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Saṁyutta Nikāya — The Linked Discourses

Vol 1:
Verses
SN1-11
Vol 2:
Causation
SN12-21
Vol 3:
Aggregates
SN22-34
Vol 4:
Sense Bases
SN35-44
Vol 5:
Great Book
SN45-56

7. Brāhmaṇasaṁyutta: With Brahmins

II. Lay Followers — SN7.16: The Contraphile

1At Sāvatthī.

Now at that time a brahmin named Contraphile, who loved contradiction, was residing in Sāvatthī.

Then Contraphile thought: “Why don’t I go to the ascetic Gotama and contradict everything he says?”


At that time the Buddha was walking meditation in the open air.

Then the brahmin Contraphile went up to the Buddha, and said to him as he was walking meditation: “Ascetic, preach the Dhamma.”


2“Fine words aren’t easy to understand
by a lover of contradiction,
whose mind is tainted
and full of aggression.

3But when you’ve dispelled aggression,
and your suspicious mind,
and you’ve got rid of resentment,
then you’ll understand fine words.”

4When he had spoken, the brahmin Contraphile said to the Buddha: “Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

1Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Tena kho pana samayena paccanīkasāto nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati.

Atha kho paccanīkasātassa brāhmaṇassa etadahosi: "yannūnāhaṁ yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkameyyaṁ. Yaṁ yadeva samaṇo gotamo bhāsissati taṁ tadevassāhaṁ paccanīkāssan"ti.


Tena kho pana samayena bhagavā abbhokāse caṅkamati.

Atha kho paccanīkasāto brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ caṅkamantaṁ etadavoca: "bhaṇa samaṇadhamman"ti.


2"Na paccanīkasātena,
suvijānaṁ subhāsitaṁ;
Upakkiliṭṭhacittena,
sārambhabahulena ca.

3Yo ca vineyya sārambhaṁ,
appasādañca cetaso;
Āghātaṁ paṭinissajja,
sa ve jaññā subhāsitan"ti.

4Evaṁ vutte, paccanīkasāto brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: "Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama … pe … upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan"ti.