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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 — SN7.21: With Saṅgārava

1At Sāvatthī.

Now at that time there was a brahmin named Saṅgārava staying in Sāvatthī. He practiced purification by water, believing in purification by water. He lived committed to the practice of immersing himself in water at dawn and dusk. Then Venerable Ānanda robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

He wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on his return from alms-round, he went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“Sir, there is a brahmin named Saṅgārava staying in Sāvatthī. He practices purification by water, believing in purification by water. He lives committed to the practice of immersing himself in water at dawn and dusk. Please visit him at his home out of compassion.” The Buddha consented in silence.

2Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of the brahmin Saṅgārava, and sat down on the seat spread out. Then the brahmin Saṅgārava went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Is it really true, brahmin, that you practice purification by water, believing in purification by water; that you live committed to the practice of immersing yourself in water at dawn and dusk?”

“Yes, Master Gotama.”


“But brahmin, for what reason do you practice purification by water?”

“It’s because, Master Gotama, whatever bad deeds I’ve done during the day I wash off by bathing at dusk; and whatever bad deeds I’ve done during the night, I wash off by bathing at dawn. That’s the reason why I practice purification by water.”

3“The teaching is a lake with shores of ethics, brahmin,
unclouded, praised by the fine to the good.
There the knowledge-masters go to bathe,
and cross to the far shore without getting wet.”

4When he had spoken, Saṅgārava 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 saṅgāravo nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati udakasuddhiko, udakena parisuddhiṁ pacceti, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārati.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

"idha, bhante, saṅgāravo nāma brāhmaṇo sāvatthiyaṁ paṭivasati udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ pacceti, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārati. Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena saṅgāravassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamatu anukampāṁ upādāyā"ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

2Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena saṅgāravassa brāhmaṇassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho saṅgāravo brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho saṅgāravaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ bhagavā etadavoca: "Saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ paccesi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārasī"ti?

"Evaṁ, bho gotama".


"Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, brāhmaṇa, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno udakasuddhiko, udakasuddhiṁ paccesi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto vihārasī"ti?

"Idha me, bho gotama, yaṁ divā pāpakammaṁ kataṁ hoti, taṁ sāyaṁ nhānena pavāhemi, yaṁ rattiṁ pāpakammaṁ kataṁ hoti taṁ pātaṁ nhānena pavāhemi. Imaṁ khvāhaṁ, bho gotama, atthavasaṁ sampassamāno udakasuddhiko, udakena suddhiṁ paccemi, sāyaṁ pātaṁ udakorohanānuyogamanuyutto viharāmī"ti.

3"Dhammo rahado brāhmaṇa sīlatittho,
Anāvilo sabbhi sataṁ pasattho;
Yattha have vedaguno sinātā,
Anallagattāva taranti pāran"ti.

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