TheravādaAN 5.191HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
Sutta PiṭakaAN 5.191

Sutta Piṭaka

AN 5.191

Soṇasutta

1
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

Hounds

“Mendicants, these five traditional principles of the brahmins are exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. What five? In the past brahmins had sex only with brahmin women, not with others. These days brahmins have sex with both brahmin women and others. But these days hounds have sex only with female hounds, not with other species. This is the first ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

2
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

In the past brahmins had sex only with brahmin women in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, not at other times. These days brahmins have sex with brahmin women both in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle and at other times. But these days hounds have sex only with female hounds when they are in heat, not at other times. This is the second ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

3
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

In the past brahmins neither bought nor sold brahmin women. They lived together because they loved each other and wanted their family line to continue. These days brahmins both buy and sell brahmin women. They live together whether they love each other or not and they want their family line to continue. But these days hounds neither buy nor sell female hounds. They live together because they’re attracted to each other and want their family line to continue. This is the third ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

4
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

In the past brahmins did not store up money, grain, silver, or gold. These days brahmins do store up money, grain, silver, and gold. But these days hounds don’t store up money, grain, silver, or gold. This is the fourth ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.

5
English · Bhikkhu Sujato

In the past brahmins went looking for almsfood for dinner at dusk, and for breakfast at daybreak. These days brahmins eat as much as they like until their bellies are full, then take away the leftovers. But these days hounds go looking for dinner at dusk, and for breakfast at daybreak. This is the fifth ancient principle of the brahmins exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins. These five ancient principles of the brahmins are exhibited these days among hounds, but not among brahmins.”

1
AN 5.191English
2
AN 5.1910%

Sutta Piṭaka

Find your chapter.

4801 chapters

Make yourself comfortable.

PAGE COLOUR

TEXT SIZE

100%

Your preferences stay with you on this device.

ORIGINALS & TRANSLATIONS

Choose your edition.

Select one edition for quiet reading, or several to compare the words.

Pāli text: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka Buddhavasse 2500 (M.L. Maniratana Bunnag Dhamma Society Fund), as published by SuttaCentral. Public domain. · Source ↗

Pāli text: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka, via SuttaCentral. Public domain.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato. SuttaCentral, dedicated to the public domain (CC0). · Source ↗

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato (SuttaCentral), dedicated to the public domain via CC0. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

↑
Explore the atlas
↑ ↓ to explore   ·   Enter to open   ·   Esc to close

PEOPLE · PLACES · HIGHER MEANING

Finding your place.

Preparing your experience…