins, the Cāndrāyaṇa brahmins, and the Bahvṛca brahmins—all of them still lead someone who practices them to the company of Divinity.*Identified by Wijesekera (A Pali Reference to Brāhmaṇa-Caraṇas, Adyar Library Bulletin, vol 20, 1956; reprinted in Buddhist and Vedic Studies) and Jayatilleke (Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge, p. 480). I use the familiar Sanskrit forms, as the Pali has several dubious spellings and variants. Their texts and corresponding Vedas are respectively: Adhvaryu = Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (incl. Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad; White Yajur Veda); Taittirīya = Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa (Black Yajur Veda); Chāndogya = Chāndogya Brāhmaṇa (Sāman Veda); Cāndrāyaṇa (omitted from MS edition) = Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa (Rig Veda; spelling established by Wijesekera; see below at DN 13:16.2); Bahvṛca = Bahvṛca Brāhmaṇa (Rig Veda; incorporated in Aitareya and Kauśītaki.) This is the only time the Pali canon mentions these schools, but in some cases we can identify them with brahmins in the canon. Examples include the murmuring Chāndogya brahmin (Ud 1.4); or the Buddha’s former teachers, who evidently hailed from the Addhariya tradition of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (MN 26:15.1ff.). | Jayatilleke notes that the Śatapatha describes its own adherents as Adhvaryu (addhariyā), those priests of the Yajur Veda responsible for the physical acts at the ritual. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 10.5.2.20 and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa 6.5.6–10 list the Adhvaryu, Chandoga, and Bahvṛca, thus including the same schools in the same order, except the Pali has split the Yajur and Rig followers into two.

“Maggāmagge, bho gotama. Kiñcāpi, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā nānāmagge paññāpenti, addhariyā brāhmaṇā tittiriyā brāhmaṇā chandokā brāhmaṇā bavhārijjhā brāhmaṇā, atha kho sabbāni tāni niyyānikā niyyanti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya.

“About what is the path and what is not the path, worthy Gotama. “Maggāmagge, bho gotama. Even though brahmins describe different paths—the Adhvaryu brahmins, the Taittirīya brahmins, the Chāndogya brahmins, the Cāndrāyaṇa brahmins, and the Bahvṛca brahmins—all of them still lead someone who practices them to the company of Divinity.*Identified by Wijesekera (A Pali Reference to Brāhmaṇa-Caraṇas, Adyar Library Bulletin, vol 20, 1956; reprinted in Buddhist and Vedic Studies) and Jayatilleke (Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge, p. 480). I use the familiar Sanskrit forms, as the Pali has several dubious spellings and variants. Their texts and corresponding Vedas are respectively: Adhvaryu = Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (incl. Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad; White Yajur Veda); Taittirīya = Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa (Black Yajur Veda); Chāndogya = Chāndogya Brāhmaṇa (Sāman Veda); Cāndrāyaṇa (omitted from MS edition) = Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa (Rig Veda; spelling established by Wijesekera; see below at DN 13:16.2); Bahvṛca = Bahvṛca Brāhmaṇa (Rig Veda; incorporated in Aitareya and Kauśītaki.) This is the only time the Pali canon mentions these schools, but in some cases we can identify them with brahmins in the canon. Examples include the murmuring Chāndogya brahmin (Ud 1.4); or the Buddha’s former teachers, who evidently hailed from the Addhariya tradition of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (MN 26:15.1ff.). | Jayatilleke notes that the Śatapatha describes its own adherents as Adhvaryu (addhariyā), those priests of the Yajur Veda responsible for the physical acts at the ritual. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 10.5.2.20 and Kauṣītaki Brāhmaṇa 6.5.6–10 list the Adhvaryu, Chandoga, and Bahvṛca, thus including the same schools in the same order, except the Pali has split the Yajur and Rig followers into two.Kiñcāpi, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā nānāmagge paññāpenti, addhariyā brāhmaṇā tittiriyā brāhmaṇā chandokā brāhmaṇā bavhārijjhā brāhmaṇā, atha kho sabbāni tāni niyyānikā niyyanti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāya.

It’s like a village or town that has many different roads nearby, yet all of them meet at that village.*Earlier they were arguing over which one of the paths was correct, whereas now they have shifted to a more universalist “many roads up the same mountain” position. When speaking with each other they saw each other’s views as contradictory, but when speaking with an outsider they adopted a more conciliatory position. In the same way, even though brahmins describe different paths—the Adhvaryu brahmins, the Taittirīya brahmins, the Chāndogya brahmins, the Cāndrāyaṇa brahmins, and the Bahvṛca brahmins—all of them still lead someone who practices them to the company of Divinity.”

Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre bahūni cepi nānāmaggāni bhavanti, atha kho sabbāni tāni gāmasamosaraṇāni bhavanti; evameva kho, bho gotama, kiñcāpi brāhmaṇā nānāmagge paññāpenti, addhariyā brāhmaṇā tittiriyā brāhmaṇā chandokā brāhmaṇā bavhārijjhā brāhmaṇā, atha kho sabbāni tāni niyyānikā niyyanti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā”ti.

It’s like a village or town that has many different roads nearby, yet all of them meet at that village.*Earlier they were arguing over which one of the paths was correct, whereas now they have shifted to a more universalist “many roads up the same mountain” position. When speaking with each other they saw each other’s views as contradictory, but when speaking with an outsider they adopted a more conciliatory position.Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, gāmassa vā nigamassa vā avidūre bahūni cepi nānāmaggāni bhavanti, atha kho sabbāni tāni gāmasamosaraṇāni bhavanti; In the same way, even though brahmins describe different paths—the Adhvaryu brahmins, the Taittirīya brahmins, the Chāndogya brahmins, the Cāndrāyaṇa brahmins, and the Bahvṛca brahmins—all of them still lead someone who practices them to the company of Divinity.” evameva kho, bho gotama, kiñcāpi brāhmaṇā nānāmagge paññāpenti, addhariyā brāhmaṇā tittiriyā brāhmaṇā chandokā brāhmaṇā bavhārijjhā brāhmaṇā, atha kho sabbāni tāni niyyānikā niyyanti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā”ti.

“Well, what of the ancient seers of the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas, namely Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamadaggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu? They were the authors and propagators of the hymns. Their hymnal was sung and propagated and compiled in ancient times; and these days, brahmins continue to sing and chant it, chanting what was chanted and teaching what was taught.*The ten names in Pali include the seven authors of the so-called “family books” of the Rig Veda (Maṇḍalas 2–8). As founders of poetic lineages, we often find works by their descendants, which are not always confined to their dedicated family book. Poems by the other three authors are mostly outside the family books. Thus the sages listed here cover most of the Rig Veda, although the Vedic tradition records many other authors as well. | Aṭṭhaka = Atri Bhauma (Maṇḍala 5, rather than Aṣṭaka Vaiśvāmitra of 10.104); Vāmaka = Vamra(ka) Vaikhānasa (10.99; see 9.66); Vāmadeva = Vāmadeva Gautama (Maṇḍala 4); Vessāmitta = Viśvāmitra Gāthina (Maṇḍala 3); Yamadaggi = Jamadagni Bhārgava, a descendant of Bhṛgu (several hymns mostly in Maṇḍalas 9 and 10); Aṅgīrasa = Aṅgirasa, identified with Agni as the founder of a lineage of poet-singers (Maṇḍala 8); Bhāradvāja = Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (Maṇḍala 6); Vāseṭṭha = Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi (Maṇḍala 7); Kassapa = Kaśyapa Mārīca (several hymns mostly in Maṇḍalas 9 and 10); Bhagu = Bhṛgu, the bringer of fire from heaven whose adoptive descendant was Gṛtsamada Bhārgava Śaunaka (Maṇḍala 2). Did they say: ‘We know and see where the Divinity is or what way he lies’?”*Unlike the Buddhist monk at DN 11:80.1.

“Kiṁ pana, vāseṭṭha, yepi tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu.*samihitaṁ → samūhitaṁ (bj); samīhitaṁ (sya-all) Tepi evamāhaṁsu: ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’”ti?

“Well, what of the ancient seers of the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas, namely Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamadaggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu? They were the authors and propagators of the hymns. Their hymnal was sung and propagated and compiled in ancient times; and these days, brahmins continue to sing and chant it, chanting what was chanted and teaching what was taught.*The ten names in Pali include the seven authors of the so-called “family books” of the Rig Veda (Maṇḍalas 2–8). As founders of poetic lineages, we often find works by their descendants, which are not always confined to their dedicated family book. Poems by the other three authors are mostly outside the family books. Thus the sages listed here cover most of the Rig Veda, although the Vedic tradition records many other authors as well. | Aṭṭhaka = Atri Bhauma (Maṇḍala 5, rather than Aṣṭaka Vaiśvāmitra of 10.104); Vāmaka = Vamra(ka) Vaikhānasa (10.99; see 9.66); Vāmadeva = Vāmadeva Gautama (Maṇḍala 4); Vessāmitta = Viśvāmitra Gāthina (Maṇḍala 3); Yamadaggi = Jamadagni Bhārgava, a descendant of Bhṛgu (several hymns mostly in Maṇḍalas 9 and 10); Aṅgīrasa = Aṅgirasa, identified with Agni as the founder of a lineage of poet-singers (Maṇḍala 8); Bhāradvāja = Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya (Maṇḍala 6); Vāseṭṭha = Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi (Maṇḍala 7); Kassapa = Kaśyapa Mārīca (several hymns mostly in Maṇḍalas 9 and 10); Bhagu = Bhṛgu, the bringer of fire from heaven whose adoptive descendant was Gṛtsamada Bhārgava Śaunaka (Maṇḍala 2).“Kiṁ pana, vāseṭṭha, yepi tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu.*samihitaṁ → samūhitaṁ (bj); samīhitaṁ (sya-all)Did they say: Tepi evamāhaṁsu: ‘We know and see where the Divinity is or what way he lies’?”*Unlike the Buddhist monk at DN 11:80.1.‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’”ti?

“So it seems that none of those brahmins have seen the Divinity with their own eyes, and not even the ancient seers claimed to know where he is. Yet the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas say: ‘We teach the path to the company of that which we neither know nor see. This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of Divinity.’

“Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ekabrāhmaṇopi, yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ekācariyopi, yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ekācariyapācariyopi, yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugā yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu: ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’ti. Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema. Ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti.

“So it seems that none of those brahmins have seen the Divinity with their own eyes, “Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ekabrāhmaṇopi, yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ekācariyopi, yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ekācariyapācariyopi, yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Natthi koci tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugā yena brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. and not even the ancient seers Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu: claimed to know where he is. ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’ti. Yet the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas say: Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘We teach the path to the company of that which we neither know nor see. ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema. This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of Divinity.’ Ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? This being so, doesn’t their statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”*“No demonstrable basis” is appāṭihīrakataṁ.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, This being so, doesn’t their statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”*“No demonstrable basis” is appāṭihīrakataṁ.nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

Suppose there was a queue of blind men, each holding the one in front: the first one does not see, the middle one does not see, and the last one does not see.*The “blind following the blind” is also at MN 95:13.24 and MN 99:9.25. Maitrī Upaniṣad 7.8–9 turns it around, saying that the blind teach false doctrines aimed at destroying the Vedas, “the doctrine of not-self” (nairātmyavāda), an obvious reference to Buddhists. We also find it at Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.5, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.8, Mahābhārata 2.38.3, and the Jain Sūyagaḍa 1.1.2.19. In the same way, it seems to me that the brahmins’ statement turns out to be comparable to a queue of blind men: the first one does not see, the middle one does not see, and the last one does not see. Their statement turns out to be a joke—mere words, vacuous and hollow.

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, andhaveṇi paramparasaṁsattā purimopi na passati, majjhimopi na passati, pacchimopi na passati; evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, andhaveṇūpamaṁ maññe tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ bhāsitaṁ, purimopi na passati, majjhimopi na passati, pacchimopi na passati. Tesamidaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ bhāsitaṁ hassakaññeva sampajjati, nāmakaññeva sampajjati, rittakaññeva sampajjati, tucchakaññeva sampajjati.

Suppose there was a queue of blind men, each holding the one in front: the first one does not see, the middle one does not see, and the last one does not see.*The “blind following the blind” is also at MN 95:13.24 and MN 99:9.25. Maitrī Upaniṣad 7.8–9 turns it around, saying that the blind teach false doctrines aimed at destroying the Vedas, “the doctrine of not-self” (nairātmyavāda), an obvious reference to Buddhists. We also find it at Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.2.5, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2.8, Mahābhārata 2.38.3, and the Jain Sūyagaḍa 1.1.2.19.Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, andhaveṇi paramparasaṁsattā purimopi na passati, majjhimopi na passati, pacchimopi na passati; In the same way, it seems to me that the brahmins’ statement turns out to be comparable to a queue of blind men: the first one does not see, the middle one does not see, and the last one does not see. evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, andhaveṇūpamaṁ maññe tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ bhāsitaṁ, purimopi na passati, majjhimopi na passati, pacchimopi na passati. Their statement turns out to be a joke—mere words, vacuous and hollow. Tesamidaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ bhāsitaṁ hassakaññeva sampajjati, nāmakaññeva sampajjati, rittakaññeva sampajjati, tucchakaññeva sampajjati.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Do the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas see the sun and moon just as other folk do? And do they supplicate and entreat them, following their course from where they rise to where they set with cupped palms held in worship?”*Sarvajit Kauṣītaki worshiped the rising and setting sun and moon, turning himself to follow their course (Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad 2.7–9). He founded the Kauṣītaki lineage, referred to above as “those who follow the course of the moon” (cāndrāyaṇa).

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, passanti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriye, aññe cāpi bahujanā, yato ca candimasūriyā uggacchanti, yattha ca ogacchanti, āyācanti thomayanti pañjalikā namassamānā anuparivattantī”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Do the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas see the sun and moon just as other folk do? And do they supplicate and entreat them, following their course from where they rise to where they set with cupped palms held in worship?”*Sarvajit Kauṣītaki worshiped the rising and setting sun and moon, turning himself to follow their course (Kauṣītaki Upaniṣad 2.7–9). He founded the Kauṣītaki lineage, referred to above as “those who follow the course of the moon” (cāndrāyaṇa).passanti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriye, aññe cāpi bahujanā, yato ca candimasūriyā uggacchanti, yattha ca ogacchanti, āyācanti thomayanti pañjalikā namassamānā anuparivattantī”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Though this is so, are the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas able to teach the path to the company of the sun and moon, saying: ‘This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of the sun and moon’?”*Indra taught Bhāradvāja a new threefold knowledge by which he might become immortal and realize companionship (sāyujya) with the sun (Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 3.10.11.15).

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, yaṁ passanti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriye, aññe cāpi bahujanā, yato ca candimasūriyā uggacchanti, yattha ca ogacchanti, āyācanti thomayanti pañjalikā namassamānā anuparivattanti, pahonti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetuṁ: ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāyā’”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Though this is so, are the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas able to teach the path to the company of the sun and moon, saying: yaṁ passanti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriye, aññe cāpi bahujanā, yato ca candimasūriyā uggacchanti, yattha ca ogacchanti, āyācanti thomayanti pañjalikā namassamānā anuparivattanti, pahonti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetuṁ: ‘This is the only straight path, the direct route that delivers one who practices it to the company of the sun and moon’?”*Indra taught Bhāradvāja a new threefold knowledge by which he might become immortal and realize companionship (sāyujya) with the sun (Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 3.10.11.15).‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāyā’”ti?

“So it seems that even though the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas see the sun and moon, they are not able to teach the path to the company of the sun and moon.

“Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, yaṁ passanti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriye, aññe cāpi bahujanā, yato ca candimasūriyā uggacchanti, yattha ca ogacchanti, āyācanti thomayanti pañjalikā namassamānā anuparivattanti, tesampi nappahonti candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetuṁ: ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāyā’ti.

“So it seems that even though the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas see the sun and moon, they are not able to teach the path to the company of the sun and moon. “Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, yaṁ passanti tevijjā brāhmaṇā candimasūriye, aññe cāpi bahujanā, yato ca candimasūriyā uggacchanti, yattha ca ogacchanti, āyācanti thomayanti pañjalikā namassamānā anuparivattanti, tesampi nappahonti candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetuṁ: ‘ayameva ujumaggo, ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko, niyyāti takkarassa candimasūriyānaṁ sahabyatāyā’ti.

But it seems that even though they have not seen the Divinity with their own eyes, they still claim to teach the path to the company of that which they neither know nor see.

Iti pana na kira tevijjehi brāhmaṇehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho.*pana → kiṁ pana (bj, sya-all, pts1ed) Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyapācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho.*sattamā → sattamehi (?) Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu: ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’ti. Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema—ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti.

But it seems that even though they have not seen the Divinity with their own eyes, Iti pana na kira tevijjehi brāhmaṇehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho.*pana → kiṁ pana (bj, sya-all, pts1ed)Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyapācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho.*sattamā → sattamehi (?)Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu: ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’ti. they still claim Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: to teach the path to the company of that which they neither know nor see. ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema—ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? This being so, doesn’t their statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, This being so, doesn’t their statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?” nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

Suppose a man were to say, ‘Whoever the finest lady in the land is, it is her that I want, her that I desire!’

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, puriso evaṁ vadeyya: ‘ahaṁ yā imasmiṁ janapade janapadakalyāṇī, taṁ icchāmi, taṁ kāmemī’ti.

Suppose a man were to say, Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, puriso evaṁ vadeyya: ‘Whoever the finest lady in the land is, it is her that I want, her that I desire!’ ‘ahaṁ yā imasmiṁ janapade janapadakalyāṇī, taṁ icchāmi, taṁ kāmemī’ti.

They’d say to him, ‘My man, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know whether she’s an aristocrat, a brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?’ Asked this, he’d say, ‘No.’

Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ— khattiyī vā brāhmaṇī vā vessī vā suddī vā’ti? Iti puṭṭho ‘no’ti vadeyya.

They’d say to him, Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘My man, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know whether ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ—she’s an aristocrat, a brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?’ khattiyī vā brāhmaṇī vā vessī vā suddī vā’ti? Asked this, he’d say, ‘No.’ Iti puṭṭho ‘no’ti vadeyya.

They’d say to him, ‘My man, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know her name or clan? Whether she’s tall or short or medium? Whether her skin is black, brown, or dingy? What village, town, or city she comes from?’

Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ—evaṁnāmā evaṅgottāti vā, dīghā vā rassā vā majjhimā vā kāḷī vā sāmā vā maṅguracchavī vāti, amukasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā nagare vā’ti?

They’d say to him, Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘My man, that finest lady in the land who you desire—do you know her name or clan? Whether she’s tall or short or medium? Whether her skin is black, brown, or dingy? What village, town, or city she comes from?’ ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ icchasi kāmesi, jānāsi taṁ janapadakalyāṇiṁ—evaṁnāmā evaṅgottāti vā, dīghā vā rassā vā majjhimā vā kāḷī vā sāmā vā maṅguracchavī vāti, amukasmiṁ gāme vā nigame vā nagare vā’ti?

They’d say to him, ‘My man, do you desire someone who you’ve never even known or seen?’

Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ na jānāsi na passasi, taṁ tvaṁ icchasi kāmesī’ti?

They’d say to him, Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘My man, do you desire someone who you’ve never even known or seen?’ ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ na jānāsi na passasi, taṁ tvaṁ icchasi kāmesī’ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?” nanu evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

“In the same way, doesn’t the statement of those brahmins turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”

“Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, na kira tevijjehi brāhmaṇehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyapācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu: ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’ti. Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema—ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

“In the same way, “Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, na kira tevijjehi brāhmaṇehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyapācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu: ‘mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmā’ti. Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema—ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti. doesn’t the statement of those brahmins turn out to have no demonstrable basis?” Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

They’d say to him, ‘My man, that stilt longhouse for which you’re building a ladder—do you know whether it’s to the north, south, east, or west? Or whether it’s tall or short or medium?’

Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yassa tvaṁ pāsādassa ārohaṇāya nisseṇiṁ karosi, jānāsi taṁ pāsādaṁ—puratthimāya vā disāya dakkhiṇāya vā disāya pacchimāya vā disāya uttarāya vā disāya ucco vā nīco vā majjhimo vā’ti?*yassa tvaṁ → yaṁ tvaṁ (sya-all); yassa (pts1ed)

They’d say to him, Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘My man, that stilt longhouse for which you’re building a ladder—do you know whether it’s to the north, south, east, or west? Or whether it’s tall or short or medium?’ ‘ambho purisa, yassa tvaṁ pāsādassa ārohaṇāya nisseṇiṁ karosi, jānāsi taṁ pāsādaṁ—puratthimāya vā disāya dakkhiṇāya vā disāya pacchimāya vā disāya uttarāya vā disāya ucco vā nīco vā majjhimo vā’ti?*yassa tvaṁ → yaṁ tvaṁ (sya-all); yassa (pts1ed)

They’d say to him, ‘My man, are you building a ladder for a longhouse that you’ve never even known or seen?’

Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ na jānāsi, na passasi, tassa tvaṁ pāsādassa ārohaṇāya nisseṇiṁ karosī’ti?

They’d say to him, Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyyuṁ: ‘My man, are you building a ladder for a longhouse that you’ve never even known or seen?’ ‘ambho purisa, yaṁ tvaṁ na jānāsi, na passasi, tassa tvaṁ pāsādassa ārohaṇāya nisseṇiṁ karosī’ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?” nanu evaṁ sante tassa purisassa appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

“In the same way, doesn’t the statement of those brahmins turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”

“Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, na kira tevijjehi brāhmaṇehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyapācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu— mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmāti. Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema, ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

“In the same way, “Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, na kira tevijjehi brāhmaṇehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ ācariyapācariyehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho, napi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ yāva sattamā ācariyāmahayugehi brahmā sakkhidiṭṭho. Yepi kira tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi tevijjā brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti, tadanubhāsanti, bhāsitamanubhāsanti, vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, tepi na evamāhaṁsu—mayametaṁ jānāma, mayametaṁ passāma, yattha vā brahmā, yena vā brahmā, yahiṁ vā brahmāti. Teva tevijjā brāhmaṇā evamāhaṁsu: ‘yaṁ na jānāma, yaṁ na passāma, tassa sahabyatāya maggaṁ desema, ayameva ujumaggo ayamañjasāyano niyyāniko niyyāti takkarassa brahmasahabyatāyā’ti. doesn’t the statement of those brahmins turn out to have no demonstrable basis?” Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, nanu evaṁ sante tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ appāṭihīrakataṁ bhāsitaṁ sampajjatī”ti?

Suppose the river Aciravatī was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then along comes a person who wants to cross over to the far shore. Standing on the near shore, they’d call out to the far shore, ‘Come here, far shore! Come here, far shore!’

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, ayaṁ aciravatī nadī pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Atha puriso āgaccheyya pāratthiko pāragavesī pāragāmī pāraṁ taritukāmo. So orime tīre ṭhito pārimaṁ tīraṁ avheyya: ‘ehi pārāpāraṁ, ehi pārāpāran’ti.

Suppose the river Aciravatī was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, ayaṁ aciravatī nadī pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Then along comes a person who wants to cross over to the far shore. Atha puriso āgaccheyya pāratthiko pāragavesī pāragāmī pāraṁ taritukāmo. Standing on the near shore, they’d call out to the far shore, So orime tīre ṭhito pārimaṁ tīraṁ avheyya: ‘Come here, far shore! Come here, far shore!’ ‘ehi pārāpāraṁ, ehi pārāpāran’ti.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Would the far shore of the Aciravatī river come over to the near shore because of that man’s call, request, desire, or expectation?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, api nu tassa purisassa avhāyanahetu vā āyācanahetu vā patthanahetu vā abhinandanahetu vā aciravatiyā nadiyā pārimaṁ tīraṁ orimaṁ tīraṁ āgaccheyyā”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Would the far shore of the Aciravatī river come over to the near shore because of that man’s call, request, desire, or expectation?” api nu tassa purisassa avhāyanahetu vā āyācanahetu vā patthanahetu vā abhinandanahetu vā aciravatiyā nadiyā pārimaṁ tīraṁ orimaṁ tīraṁ āgaccheyyā”ti?

“In the same way, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas proceed having given up those things that make one a true brahmin, and having undertaken those things that make one not a true brahmin. Yet they say:*For the following list, compare the nine gods listed at Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.11 with the eight here. Six are shared with the Pali: Brahma is first, from whom derive Indra, Varuṇa, Soma, Yama, and Īsāna. Even the names that are not in common might arise from flawed transmission: Parjanya there is perhaps Pajāpati here; Rudra (or Shiva) would be well-described by Mahiddhi (“he of great power”); Mṛtyu (death) may have merged with Yama. If this connection is admitted, it would seem the Buddha is making a sly dig. Those who proclaim themselves to be true brahmins are prostrating themselves to those powers among the gods who, with the exception of Brahma himself, are in fact aristocrats (khattiya), not brahmins at all. The Upaniṣad draws attention to the rājasūya coronation, at which the brahmin sits beneath the aristocrat. Further, Indra, Pajāpati, Varuṇa, and Īsāna are also invoked in the martial exhortation at SN 11.3, cementing their status as aristocrat warriors. ‘We call upon Indra! We call upon Soma! We call upon Varuṇa! We call upon Īsāna! We call upon the Progenitor! We call upon the Divinity! We call upon Mahiddhi! We call upon Yama!’*Soma is the ritual drug of exhilaration, identified with the moon. | Vedic Varuṇa was the god of command, the king of tough rule. | Īsāna (Sanskrit Īśāna) was created by Pajāpati as “president”, said to be the sun (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 6.1.3). He was also identified with Rudra and Śiva. | Pajāpati (“progenitor”) was the lonely god of creation (“Let Prajāpati generate progeny for us”, Rig Veda 10.85.3). The heat of his fervent exertions (tapas) created the world and all things in it (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 6). | Brahmā, like Pajāpati, is also a creator god, but is the divine power immanent within creation, rather than the forgotten instigator of the past. | The Mahāsaṅgīti reading Mahiddhi (“he of great power”) is not a regular name for a deity, but as noted above, he may be Rudra/Shiva, regarded as the chief deity of psychic powers. The BJT reads Mahinda (Sanskrit Mahendra), the “Great Indra”, said to be a title of Indra bestowed after slaying the dragon Vṛtra (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 2.5.4.9). | Yama (“twin”, with his incestuous sister Yamī) was born immortal but chose mortality, becoming the god of the dead.

“Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā ye dhammā brāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme pahāya vattamānā, ye dhammā abrāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme samādāya vattamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘indamavhayāma, somamavhayāma, varuṇamavhayāma, īsānamavhayāma, pajāpatimavhayāma, brahmamavhayāma, mahiddhimavhayāma, yamamavhayāmā’ti.

“In the same way, Vāseṭṭha, the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas proceed having given up those things that make one a true brahmin, and having undertaken those things that make one not a true brahmin. Yet they say:*For the following list, compare the nine gods listed at Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.11 with the eight here. Six are shared with the Pali: Brahma is first, from whom derive Indra, Varuṇa, Soma, Yama, and Īsāna. Even the names that are not in common might arise from flawed transmission: Parjanya there is perhaps Pajāpati here; Rudra (or Shiva) would be well-described by Mahiddhi (“he of great power”); Mṛtyu (death) may have merged with Yama. If this connection is admitted, it would seem the Buddha is making a sly dig. Those who proclaim themselves to be true brahmins are prostrating themselves to those powers among the gods who, with the exception of Brahma himself, are in fact aristocrats (khattiya), not brahmins at all. The Upaniṣad draws attention to the rājasūya coronation, at which the brahmin sits beneath the aristocrat. Further, Indra, Pajāpati, Varuṇa, and Īsāna are also invoked in the martial exhortation at SN 11.3, cementing their status as aristocrat warriors.“Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā ye dhammā brāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme pahāya vattamānā, ye dhammā abrāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme samādāya vattamānā evamāhaṁsu: ‘We call upon Indra! We call upon Soma! We call upon Varuṇa! We call upon Īsāna! We call upon the Progenitor! We call upon the Divinity! We call upon Mahiddhi! We call upon Yama!’*Soma is the ritual drug of exhilaration, identified with the moon. | Vedic Varuṇa was the god of command, the king of tough rule. | Īsāna (Sanskrit Īśāna) was created by Pajāpati as “president”, said to be the sun (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 6.1.3). He was also identified with Rudra and Śiva. | Pajāpati (“progenitor”) was the lonely god of creation (“Let Prajāpati generate progeny for us”, Rig Veda 10.85.3). The heat of his fervent exertions (tapas) created the world and all things in it (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 6). | Brahmā, like Pajāpati, is also a creator god, but is the divine power immanent within creation, rather than the forgotten instigator of the past. | The Mahāsaṅgīti reading Mahiddhi (“he of great power”) is not a regular name for a deity, but as noted above, he may be Rudra/Shiva, regarded as the chief deity of psychic powers. The BJT reads Mahinda (Sanskrit Mahendra), the “Great Indra”, said to be a title of Indra bestowed after slaying the dragon Vṛtra (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 2.5.4.9). | Yama (“twin”, with his incestuous sister Yamī) was born immortal but chose mortality, becoming the god of the dead.‘indamavhayāma, somamavhayāma, varuṇamavhayāma, īsānamavhayāma, pajāpatimavhayāma, brahmamavhayāma, mahiddhimavhayāma, yamamavhayāmā’ti.

Suppose the river Aciravatī was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then along comes a person who wants to cross over to the far shore. But while still on the near shore, their arms are tied tightly behind their back with a strong chain.

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, ayaṁ aciravatī nadī pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Atha puriso āgaccheyya pāratthiko pāragavesī pāragāmī pāraṁ taritukāmo. So orime tīre daḷhāya anduyā pacchābāhaṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ baddho.

Suppose the river Aciravatī was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, ayaṁ aciravatī nadī pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Then along comes a person who wants to cross over to the far shore. Atha puriso āgaccheyya pāratthiko pāragavesī pāragāmī pāraṁ taritukāmo. But while still on the near shore, their arms are tied tightly behind their back with a strong chain. So orime tīre daḷhāya anduyā pacchābāhaṁ gāḷhabandhanaṁ baddho.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Could that person cross over to the far shore?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, api nu so puriso aciravatiyā nadiyā orimā tīrā pārimaṁ tīraṁ gaccheyyā”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Could that person cross over to the far shore?” api nu so puriso aciravatiyā nadiyā orimā tīrā pārimaṁ tīraṁ gaccheyyā”ti?

“In the same way, the five kinds of sensual stimulation are called ‘chains’ and ‘fetters’ in the training of the Noble One. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds known by the ear … Smells known by the nose … Tastes known by the tongue … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

“Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, pañcime kāmaguṇā ariyassa vinaye andūtipi vuccanti, bandhanantipi vuccanti. Katame pañca? Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe… ghānaviññeyyā gandhā … jivhāviññeyyā rasā … kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

“In the same way, the five kinds of sensual stimulation are called ‘chains’ and ‘fetters’ in the training of the Noble One. “Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, pañcime kāmaguṇā ariyassa vinaye andūtipi vuccanti, bandhanantipi vuccanti. What five? Katame pañca? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. Sounds known by the ear … Sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe… Smells known by the nose … ghānaviññeyyā gandhā … Tastes known by the tongue … jivhāviññeyyā rasā … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation that are called ‘chains’ and ‘fetters’ in the training of the Noble One. The brahmins proficient in the three Vedas enjoy these five kinds of sensual stimulation tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. So long as they enjoy them it’s impossible that they will, when the body breaks up, after death, be reborn in the company of Divinity.

Ime kho, vāseṭṭha, pañca kāmaguṇā ariyassa vinaye andūtipi vuccanti, bandhanantipi vuccanti. Ime kho, vāseṭṭha, pañca kāmaguṇe tevijjā brāhmaṇā gadhitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti. Te vata, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā ye dhammā brāhmaṇakārakā, te dhamme pahāya vattamānā, ye dhammā abrāhmaṇakārakā, te dhamme samādāya vattamānā pañca kāmaguṇe gadhitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjantā kāmandubandhanabaddhā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmānaṁ sahabyūpagā bhavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation that are called ‘chains’ and ‘fetters’ in the training of the Noble One. Ime kho, vāseṭṭha, pañca kāmaguṇā ariyassa vinaye andūtipi vuccanti, bandhanantipi vuccanti. The brahmins proficient in the three Vedas enjoy these five kinds of sensual stimulation tied, infatuated, attached, blind to the drawbacks, and not understanding the escape. Ime kho, vāseṭṭha, pañca kāmaguṇe tevijjā brāhmaṇā gadhitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjanti. So long as they enjoy them it’s impossible that they will, when the body breaks up, after death, be reborn in the company of Divinity. Te vata, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā ye dhammā brāhmaṇakārakā, te dhamme pahāya vattamānā, ye dhammā abrāhmaṇakārakā, te dhamme samādāya vattamānā pañca kāmaguṇe gadhitā mucchitā ajjhopannā anādīnavadassāvino anissaraṇapaññā paribhuñjantā kāmandubandhanabaddhā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmānaṁ sahabyūpagā bhavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

Suppose the river Aciravatī was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Then along comes a person who wants to cross over to the far shore. But they’d lie down wrapped in cloth from head to foot.

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, ayaṁ aciravatī nadī pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Atha puriso āgaccheyya pāratthiko pāragavesī pāragāmī pāraṁ taritukāmo. So orime tīre sasīsaṁ pārupitvā nipajjeyya.

Suppose the river Aciravatī was full to the brim so a crow could drink from it. Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, ayaṁ aciravatī nadī pūrā udakassa samatittikā kākapeyyā. Then along comes a person who wants to cross over to the far shore. Atha puriso āgaccheyya pāratthiko pāragavesī pāragāmī pāraṁ taritukāmo. But they’d lie down wrapped in cloth from head to foot. So orime tīre sasīsaṁ pārupitvā nipajjeyya.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Could that person cross over to the far shore?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, api nu so puriso aciravatiyā nadiyā orimā tīrā pārimaṁ tīraṁ gaccheyyā”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Could that person cross over to the far shore?” api nu so puriso aciravatiyā nadiyā orimā tīrā pārimaṁ tīraṁ gaccheyyā”ti?

“In the same way, the five hindrances are called ‘obstacles’ and ‘hindrances’ and ‘encasings’ and ‘shrouds’ in the training of the Noble One. What five? The hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These five hindrances are called ‘obstacles’ and ‘hindrances’ and ‘encasings’ and ‘shrouds’ in the training of the Noble One.

“Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, pañcime nīvaraṇā ariyassa vinaye āvaraṇātipi vuccanti, nīvaraṇātipi vuccanti, onāhanātipi vuccanti, pariyonāhanātipi vuccanti. Katame pañca? Kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ, byāpādanīvaraṇaṁ, thinamiddhanīvaraṇaṁ, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇaṁ, vicikicchānīvaraṇaṁ. Ime kho, vāseṭṭha, pañca nīvaraṇā ariyassa vinaye āvaraṇātipi vuccanti, nīvaraṇātipi vuccanti, onāhanātipi vuccanti, pariyonāhanātipi vuccanti.

“In the same way, the five hindrances are called ‘obstacles’ and ‘hindrances’ and ‘encasings’ and ‘shrouds’ in the training of the Noble One. “Evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, pañcime nīvaraṇā ariyassa vinaye āvaraṇātipi vuccanti, nīvaraṇātipi vuccanti, onāhanātipi vuccanti, pariyonāhanātipi vuccanti. What five? Katame pañca? The hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. Kāmacchandanīvaraṇaṁ, byāpādanīvaraṇaṁ, thinamiddhanīvaraṇaṁ, uddhaccakukkuccanīvaraṇaṁ, vicikicchānīvaraṇaṁ. These five hindrances are called ‘obstacles’ and ‘hindrances’ and ‘encasings’ and ‘shrouds’ in the training of the Noble One. Ime kho, vāseṭṭha, pañca nīvaraṇā ariyassa vinaye āvaraṇātipi vuccanti, nīvaraṇātipi vuccanti, onāhanātipi vuccanti, pariyonāhanātipi vuccanti.

The brahmins proficient in the three Vedas are obstructed, hindered, swathed, and enveloped by these five hindrances. So long as they are so obstructed it’s impossible that they will, when the body breaks up, after death, be reborn in the company of Divinity.

Imehi kho, vāseṭṭha, pañcahi nīvaraṇehi tevijjā brāhmaṇā āvuṭā nivutā onaddhā pariyonaddhā.*pariyonaddhā → te (sya-all, mr) | onaddhā → ophuṭā (bj, mr); ophutā (sya-all, pts1ed) Te vata, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā ye dhammā brāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme pahāya vattamānā, ye dhammā abrāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme samādāya vattamānā pañcahi nīvaraṇehi āvuṭā nivutā onaddhā pariyonaddhā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmānaṁ sahabyūpagā bhavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

The brahmins proficient in the three Vedas are obstructed, hindered, swathed, and enveloped by these five hindrances. Imehi kho, vāseṭṭha, pañcahi nīvaraṇehi tevijjā brāhmaṇā āvuṭā nivutā onaddhā pariyonaddhā.*pariyonaddhā → te (sya-all, mr) | onaddhā → ophuṭā (bj, mr); ophutā (sya-all, pts1ed)So long as they are so obstructed it’s impossible that they will, when the body breaks up, after death, be reborn in the company of Divinity. Te vata, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā ye dhammā brāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme pahāya vattamānā, ye dhammā abrāhmaṇakārakā te dhamme samādāya vattamānā pañcahi nīvaraṇehi āvuṭā nivutā onaddhā pariyonaddhā kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā brahmānaṁ sahabyūpagā bhavissantīti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Have you heard that the brahmins who are elderly and senior, the tutors of tutors, say whether the Divinity is encumbered with possessions or not?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, kinti te sutaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ, sapariggaho vā brahmā apariggaho vā”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Have you heard that the brahmins who are elderly and senior, the tutors of tutors, say whether the Divinity is encumbered with possessions or not?” kinti te sutaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ, sapariggaho vā brahmā apariggaho vā”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Are the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas encumbered with possessions or not?”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, sapariggahā vā tevijjā brāhmaṇā apariggahā vā”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Are the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas encumbered with possessions or not?” sapariggahā vā tevijjā brāhmaṇā apariggahā vā”ti?

“So it seems that the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas are encumbered with possessions, but the Divinity is not. But would brahmins who are encumbered with possessions join together and converge with the Divinity, who isn’t encumbered with possessions?”

“Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, sapariggahā tevijjā brāhmaṇā apariggaho brahmā. Api nu kho sapariggahānaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ apariggahena brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

“So it seems that the brahmins proficient in the three Vedas are encumbered with possessions, but the Divinity is not. “Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, sapariggahā tevijjā brāhmaṇā apariggaho brahmā. But would brahmins who are encumbered with possessions join together and converge with the Divinity, who isn’t encumbered with possessions?” Api nu kho sapariggahānaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ apariggahena brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

And it seems that the brahmins have enmity, ill will, corruption, and do not wield power, while the Divinity has no enmity, ill will, or corruption, and who does wield power. But would brahmins who are opposite to the Divinity in all these things join together and converge with him?”

Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, saveracittā tevijjā brāhmaṇā, averacitto brahmā …pe… sabyāpajjacittā tevijjā brāhmaṇā abyāpajjacitto brahmā … saṅkiliṭṭhacittā tevijjā brāhmaṇā asaṅkiliṭṭhacitto brahmā … avasavattī tevijjā brāhmaṇā vasavattī brahmā, api nu kho avasavattīnaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vasavattinā brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

And it seems that the brahmins have enmity, Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, saveracittā tevijjā brāhmaṇā, averacitto brahmā …pe… ill will, sabyāpajjacittā tevijjā brāhmaṇā abyāpajjacitto brahmā … corruption, saṅkiliṭṭhacittā tevijjā brāhmaṇā asaṅkiliṭṭhacitto brahmā … and do not wield power, while the Divinity has no enmity, ill will, or corruption, and who does wield power. But would brahmins who are opposite to the Divinity in all these things join together and converge with him?” avasavattī tevijjā brāhmaṇā vasavattī brahmā, api nu kho avasavattīnaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vasavattinā brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

Now in this regard, Vāseṭṭha, those brahmins proficient in the three Vedas, having dived in, sink down. Having sunk down, they undergo drowning, imagining they are crossing to the dry shore.*Drawing from imagery already established in this text, the passage relies on the metaphor of crossing a river, but the river is not mentioned. Read visādaṁ after the common expression saṁsīdati visīdati (AN 5.75:1.3). The three verbal phrases express increasing intensification of “go under water”: “dive in” (āsīditvā), “sink down” (saṁsīdanti), “undergo drowning” (visādaṁ pāpuṇanti). That’s why the three Vedas of the brahmins are called a ‘salted land’ and a ‘barren land’ and a ‘disaster’.”

Idha kho pana te, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā āsīditvā saṁsīdanti, saṁsīditvā visāraṁ pāpuṇanti, sukkhataraṁ maññe taranti.*āsīditvā → ādisitvā (mr) | visāraṁ → visādaṁ (bj, pts1ed); visattaṁ (sya-all) | sukkhataraṁ → sukkhataraṇaṁ (bj, mr); sukhataraṁ (sya-all) Tasmā idaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ tevijjāiriṇantipi vuccati, tevijjāvivanantipi vuccati, tevijjābyasanantipi vuccatī”ti.

Now in this regard, Vāseṭṭha, those brahmins proficient in the three Vedas, having dived in, sink down. Having sunk down, they undergo drowning, imagining they are crossing to the dry shore.*Drawing from imagery already established in this text, the passage relies on the metaphor of crossing a river, but the river is not mentioned. Read visādaṁ after the common expression saṁsīdati visīdati (AN 5.75:1.3). The three verbal phrases express increasing intensification of “go under water”: “dive in” (āsīditvā), “sink down” (saṁsīdanti), “undergo drowning” (visādaṁ pāpuṇanti).Idha kho pana te, vāseṭṭha, tevijjā brāhmaṇā āsīditvā saṁsīdanti, saṁsīditvā visāraṁ pāpuṇanti, sukkhataraṁ maññe taranti.*āsīditvā → ādisitvā (mr) | visāraṁ → visādaṁ (bj, pts1ed); visattaṁ (sya-all) | sukkhataraṁ → sukkhataraṇaṁ (bj, mr); sukhataraṁ (sya-all)That’s why the three Vedas of the brahmins are called a ‘salted land’ and a ‘barren land’ and a ‘disaster’.” Tasmā idaṁ tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ tevijjāiriṇantipi vuccati, tevijjāvivanantipi vuccati, tevijjābyasanantipi vuccatī”ti.

When he said this, Vāseṭṭha said to the Buddha, “I have heard, worthy Gotama, that you know the path to company with Divinity.”

Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, samaṇo gotamo brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ jānātī”ti.

When he said this, Vāseṭṭha said to the Buddha, Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “I have heard, worthy Gotama, that you know the path to company with Divinity.” “sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, samaṇo gotamo brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ jānātī”ti.

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Is the village of Manasākaṭa nearby?”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha. Āsanne ito manasākaṭaṁ, na ito dūre manasākaṭan”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha. Is the village of Manasākaṭa nearby?” Āsanne ito manasākaṭaṁ, na ito dūre manasākaṭan”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Suppose a person was born and raised in Manasākaṭa. And as soon as they left the town some people asked them for the road to Manasākaṭa. Would they be slow or hesitant to answer?”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, idhassa puriso manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddho. Tamenaṁ manasākaṭato tāvadeva avasaṭaṁ manasākaṭassa maggaṁ puccheyyuṁ. Siyā nu kho, vāseṭṭha, tassa purisassa manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddhassa manasākaṭassa maggaṁ puṭṭhassa dandhāyitattaṁ vā vitthāyitattaṁ vā”ti?

“What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, Suppose a person was born and raised in Manasākaṭa. idhassa puriso manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddho. And as soon as they left the town some people asked them for the road to Manasākaṭa. Tamenaṁ manasākaṭato tāvadeva avasaṭaṁ manasākaṭassa maggaṁ puccheyyuṁ. Would they be slow or hesitant to answer?” Siyā nu kho, vāseṭṭha, tassa purisassa manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddhassa manasākaṭassa maggaṁ puṭṭhassa dandhāyitattaṁ vā vitthāyitattaṁ vā”ti?

“No, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because they were born and raised in Manasākaṭa. They’re well acquainted with all the roads to the village.”

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Taṁ kissa hetu”? “Amu hi, bho gotama, puriso manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddho, tassa sabbāneva manasākaṭassa maggāni suviditānī”ti.

“No, worthy Gotama. “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. Why is that? “Taṁ kissa hetu”? Because they were born and raised in Manasākaṭa. They’re well acquainted with all the roads to the village.” “Amu hi, bho gotama, puriso manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddho, tassa sabbāneva manasākaṭassa maggāni suviditānī”ti.

“Still, it’s possible they might be slow or hesitant to answer. But the Realized One is never slow or hesitant when questioned about the realm of divinity or the practice that leads to the realm of divinity. I understand the Divinity, the realm of divinity, and the practice that leads to the realm of divinity, practicing in accordance with which one is reborn in the realm of divinity.”

“Siyā kho, vāseṭṭha, tassa purisassa manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddhassa manasākaṭassa maggaṁ puṭṭhassa dandhāyitattaṁ vā vitthāyitattaṁ vā, na tveva tathāgatassa brahmaloke vā brahmalokagāminiyā vā paṭipadāya puṭṭhassa dandhāyitattaṁ vā vitthāyitattaṁ vā. Brahmānañcāhaṁ, vāseṭṭha, pajānāmi brahmalokañca brahmalokagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ, yathā paṭipanno ca brahmalokaṁ upapanno, tañca pajānāmī”ti.

“Still, it’s possible they might be slow or hesitant to answer. But the Realized One is never slow or hesitant when questioned about the realm of divinity or the practice that leads to the realm of divinity. “Siyā kho, vāseṭṭha, tassa purisassa manasākaṭe jātasaṁvaddhassa manasākaṭassa maggaṁ puṭṭhassa dandhāyitattaṁ vā vitthāyitattaṁ vā, na tveva tathāgatassa brahmaloke vā brahmalokagāminiyā vā paṭipadāya puṭṭhassa dandhāyitattaṁ vā vitthāyitattaṁ vā. I understand the Divinity, the realm of divinity, and the practice that leads to the realm of divinity, practicing in accordance with which one is reborn in the realm of divinity.” Brahmānañcāhaṁ, vāseṭṭha, pajānāmi brahmalokañca brahmalokagāminiñca paṭipadaṁ, yathā paṭipanno ca brahmalokaṁ upapanno, tañca pajānāmī”ti.

When he said this, Vāseṭṭha said to the Buddha, “I have heard, worthy Gotama, that you teach the path to company with Divinity.*The close -ti has apparently confused some editors; Vāseṭṭha is quoting what he has heard. Please teach us that path and elevate this generation of brahmins.”

Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, samaṇo gotamo brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetī”ti. “Sādhu no bhavaṁ gotamo brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetu ullumpatu bhavaṁ gotamo brāhmaṇiṁ pajan”ti.

When he said this, Vāseṭṭha said to the Buddha, Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “I have heard, worthy Gotama, that you teach the path to company with Divinity.*The close -ti has apparently confused some editors; Vāseṭṭha is quoting what he has heard.“sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, samaṇo gotamo brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetī”ti. Please teach us that path and elevate this generation of brahmins.” “Sādhu no bhavaṁ gotamo brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggaṁ desetu ullumpatu bhavaṁ gotamo brāhmaṇiṁ pajan”ti.

“It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha … That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics. … Seeing that the hindrances have been given up in them, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed.

“idha, vāseṭṭha, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ, sammāsambuddho …pe… Evaṁ kho, vāseṭṭha, bhikkhubhikkhuUn hombre que ha renunciado a la vida de hogar para vivir una vida de virtud elevada (ver sīla) de acuerdo con el Vinaya en general, y las reglas del Pātimokkha en particular. La raíz de la palabra significa «mendicante», es decir, uno que vive de limosnas. Como el masculino se usa como género por defecto en pali, el término bhikkhu a menudo incluye también a las monjas, por lo que «mendicante» puede usarse como traducción de género neutro. Ver saṅgha, parisā, upasampadā.Ver en el glosario sīlasampanno hoti …pe… tassime pañca nīvaraṇe pahīne attani samanupassato pāmojjaṁ jāyati, pamuditassa pītipītiGozo, deleite o entusiasmo meditativo. En meditación, pīti designa una cualidad gozosa y energizante de la mente que aparece en el primer jhāna, que alcanza su madurez en el segundo jhāna, y se desvanece antes del tercero. Es también uno de los siete factores del despertar.Ver en el glosario jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

“It’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha … “idha, vāseṭṭha, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ, sammāsambuddho …pe… That’s how a mendicant is accomplished in ethics. … Evaṁ kho, vāseṭṭha, bhikkhubhikkhuUn hombre que ha renunciado a la vida de hogar para vivir una vida de virtud elevada (ver sīla) de acuerdo con el Vinaya en general, y las reglas del Pātimokkha en particular. La raíz de la palabra significa «mendicante», es decir, uno que vive de limosnas. Como el masculino se usa como género por defecto en pali, el término bhikkhu a menudo incluye también a las monjas, por lo que «mendicante» puede usarse como traducción de género neutro. Ver saṅgha, parisā, upasampadā.Ver en el glosario sīlasampanno hoti …pe… Seeing that the hindrances have been given up in them, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, they feel bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed. tassime pañca nīvaraṇe pahīne attani samanupassato pāmojjaṁ jāyati, pamuditassa pītipītiGozo, deleite o entusiasmo meditativo. En meditación, pīti designa una cualidad gozosa y energizante de la mente que aparece en el primer jhāna, que alcanza su madurez en el segundo jhāna, y se desvanece antes del tercero. Es también uno de los siete factores del despertar.Ver en el glosario jāyati, pītimanassa kāyo passambhati, passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti, sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati.

Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters. In the same way, when the heart’s release by love has been developed like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there.*The mind in jhāna is so powerful that it effectively overrides any limited kamma, including ordinary good or bad deeds. Unless they have committed serious crimes with a fixed kammic result such as matricide, etc., the meditator will be reborn in a Brahmā realm. This is a path to company with Divinity.

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, evaṁ bhāvitāya mettāya cetovimuttiyā yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhati. Ayampi kho, vāseṭṭha, brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggo.

Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters. Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; In the same way, when the heart’s release by love has been developed like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there.*The mind in jhāna is so powerful that it effectively overrides any limited kamma, including ordinary good or bad deeds. Unless they have committed serious crimes with a fixed kammic result such as matricide, etc., the meditator will be reborn in a Brahmā realm.evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, evaṁ bhāvitāya mettāya cetovimuttiyā yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhati. This is a path to company with Divinity. Ayampi kho, vāseṭṭha, brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggo.

Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters. In the same way, when the heart’s release by equanimity has been developed and cultivated like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there. This too is a path to company with Divinity.*A brahmin student who for their whole life practices harmlessness for all beings—except at holy places—attains the world of Brahmā (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 8.15.1). The exception for holy places is, of course, to allow for the sacrifice.

Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, evaṁ bhāvitāya upekkhāya cetovimuttiyā yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhati. Ayampi kho, vāseṭṭha, brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggo.

Suppose there was a powerful horn blower. They’d easily make themselves heard in the four quarters. Seyyathāpi, vāseṭṭha, balavā saṅkhadhamo appakasireneva catuddisā viññāpeyya; In the same way, when the heart’s release by equanimity has been developed and cultivated like this, any limited deeds they’ve done don’t remain or persist there. evameva kho, vāseṭṭha, evaṁ bhāvitāya upekkhāya cetovimuttiyā yaṁ pamāṇakataṁ kammaṁ na taṁ tatrāvasissati, na taṁ tatrāvatiṭṭhati. This too is a path to company with Divinity.*A brahmin student who for their whole life practices harmlessness for all beings—except at holy places—attains the world of Brahmā (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 8.15.1). The exception for holy places is, of course, to allow for the sacrifice.Ayampi kho, vāseṭṭha, brahmānaṁ sahabyatāya maggo.

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? When a mendicant meditates like this, are they encumbered with possessions or not?”

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, evaṁvihārī bhikkhu sapariggaho vā apariggaho vā”ti?

What do you think, Vāseṭṭha? Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, vāseṭṭha, When a mendicant meditates like this, are they encumbered with possessions or not?” evaṁvihārī bhikkhu sapariggaho vā apariggaho vā”ti?

“So it seems that that mendicant is not encumbered with possessions, and neither is the Divinity. Would a mendicant who is not encumbered with possessions join together and converge with the Divinity, who isn’t encumbered with possessions?”

“Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, apariggaho bhikkhu, apariggaho brahmā. Api nu kho apariggahassa bhikkhuno apariggahena brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

“So it seems that that mendicant is not encumbered with possessions, and neither is the Divinity. “Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, apariggaho bhikkhu, apariggaho brahmā. Would a mendicant who is not encumbered with possessions join together and converge with the Divinity, who isn’t encumbered with possessions?” Api nu kho apariggahassa bhikkhuno apariggahena brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

And it seems that that mendicant has no enmity, ill will, corruption, and does wield power, while the Divinity is the same in all these things. Would a mendicant who is the same as the Divinity in all things join together and converge with him?”

Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, averacitto bhikkhu, averacitto brahmā …pe… abyāpajjacitto bhikkhu, abyāpajjacitto brahmā … asaṅkiliṭṭhacitto bhikkhu, asaṅkiliṭṭhacitto brahmā … vasavattī bhikkhu, vasavattī brahmā, api nu kho vasavattissa bhikkhuno vasavattinā brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

And it seems that that mendicant has no enmity, Iti kira, vāseṭṭha, averacitto bhikkhu, averacitto brahmā …pe… ill will, abyāpajjacitto bhikkhu, abyāpajjacitto brahmā … corruption, asaṅkiliṭṭhacitto bhikkhu, asaṅkiliṭṭhacitto brahmā … and does wield power, while the Divinity is the same in all these things. Would a mendicant who is the same as the Divinity in all things join together and converge with him?” vasavattī bhikkhu, vasavattī brahmā, api nu kho vasavattissa bhikkhuno vasavattinā brahmunā saddhiṁ saṁsandati sametī”ti?

When he had spoken, Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja said to him, “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. We go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.*They also went for refuge in similar circumstances at MN 98:14.4 = Snp 3.9:69.3. According to the commentary, that was the first time they went for refuge, while this was the second time. This makes sense in terms of the progress of the teachings, for there they discuss what makes a brahmin, whereas here they ask the more subtle question how to achieve rebirth with Brahmā. The discussion, too, is on a more detailed level, with a more explicit criticism of the brahmins. Nonetheless, it is difficult to square the details of the narratives, for the opening of this sutta depicts Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja speaking about the Buddha by reputation rather than as devotees who have previously met him and gone for refuge. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”

Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭhabhāradvājā māṇavā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “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. Ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma, dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.

When he had spoken, Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja said to him, Evaṁ vutte, vāseṭṭhabhāradvājā māṇavā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. 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. 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. We go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.*They also went for refuge in similar circumstances at MN 98:14.4 = Snp 3.9:69.3. According to the commentary, that was the first time they went for refuge, while this was the second time. This makes sense in terms of the progress of the teachings, for there they discuss what makes a brahmin, whereas here they ask the more subtle question how to achieve rebirth with Brahmā. The discussion, too, is on a more detailed level, with a more explicit criticism of the brahmins. Nonetheless, it is difficult to square the details of the narratives, for the opening of this sutta depicts Vāseṭṭha and Bhāradvāja speaking about the Buddha by reputation rather than as devotees who have previously met him and gone for refuge.Ete mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāma, dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.” Upāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.