MN90: Kaṇṇakatthalasutta - At Kaṇṇakatthala
- © Translated from the Pali by Bhante Sujato. (More copyright information)
mn90:1.1So I have heard.The narrative of this sutta is entertainingly chaotic, with characters appearing and disappearing at random, many of whom are unknown or little-known elsewhere. This is a lifelike impression of how hard it is to maintain a rational dialogue among the comings and goings. Historically it gives a brief but telling character portrait of Viḍūḍabha, the ill-starred prince of Kosala. At one time the Buddha was staying near Ujuññā, in the deer park at Kaṇṇakatthala.Ujuññā was a Kosalan town at which discussed asceticism with the naked ascetic Kassapa in DN8.
“Deer parks” were nature reservations where the animals were safe from hunters.
mn90:2.1Now at that time King Pasenadi of Kosala had arrived at Ujuññā on some business. Then he addressed a man, “Please, worthy man, go to the Buddha, and in my name bow with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably. And then say: ‘Sir, King Pasenadi of Kosala will come to see you today when he has finished breakfast.’”
mn90:2.7“Yes, Your Majesty,” that man replied. He did as the king asked.
mn90:3.1The sisters Somā and Sakulā heard this.These sisters were apparently both married to the King and, like his chief queen Mallikā, were devoted to the Buddha. Somā is perhaps the devout laywoman mentioned at AN8.91–117, but is probably not the bhikkhunī of the same name mentioned at SN5.2. Sakulā likewise is probably not the same person as the bhikkhunī mentioned in Therigatha 5 verse 97 - and AN1.242 verse 8.
While the meal was being served, they approached the king and said, “Great king, since you are going to the Buddha, please bow in our name with your head to his feet. Ask him if he is healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.”
mn90:4.1When he had finished breakfast, King Pasenadi went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, the sisters Somā and Sakulā bow with their heads to your feet. They ask if you are healthy and well, nimble, strong, and living comfortably.”
mn90:4.3“But, great king, couldn’t they get any other messenger?”
mn90:4.4So Pasenadi explained the circumstances of the message.
The Buddha said, “May the sisters Somā and Sakulā be happy, great king.”
mn90:5.1Then the king said to the Buddha, “I have heard, sir, that the ascetic Gotama says this: ‘There is no ascetic or brahmin who will ever claim to be all-knowing and all-seeing, to know and see everything without exception: that is not possible.’The Buddha was well aware of the fact that people did, in fact, make such claims, as he discussed them several times (eg. MN76:21.1). He just thought the claims were wrong. One unique detail of the phrasing here is that it is in future tense (also used below at MN90:8.4). The implication seems to be that not only is it the case that no-one currently makes such claims, but that no-one ever will in the future.
Compare with other statements on omniscience at MN14:17.1 and MN71:5.1. Do those who say this repeat what the Buddha has said, and not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism?”
mn90:5.5“Great king, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.”
mn90:6.1Then King Pasenadi addressed General Viḍūḍabha,The King’s son and heir, whose disastrous reign heralded the destruction of the Sakyans and the collapse of the Kosalan empire. “General, who introduced this topic of discussion to the royal compound?”
mn90:6.3“It was Sañjaya, great king, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan.”Ākāsa here is the Pali form of Sanskrit āgastya, the clan descending from the Vedic seer Agastya.
mn90:7.1Then the king addressed a man, “Please, worthy man, in my name tell Sañjaya that King Pasenadi summons him.”
mn90:7.4“Yes, Your Majesty,” that man replied. He did as the king asked.
mn90:8.1Then the king said to the Buddha, “Sir, might the Buddha have spoken in reference to one thing, but that person believed it was something else? How then do you recall making this statement?”
mn90:8.4“Great king, I recall making this statement: ‘There is no ascetic or brahmin who will ever know all and see all simultaneously: that is not possible.’”Consciousness is conditioned, so any instance of knowing depends on a particular stimulus. At MN76:52.3 the Buddha discusses the related point of whether knowledge is continuous, illustrating it with a simile of an amputee.
mn90:8.6“What the Buddha says appears reasonable.
mn90:9.1Sir, there are these four classes: aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials. Is there any difference between them?”
mn90:9.4“Of the four classes, two are said to be preeminent—the aristocrats and the brahmins. That is, when it comes to bowing down, rising up, greeting with joined palms, and observing proper etiquette.”The Buddha acknowledges the social distinctions between the classes.
mn90:10.1“Sir, I am not asking you about this life, but about the life to come.”
mn90:10.6“Great king, there are these five factors that support meditation. What five? It’s when a mendicant has faith in the Realized One’s awakening: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ They are rarely ill or unwell. Their stomach digests well, being neither too hot nor too cold, but just right, and fit for meditation. They’re not devious or deceitful. They reveal themselves honestly to the Teacher or sensible spiritual companions. They live with energy roused up for giving up unskillful qualities and embracing skillful qualities. They’re strong, staunchly vigorous, not slacking off when it comes to developing skillful qualities. They’re wise. They have the wisdom of arising and passing away which is noble, penetrative, and leads to the complete ending of suffering. These are the five factors that support meditation.
There are these four classes: aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials. If they had these five factors that support meditation, that would be for their lasting welfare and happiness.”
mn90:11.1“Sir, there are these four classes: aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials. If they had these five factors that support meditation, would there be any difference between them?”
mn90:11.5“In that case, I say it is the diversity of their efforts in meditation. Suppose there was a pair of elephants or horses or oxen in training who were well tamed and well trained. And there was a pair who were not tamed or trained. What do you think, great king? Wouldn’t the pair that was well tamed and well trained perform the tasks of the tamed, and reach the level of the tamed?”
mn90:11.9“Yes, sir.”
mn90:11.10“But would the pair that was not tamed and trained perform the tasks of the tamed and reach the level of the tamed, just like the tamed pair?”
mn90:11.11“No, sir.”
mn90:11.12“In the same way, there are things that must be attained by someone with faith, health, integrity, energy, and wisdom. It’s not possible for a faithless, unhealthy, deceitful, lazy, witless person to attain them.”
mn90:12.1“What the Buddha says appears reasonable.
Sir, there are these four classes: aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and workers. If they had these five factors that support meditation, and if they practiced rightly, would there be any difference between them?”
mn90:12.6“In that case, I say that there is no difference between the freedom of one and the freedom of the other. Suppose a person took dry teak wood and lit a fire and produced heat. Then another person did the same using sāl wood, another used mango wood, while another used wood of the cluster fig. What do you think, great king? Would there be any difference between the fires produced by these different kinds of wood, that is, in the flame, color, or light?”
mn90:12.13“No, sir.”
mn90:12.14“In the same way, when fire has been churned by energy and produced by effort, I say that there is no difference between the freedom of one and the freedom of the other.”Nimmathita refers to the process whereby a flame is produced by “churning” with a fire-drill. See Rig Veda 3.23.1a, 3.29.12a, 6.48.5, 8.48.6a, etc.
mn90:13.1“What the Buddha says appears reasonable. But sir, do gods survive?”The sense of atthi devā (“do gods survive?”) is made clear by the following discussion. Compare atthi attā (“the self survives”) at SN44.10 and MN2:8.1 in the same sense. In such cases the verb atthi implies continued existence in a future life. We find a similar usage in Kaṭha Upaniṣad 1.20, where Naciketa wonders what happens to a man after he dies, as “some say he survives, while others say he does not survive” (astīty eke nāyam astīti caike).
mn90:13.3“But what exactly are you asking?”Questions with atthi (“exists”, “survives”) about the self and rebirth are routinely met indirectly. Here the Buddha asks for clarification; at SN44.10 he avoids answering; at MN100:42.1 he answers in an oblique fashion. The reason for this seems to be that the verb atthi conveys the metaphysical implication of “eternal existence”. The king clarifies that he wants to know what happens when a god passes away, showing that he is asking about rebirth rather than eternal existence.
mn90:13.5“Whether those gods come back to this place or not.”
mn90:13.6“Those gods who are afflicted come back to this place, but those who are unafflicted do not come back.”This builds on the discussion with Pasenadi in MN88:10.6, where “hurtful” or “afflicted” (sabyābajjha) behavior leads to suffering, elsewhere described as rebirth in a “hurtful” realm (eg. MN57:8.1).
mn90:14.1When he said this, General Viḍūḍabha said to the Buddha, “Sir, will the gods who are afflicted topple or expel from their place the gods who are unafflicted?”In a few words we learn a lot about how Viḍūḍabha sees himself: he is an afflicted god.
mn90:14.3Then Venerable Ānanda thought, “This General Viḍūḍabha is King Pasenadi’s son, and I am the Buddha’s son. Now is the time for one son to confer with another.” So Ānanda addressed General Viḍūḍabha, “Well then, general, I’ll ask you about this in return, and you can answer as you like. What do you think, general? As far as the dominion of King Pasenadi of Kosala extends, where he rules as sovereign lord, can he topple or expel from that place any ascetic or brahmin, regardless of whether they are good or bad, or whether or not they are genuine spiritual practitioners?”
mn90:14.11“He can, worthy.”Bho (“worthy”) is typically used by brahmins; he also uses it in reference to the king below.
mn90:14.12“What do you think, general? As far as the dominion of King Pasenadi does not extend, where he does not rule as sovereign lord, can he topple or expel from that place any ascetic or brahmin, regardless of whether they are good or bad, or whether or not they are genuine spiritual practitioners?”
mn90:14.14“He cannot, worthy.”
mn90:14.15“What do you think, general? Have you heard of the gods of the thirty-three?”
mn90:14.17“Yes, worthy, I’ve heard of them, and so has the worthy King Pasenadi.”
mn90:14.20“What do you think, general? Can King Pasenadi topple or expel from their place the gods of the thirty-three?”
mn90:14.22“King Pasenadi can’t even see the gods of the thirty-three, so how could he possibly topple or expel them from their place?”
mn90:14.23“In the same way, general, the gods who are afflicted can’t even see the gods who are unafflicted, so how could they possibly topple or expel them from their place?”Compare the discussion in the Jain Viyāhapaṇṇatti 6.9.144, where pure gods are beyond the scope of impure gods.
mn90:15.1Then the king said to the Buddha, “Sir, what is this mendicant’s name?”If Pasenadi does not know Ānanda, this must be a very early encounter, perhaps his first.
mn90:15.3“Ānanda, great king.”
mn90:15.4“A joy he is, and a joy he seems! What Venerable Ānanda says seems reasonable. But sir, does a divinity survive?”
mn90:15.7“But what exactly are you asking?”
mn90:15.9“Whether that Divinity comes back to this place or not.”
mn90:15.10“A divinity who is afflicted comes back to this place, but one who is unafflicted does not come back.”
mn90:16.1Then a certain man said to the king, “Great king, Sañjaya, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan, has come.”
mn90:16.3Then King Pasenadi asked Sañjaya, “Brahmin, who introduced this topic of discussion to the royal compound?”
mn90:16.5“It was General Viḍūḍabha, great king.”
mn90:16.6But Viḍūḍabha said, “It was Sañjaya, great king, the brahmin of the Ākāsa clan.”Not only does Viḍūḍabha exhibit poor leadership by blaming a subordinate, he is evidently lying about it.
mn90:17.1Then a certain man said to the king, “It’s time to go, great king.”
mn90:17.3So the king said to the Buddha, “Sir, I asked you about omniscience, and you answered. I endorse and accept this, and am satisfied with it. I asked you about purification in the four classes, about the gods, and about divinities, and you answered in each case. Whatever I asked the Buddha about, he answered. I endorse and accept this, and am satisfied with it. Well, now, sir, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.”
mn90:17.16“Please, great king, go at your convenience.”
mn90:18.1Then King Pasenadi approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. Then he got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving.
1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā uruññāyaṁ viharati kaṇṇakatthale migadāye.
Tena kho pana samayena rājā pasenadi kosalo uruññaṁ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā mama vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘rājā, bhante, pasenadi kosalo bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’ti; evañca vadehi: ‘ajja kira, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī’"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho so puriso rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so puriso bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "rājā, bhante, pasenadi kosalo bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchati; evañca vadeti: ‘ajja kira, bhante, rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī’"ti.
2Assosuṁ kho somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī: "ajja kira rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī"ti.
Atha kho somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ bhattābhihāre upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: "Tena hi, mahārāja, amhākampi vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha: ‘somā ca, bhante, bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’"ti.
3Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "somā ca, bhante, bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī"ti.
"Kiṁ pana, mahārāja, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī aññaṁ dūtaṁ nālatthun"ti?
"Assosuṁ kho, bhante, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī: ‘ajja kira rājā pasenadi kosalo pacchābhattaṁ bhuttapātarāso bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī’ti. Atha kho, bhante, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī maṁ bhattābhihāre upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘tena hi, mahārāja, amhākampi vacanena bhagavato pāde sirasā vandāhi, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ puccha — somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī bhagavato pāde sirasā vandati, appābādhaṁ appātaṅkaṁ lahuṭṭhānaṁ balaṁ phāsuvihāraṁ pucchatī’"ti.
"Sukhiniyo hontu tā, mahārāja, somā ca bhaginī sakulā ca bhaginī"ti.
4Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "sutaṁ metaṁ, bhante, samaṇo gotamo evamāha: ‘Natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti. Ye te, bhante, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha — natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti; kacci te, bhante, bhagavato vuttavādino, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhanti, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaronti, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchatī"ti?
"Ye te, mahārāja, evamāhaṁsu: ‘samaṇo gotamo evamāha — natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sabbaññū sabbadassāvī aparisesaṁ ñāṇadassanaṁ paṭijānissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti; na me te vuttavādino, abbhācikkhanti ca pana maṁ te asatā abhūtenā"ti.
5Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo viṭaṭūbhaṁ senāpatiṁ āmantesi: "ko nu kho, senāpati, imaṁ kathāvatthuṁ rājantepure abbhudāhāsī"ti?
"Sañjayo, mahārāja, brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo aññataraṁ purisaṁ āmantesi: "ehi tvaṁ, ambho purisa, mama vacanena sañjayaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ākāsagottaṁ āmantehi: ‘rājā taṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo āmantetī’"ti.
"Evaṁ, devā"ti kho so puriso rañño pasenadissa kosalassa paṭissutvā yena sañjayo brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā sañjayaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ākāsagottaṁ etadavoca: "rājā taṁ, bhante, pasenadi kosalo āmantetī"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "siyā nu kho, bhante, bhagavatā aññadeva kiñci sandhāya bhāsitaṁ, tañca jano aññathāpi paccāgaccheyya. Yathā kathaṁ pana, bhante, bhagavā abhijānāti vācaṁ bhāsitā"ti?
"Evaṁ kho ahaṁ, mahārāja, abhijānāmi vācaṁ bhāsitā: ‘Natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sakideva sabbaṁ ñassati, sabbaṁ dakkhiti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’"ti.
"Heturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha: ‘Natthi so samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā yo sakideva sabbaṁ ñassati, sabbaṁ dakkhiti, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī’ti.
Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Imesaṁ nu kho, bhante, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti? "Cattārome, mahārāja, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā.
Imesaṁ kho, mahārāja, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ dve vaṇṇā aggamakkhāyanti — khattiyā ca brāhmaṇā ca — yadidaṁ abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammānī"ti.
"Nāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ diṭṭhadhammikaṁ pucchāmi; samparāyikāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ pucchāmi. Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Imesaṁ nu kho, bhante, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti?
6"Pañcimāni, mahārāja, padhāniyaṅgāni. Katamāni pañca? Idha, mahārāja, bhikkhu saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti; appābādho hoti appātaṅko samavepākiniyā gahaṇiyā samannāgato nātisītāya nāccuṇhāya majjhimāya padhānakkhamāya; asaṭho hoti amāyāvī yathābhūtaṁ attānaṁ āvikattā satthari vā viññūsu vā sabrahmacārīsu; āraddhavīriyo viharati akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya, kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ upasampadāya, thāmavā daḷhaparakkamo anikkhittadhuro kusalesu dhammesu; paññavā hoti udayatthagāminiyā paññāya samannāgato ariyāya nibbedhikāya sammādukkhakkhayagāminiyā — imāni kho, mahārāja, pañca padhāniyaṅgāni.
Cattārome, mahārāja, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Te cassu imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgatā; ettha pana nesaṁ assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā"ti.
"Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Te cassu imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgatā; ettha pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti?
"Ettha kho nesāhaṁ, mahārāja, padhānavemattataṁ vadāmi. Seyyathāpissu, mahārāja, dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā, dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā adantā avinītā. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, ye te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā, api nu te dantāva dantakāraṇaṁ gaccheyyuṁ, dantāva dantabhūmiṁ sampāpuṇeyyun"ti?
"Evaṁ, bhante".
"Ye pana te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā adantā avinītā, api nu te adantāva dantakāraṇaṁ gaccheyyuṁ, adantāva dantabhūmiṁ sampāpuṇeyyuṁ, seyyathāpi te dve hatthidammā vā assadammā vā godammā vā sudantā suvinītā"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Evameva kho, mahārāja, yaṁ taṁ saddhena pattabbaṁ appābādhena asaṭhena amāyāvinā āraddhavīriyena paññavatā, taṁ vata assaddho bahvābādho saṭho māyāvī kusīto duppañño pāpuṇissatīti — netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjatī"ti.
7"Heturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha.
Cattārome, bhante, vaṇṇā — khattiyā, brāhmaṇā, vessā, suddā. Te cassu imehi pañcahi padhāniyaṅgehi samannāgatā te cassu sammappadhānā; ettha pana nesaṁ, bhante, siyā viseso siyā nānākaraṇan"ti?
"Ettha kho nesāhaṁ, mahārāja, na kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ vadāmi — yadidaṁ vimuttiyā vimuttiṁ. Seyyathāpi, mahārāja, puriso sukkhaṁ sākakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya; athāparo puriso sukkhaṁ sālakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya; athāparo puriso sukkhaṁ ambakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya; athāparo puriso sukkhaṁ udumbarakaṭṭhaṁ ādāya aggiṁ abhinibbatteyya, tejo pātukareyya. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, mahārāja, siyā nu kho tesaṁ aggīnaṁ nānādāruto abhinibbattānaṁ kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ acciyā vā acciṁ, vaṇṇena vā vaṇṇaṁ, ābhāya vā ābhan"ti?
"No hetaṁ, bhante".
"Evameva kho, mahārāja, yaṁ taṁ tejaṁ vīriyā nimmathitaṁ padhānābhinibbattaṁ, nāhaṁ tattha kiñci nānākaraṇaṁ vadāmi — yadidaṁ vimuttiyā vimuttin"ti.
"Heturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, bhagavā āha. Kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi devā"ti?
"Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ vadesi: ‘kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi devā’"ti?
"Yadi vā te, bhante, devā āgantāro itthattaṁ yadi vā anāgantāro itthattaṁ"?
"Ye te, mahārāja, devā sabyābajjhā te devā āgantāro itthattaṁ, ye te devā abyābajjhā te devā anāgantāro itthattan"ti.
8Evaṁ vutte, viṭaṭūbho senāpati bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "ye te, bhante, devā sabyābajjhā āgantāro itthattaṁ te devā, ye te devā abyābajjhā anāgantāro itthattaṁ te deve tamhā ṭhānā cāvessanti vā pabbājessanti vā"ti?
9Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi: "Ayaṁ kho viṭaṭūbho senāpati rañño pasenadissa kosalassa putto; ahaṁ bhagavato putto. Ayaṁ kho kālo yaṁ putto puttena manteyyā"ti. Atha kho āyasmā ānando viṭaṭūbhaṁ senāpatiṁ āmantesi: "Tena hi, senāpati, taññevettha paṭipucchissāmi; yathā te khameyya tathā naṁ byākareyyāsi. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, yāvatā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa vijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, pahoti tattha rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti?
"Yāvatā, bho, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa vijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, pahoti tattha rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti.
10"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, yāvatā rañño pasenadissa kosalassa avijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo na issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, tattha pahoti rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti?
"Yāvatā, bho, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa avijitaṁ yattha ca rājā pasenadi kosalo na issariyādhipaccaṁ rajjaṁ kāreti, na tattha pahoti rājā pasenadi kosalo samaṇaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā puññavantaṁ vā apuññavantaṁ vā brahmacariyavantaṁ vā abrahmacariyavantaṁ vā tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti.
11"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, sutā te devā tāvatiṁsā"ti?
"Evaṁ, bho. Sutā me devā tāvatiṁsā. Idhāpi bhotā raññā pasenadinā kosalena sutā devā tāvatiṁsā"ti.
"Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, senāpati, pahoti rājā pasenadi kosalo deve tāvatiṁse tamhā ṭhānā cāvetuṁ vā pabbājetuṁ vā"ti?
"Dassanampi, bho, rājā pasenadi kosalo deve tāvatiṁse nappahoti, kuto pana tamhā ṭhānā cāvessati vā pabbājessati vā"ti?
"Evameva kho, senāpati, ye te devā sabyābajjhā āgantāro itthattaṁ te devā, ye te devā abyābajjhā anāgantāro itthattaṁ te deve dassanāyapi nappahonti; kuto pana tamhā ṭhānā cāvessanti vā pabbājessanti vā"ti?
12Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "konāmo ayaṁ, bhante, bhikkhū"ti?
"Ānando nāma, mahārājā"ti.
"Ānando vata bho, ānandarūpo vata bho. Heturūpaṁ, bhante, āyasmā ānando āha; saheturūpaṁ, bhante, āyasmā ānando āha. Kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi brahmā"ti?
"Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, mahārāja, evaṁ vadesi: ‘kiṁ pana, bhante, atthi brahmā’"ti?
"Yadi vā so, bhante, brahmā āgantā itthattaṁ, yadi vā anāgantā itthattan"ti?
"Yo so, mahārāja, brahmā sabyābajjho so brahmā āgantā itthattaṁ, yo so brahmā abyābajjho so brahmā anāgantā itthattan"ti.
Atha kho aññataro puriso rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca: "sañjayo, mahārāja, brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto āgato"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo sañjayaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ ākāsagottaṁ etadavoca: "ko nu kho, brāhmaṇa, imaṁ kathāvatthuṁ rājantepure abbhudāhāsī"ti?
"Viṭaṭūbho, mahārāja, senāpatī"ti.
Viṭaṭūbho senāpati evamāha: "sañjayo, mahārāja, brāhmaṇo ākāsagotto"ti.
Atha kho aññataro puriso rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca: "yānakālo, mahārājā"ti.
13Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "sabbaññutaṁ mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, sabbaññutaṁ bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Cātuvaṇṇisuddhiṁ mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, cātuvaṇṇisuddhiṁ bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Adhideve mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, adhideve bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Adhibrahmānaṁ mayaṁ, bhante, bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā, adhibrahmānaṁ bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Yaṁ yadeva ca mayaṁ bhagavantaṁ apucchimhā taṁ tadeva bhagavā byākāsi; tañca panamhākaṁ ruccati ceva khamati ca, tena camhā attamanā. Handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bhante, gacchāma; bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā"ti.
"Yassadāni tvaṁ, mahārāja, kālaṁ maññasī"ti.
Atha kho rājā pasenadi kosalo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā uṭṭhāyāsanā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmīti.
Kaṇṇakatthalasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dasamaṁ.
Rājavaggo niṭṭhito catuttho.
14Ghaṭikāro raṭṭhapālo,
maghadevo madhuriyaṁ;
Bodhi aṅgulimālo ca,
piyajātaṁ bāhitikaṁ;
Dhammacetiyasuttañca,
dasamaṁ kaṇṇakatthalaṁ.