{"id":"snp2.7","title":"Brahmanical Principles","languageCodes":["en","pi"],"languageNotes":{"en":"Bhikkhu Sujato · CC0","pi":"Mahāsaṅgīti edition · SuttaCentral"},"chapters":[{"id":"snp2.7","title":"Brahmanical Principles","units":[{"id":"snp2.7:0","sourceIds":["snp2.7:0.1","snp2.7:0.2"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Sutta Nipāta 2.7\nBrāhmaṇadhammikasutta","en":"Anthology of Discourses 2.7\nBrahmanical Principles"}},{"id":"snp2.7:1","sourceIds":["snp2.7:1.1","snp2.7:1.2","snp2.7:1.3","snp2.7:1.4","snp2.7:1.5","snp2.7:1.6","snp2.7:1.7","snp2.7:1.8","snp2.7:1.9","snp2.7:1.10"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evaṁ me sutaṁ—\nekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.\nAtha kho sambahulā kosalakā brāhmaṇamahāsālā jiṇṇā vuḍḍhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu.\nSammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:\n“sandissanti nu kho, bho gotama, etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti?\n“Na kho, brāhmaṇā, sandissanti etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhamme”ti.\n“Sādhu no bhavaṁ gotamo porāṇānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ brāhmaṇadhammaṁ bhāsatu, sace bhoto gotamassa agarū”ti.\n“Tena hi, brāhmaṇā, suṇātha, sādhukaṁ manasi karotha, bhāsissāmī”ti.\n“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavato paccassosuṁ.\nBhagavā etadavoca:","en":"So I have heard.\nAt one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery.\nThen several old and well-to-do brahmins of Kosala—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life—went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.\nWhen the greetings and polite conversation were over, they sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:\n“Worthy Gotama, are the ancient principles of the brahmins exhibited these days among brahmins?”\n“No, brahmins, they are not.”\n“If you wouldn’t mind, Worthy Gotama, please teach us the ancient principles of the brahmins.”\n“Well then, brahmins, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”\n“Yes, worthy sir,” they replied.\nThe Buddha said this:"}},{"id":"snp2.7:2","sourceIds":["snp2.7:2.1","snp2.7:2.2","snp2.7:2.3","snp2.7:2.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"“Isayo pubbakā āsuṁ,\nsaññatattā tapassino;\nPañca kāmaguṇe hitvā,\nattadatthamacārisuṁ.","en":"“The ancient seers used to be\nrestrained and austere.\nHaving given up the five sensual stimuli,\nthey lived for their own true good."}},{"id":"snp2.7:3","sourceIds":["snp2.7:3.1","snp2.7:3.2","snp2.7:3.3","snp2.7:3.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Na pasū brāhmaṇānāsuṁ,\nna hiraññaṁ na dhāniyaṁ;\nSajjhāyadhanadhaññāsuṁ,\nbrahmaṁ nidhimapālayuṁ.","en":"Brahmins used to own no cattle,\nnor gold coin or grain.\nChanting was their money and grain,\nwhich they guarded as a gift from god."}},{"id":"snp2.7:4","sourceIds":["snp2.7:4.1","snp2.7:4.2","snp2.7:4.3","snp2.7:4.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yaṁ nesaṁ pakataṁ āsi,\ndvārabhattaṁ upaṭṭhitaṁ;\nSaddhāpakatamesānaṁ,\ndātave tadamaññisuṁ.","en":"Food was prepared for them\nand left beside their doors.\nPeople believed that food prepared in faith\nshould be given to them."}},{"id":"snp2.7:5","sourceIds":["snp2.7:5.1","snp2.7:5.2","snp2.7:5.3","snp2.7:5.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Nānārattehi vatthehi,\nsayanehāvasathehi ca;\nPhītā janapadā raṭṭhā,\nte namassiṁsu brāhmaṇe.","en":"With colorful clothes,\nlodgings and houses,\nprosperous nations and countries\nhonored those brahmins."}},{"id":"snp2.7:6","sourceIds":["snp2.7:6.1","snp2.7:6.2","snp2.7:6.3","snp2.7:6.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Avajjhā brāhmaṇā āsuṁ,\najeyyā dhammarakkhitā;\nNa ne koci nivāresi,\nkuladvāresu sabbaso.","en":"Brahmins used to be inviolable and\ninvincible, protected by principle.\nNo one ever turned them away\nfrom the doors of families."}},{"id":"snp2.7:7","sourceIds":["snp2.7:7.1","snp2.7:7.2","snp2.7:7.3","snp2.7:7.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Aṭṭhacattālīsaṁ vassāni,\n(komāra) Brahmacariyaṁ cariṁsu te;\nVijjācaraṇapariyeṭṭhiṁ,\nAcaruṁ brāhmaṇā pure.","en":"For forty-eight years\nthey led the spiritual life.\nThe brahmins of old pursued\ntheir quest for knowledge and conduct."}},{"id":"snp2.7:8","sourceIds":["snp2.7:8.1","snp2.7:8.2","snp2.7:8.3","snp2.7:8.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Na brāhmaṇā aññamagamuṁ,\nnapi bhariyaṁ kiṇiṁsu te;\nSampiyeneva saṁvāsaṁ,\nsaṅgantvā samarocayuṁ.","en":"Brahmins never transgressed with another,\nnor did they purchase a wife.\nThey lived together in love,\njoining together by mutual consent."}},{"id":"snp2.7:9","sourceIds":["snp2.7:9.1","snp2.7:9.2","snp2.7:9.3","snp2.7:9.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Aññatra tamhā samayā,\nutuveramaṇiṁ pati;\nAntarā methunaṁ dhammaṁ,\nnāssu gacchanti brāhmaṇā.","en":"Brahmins never approached their wives for sex\nduring the time outside\nthe fertile phase of the menstrual cycle\nafter menstruation."}},{"id":"snp2.7:10","sourceIds":["snp2.7:10.1","snp2.7:10.2","snp2.7:10.3","snp2.7:10.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Brahmacariyañca sīlañca,\najjavaṁ maddavaṁ tapaṁ;\nSoraccaṁ avihiṁsañca,\nkhantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.","en":"They praised chastity and morality,\nintegrity, tenderness, and fervor,\ngentleness and harmlessness,\nand also patience."}},{"id":"snp2.7:11","sourceIds":["snp2.7:11.1","snp2.7:11.2","snp2.7:11.3","snp2.7:11.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yo nesaṁ paramo āsi,\nBrahmā daḷhaparakkamo;\nSa vāpi methunaṁ dhammaṁ,\nSupinantepi nāgamā.","en":"He who was supreme among them,\ngodlike, staunchly vigorous,\ndid not engage in sex\neven in a dream."}},{"id":"snp2.7:12","sourceIds":["snp2.7:12.1","snp2.7:12.2","snp2.7:12.3","snp2.7:12.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tassa vattamanusikkhantā,\nIdheke viññujātikā;\nBrahmacariyañca sīlañca,\nKhantiñcāpi avaṇṇayuṁ.","en":"Training in line with their duties,\nmany smart people here\npraised chastity and morality,\nand also patience."}},{"id":"snp2.7:13","sourceIds":["snp2.7:13.1","snp2.7:13.2","snp2.7:13.3","snp2.7:13.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Taṇḍulaṁ sayanaṁ vatthaṁ,\nSappitelañca yāciya;\nDhammena samodhānetvā,\nTato yaññamakappayuṁ.","en":"They begged for rice,\nbedding, clothes, ghee, and oil.\nHaving collected them legitimately,\nthey arranged a sacrifice."}},{"id":"snp2.7:14","sourceIds":["snp2.7:14.1","snp2.7:14.2","snp2.7:14.3","snp2.7:14.4","snp2.7:14.5","snp2.7:14.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Upaṭṭhitasmiṁ yaññasmiṁ,\nNāssu gāvo haniṁsu te;\nYathā mātā pitā bhātā,\nAññe vāpi ca ñātakā;\nGāvo no paramā mittā,\nYāsu jāyanti osadhā.","en":"But they slew no cows\nwhile serving at the sacrifice.\nLike a mother, father, or brother,\nor some other relative,\ncows are our best friends,\nthe fonts of medicine."}},{"id":"snp2.7:15","sourceIds":["snp2.7:15.1","snp2.7:15.2","snp2.7:15.3","snp2.7:15.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Annadā baladā cetā,\nVaṇṇadā sukhadā tathā;\nEtamatthavasaṁ ñatvā,\nNāssu gāvo haniṁsu te.","en":"They give food and strength,\nand beauty and happiness.\nKnowing these benefits,\nthey slew no cows."}},{"id":"snp2.7:16","sourceIds":["snp2.7:16.1","snp2.7:16.2","snp2.7:16.3","snp2.7:16.4","snp2.7:16.5","snp2.7:16.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Sukhumālā mahākāyā,\nVaṇṇavanto yasassino;\nBrāhmaṇā sehi dhammehi,\nKiccākiccesu ussukā;\nYāva loke avattiṁsu,\nSukhamedhitthayaṁ pajā.","en":"The brahmins were delicate and tall,\nbeautiful and glorious.\nThey were keen on all the duties\naccording to their teachings.\nSo long as they continued in the world,\npeople flourished happily."}},{"id":"snp2.7:17","sourceIds":["snp2.7:17.1","snp2.7:17.2","snp2.7:17.3","snp2.7:17.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tesaṁ āsi vipallāso,\nDisvāna aṇuto aṇuṁ;\nRājino ca viyākāraṁ,\nNāriyo samalaṅkatā.","en":"But perversion crept into them\nlittle by little when they saw\nthe transformation of the king\nand the ladies in all their finery."}},{"id":"snp2.7:18","sourceIds":["snp2.7:18.1","snp2.7:18.2","snp2.7:18.3","snp2.7:18.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Rathe cājaññasaṁyutte,\nSukate cittasibbane;\nNivesane nivese ca,\nVibhatte bhāgaso mite.","en":"Their chariots were harnessed with thoroughbreds,\nwell-made with bright canopies,\nand their homes and houses\nwere neatly divided section by section."}},{"id":"snp2.7:19","sourceIds":["snp2.7:19.1","snp2.7:19.2","snp2.7:19.3","snp2.7:19.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Gomaṇḍalaparibyūḷhaṁ,\nNārīvaragaṇāyutaṁ;\nUḷāraṁ mānusaṁ bhogaṁ,\nAbhijjhāyiṁsu brāhmaṇā.","en":"They were lavished with herds of cattle,\nand furnished with bevies of lovely ladies.\nThis extravagant human wealth\nwas coveted by the brahmins."}},{"id":"snp2.7:20","sourceIds":["snp2.7:20.1","snp2.7:20.2","snp2.7:20.3","snp2.7:20.4","snp2.7:20.5"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Te tattha mante ganthetvā,\nOkkākaṁ tadupāgamuṁ;\nPahūtadhanadhaññosi,\nYajassu bahu te vittaṁ;\nYajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.","en":"They compiled hymns to that end,\napproached King Okkāka and said,\n‘You have plenty of money and grain.\nSacrifice! For you have much treasure.\nSacrifice! For you have much money.’"}},{"id":"snp2.7:21","sourceIds":["snp2.7:21.1","snp2.7:21.2","snp2.7:21.3","snp2.7:21.4","snp2.7:21.5","snp2.7:21.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tato ca rājā saññatto,\nBrāhmaṇehi rathesabho;\nAssamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,\nSammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ niraggaḷaṁ;\nEte yāge yajitvāna,\nBrāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.","en":"Persuaded by the brahmins,\nthe king, chief of charioteers, performed\nhorse sacrifice, human sacrifice,\nthe sacrifices of the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’.\nWhen he had carried out these sacrifices,\nhe gave riches to the brahmins."}},{"id":"snp2.7:22","sourceIds":["snp2.7:22.1","snp2.7:22.2","snp2.7:22.3","snp2.7:22.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Gāvo sayanañca vatthañca,\nNāriyo samalaṅkatā;\nRathe cājaññasaṁyutte,\nSukate cittasibbane.","en":"There were cattle, bedding, and clothes,\nand ladies in all their finery;\nchariots harnessed with thoroughbreds,\nwell-made with bright canopies;"}},{"id":"snp2.7:23","sourceIds":["snp2.7:23.1","snp2.7:23.2","snp2.7:23.3","snp2.7:23.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Nivesanāni rammāni,\nSuvibhattāni bhāgaso;\nNānādhaññassa pūretvā,\nBrāhmaṇānamadā dhanaṁ.","en":"and lovely homes,\nnicely divided section by section.\nHaving furnished them with different grains,\nhe gave riches to the brahmins."}},{"id":"snp2.7:24","sourceIds":["snp2.7:24.1","snp2.7:24.2","snp2.7:24.3","snp2.7:24.4","snp2.7:24.5","snp2.7:24.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Te ca tattha dhanaṁ laddhā,\nSannidhiṁ samarocayuṁ;\nTesaṁ icchāvatiṇṇānaṁ,\nBhiyyo taṇhā pavaḍḍhatha;\nTe tattha mante ganthetvā,\nOkkākaṁ puna mupāgamuṁ.","en":"When they got hold of that wealth,\nthey arranged to store it up.\nFalling under the sway of desire,\ntheir craving grew and grew.\nThey compiled hymns to that end,\napproached King Okkāka once more and said,"}},{"id":"snp2.7:25","sourceIds":["snp2.7:25.1","snp2.7:25.2","snp2.7:25.3","snp2.7:25.4","snp2.7:25.5","snp2.7:25.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Yathā āpo ca pathavī ca,\nHiraññaṁ dhanadhāniyaṁ;\nEvaṁ gāvo manussānaṁ,\nParikkhāro so hi pāṇinaṁ;\nYajassu bahu te vittaṁ,\nYajassu bahu te dhanaṁ.","en":"‘Like water and earth,\ngold coin, riches, and grain,\nare cows for humankind,\nas they are essential for creatures.\nSacrifice! For you have much treasure.\nSacrifice! For you have much money.’"}},{"id":"snp2.7:26","sourceIds":["snp2.7:26.1","snp2.7:26.2","snp2.7:26.3","snp2.7:26.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tato ca rājā saññatto,\nBrāhmaṇehi rathesabho;\nNekā satasahassiyo,\nGāvo yaññe aghātayi.","en":"Persuaded by the brahmins,\nthe king, chief of charioteers,\nhad many hundred thousand cows\nslain at the sacrifice."}},{"id":"snp2.7:27","sourceIds":["snp2.7:27.1","snp2.7:27.2","snp2.7:27.3","snp2.7:27.4","snp2.7:27.5","snp2.7:27.6"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Na pādā na visāṇena,\nNāssu hiṁsanti kenaci;\nGāvo eḷakasamānā,\nSoratā kumbhadūhanā;\nTā visāṇe gahetvāna,\nRājā satthena ghātayi.","en":"Neither with feet nor with horns\ndo cows harm anyone at all.\nCows meek as lambs\nsupply buckets of milk.\nBut taking them by the horns,\nthe king slew them with a sword."}},{"id":"snp2.7:28","sourceIds":["snp2.7:28.1","snp2.7:28.2","snp2.7:28.3","snp2.7:28.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tato devā pitaro ca,\nIndo asurarakkhasā;\nAdhammo iti pakkanduṁ,\nYaṁ satthaṁ nipatī gave.","en":"At that the gods and the ancestors,\nwith Indra, the titans and monsters,\nroared out: ‘This is a crime against nature!’\nas the sword fell on the cows."}},{"id":"snp2.7:29","sourceIds":["snp2.7:29.1","snp2.7:29.2","snp2.7:29.3","snp2.7:29.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Tayo rogā pure āsuṁ,\nIcchā anasanaṁ jarā;\nPasūnañca samārambhā,\nAṭṭhānavutimāgamuṁ.","en":"There used to be three kinds of illness:\ngreed, starvation, and old age.\nBut due to the slaughter of cows,\nthis grew to be ninety-eight."}},{"id":"snp2.7:30","sourceIds":["snp2.7:30.1","snp2.7:30.2","snp2.7:30.3","snp2.7:30.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Eso adhammo daṇḍānaṁ,\nOkkanto purāṇo ahu;\nAdūsikāyo haññanti,\nDhammā dhaṁsanti yājakā.","en":"This crime of the rods\nis of ancient descent.\nKilling innocent creatures,\nthe sacrificers forsake righteousness."}},{"id":"snp2.7:31","sourceIds":["snp2.7:31.1","snp2.7:31.2","snp2.7:31.3","snp2.7:31.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evameso aṇudhammo,\nPorāṇo viññugarahito;\nYattha edisakaṁ passati,\nYājakaṁ garahatī jano.","en":"And that is how this mean old practice\nwas criticized by sensible people.\nWherever they see such a thing,\nfolk criticize the sacrificer."}},{"id":"snp2.7:32","sourceIds":["snp2.7:32.1","snp2.7:32.2","snp2.7:32.3","snp2.7:32.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evaṁ dhamme viyāpanne,\nVibhinnā suddavessikā;\nPuthū vibhinnā khattiyā,\nPatiṁ bhariyāvamaññatha.","en":"With righteousness gone,\npeasants and menials were split,\nas were many aristocrats,\nand wives looked down on their husbands."}},{"id":"snp2.7:33","sourceIds":["snp2.7:33.1","snp2.7:33.2","snp2.7:33.3","snp2.7:33.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Khattiyā brahmabandhū ca,\nYe caññe gottarakkhitā;\nJātivādaṁ nirākatvā,\nKāmānaṁ vasamanvagun”ti.","en":"Aristocrats and brahmins only by kin,\nand others protected by their clan,\nneglecting their genealogy,\nfell under the sway of sensual pleasures.”"}},{"id":"snp2.7:34","sourceIds":["snp2.7:34.1","snp2.7:34.2","snp2.7:34.3","snp2.7:34.4"],"kind":"text","text":{"pi":"Evaṁ vutte, te brāhmaṇamahāsālā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:\n“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…\nupāsake no bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupete saraṇaṁ gate”ti.\nBrāhmaṇadhammikasuttaṁ sattamaṁ.","en":"When he had spoken, those well-to-do brahmins said to the Buddha,\n“Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! …\nFrom this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember us as lay followers who have gone for refuge for life.”"}}]}],"sourceRevision":"afdafa92450cfe7573b280da50382888323666d2","sourceUrl":"https://suttacentral.net/snp2.7/en/sujato","licence":"CC0 1.0","licenceUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","editionNote":"Full supplied source file; inherited abbreviations are preserved. Not a reconstructed expansion of every repetition. No Malay or Mandarin translation is implied."}