DN 3

Ambaṭṭhasutta

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi yena icchānaṅgalaṁ nāma kosalānaṁ brāhmaṇagāmo tadavasari. Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe.

With Ambaṭṭha

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans together with a large Saṅgha of five hundred mendicants when he arrived at a village of the Kosalan brahmins named Icchānaṅgala. He stayed in a forest near Icchānaṅgala.

1. Pokkharasātivatthu

Tena kho pana samayena brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti ukkaṭṭhaṁ ajjhāvasati sattussadaṁ satiṇakaṭṭhodakaṁ sadhaññaṁ rājabhoggaṁ raññā pasenadinā kosalena dinnaṁ rājadāyaṁ brahmadeyyaṁ. Assosi kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti: “samaṇo khalu, bho, gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi icchānaṅgalaṁ anuppatto icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato— ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā.’ So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ, sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ, kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī”ti.

1. The Section on Pokkharasāti

Now at that time the brahmin Pokkharasāti was living in Ukkaṭṭhā. It was a crown property given by King Pasenadi of Kosala, teeming with living creatures, full of hay, wood, water, and grain, a royal park endowed to a brahmin. Pokkharasāti heard: “It seems the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Icchānaṅgala and is staying in a forest nearby. He has this good reputation: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. It’s good to see such perfected ones.”

2. Ambaṭṭhamāṇava

Tena kho pana samayena brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa ambaṭṭho nāma māṇavo antevāsī hoti ajjhāyako mantadharo tiṇṇaṁ vedānaṁ pāragū sanighaṇḍukeṭubhānaṁ sākkharappabhedānaṁ itihāsapañcamānaṁ padako veyyākaraṇo lokāyatamahāpurisalakkhaṇesu anavayo anuññātapaṭiññāto sake ācariyake tevijjake pāvacane: “yamahaṁ jānāmi taṁ tvaṁ jānāsi; yaṁ tvaṁ jānāsi tamahaṁ jānāmī”ti.

2. The Student Ambaṭṭha

Now at that time Pokkharasāti had a student named Ambaṭṭha as his resident pupil. He was one who recited and remembered the hymns, and had mastered in the three Vedas, together with their vocabularies and ritual performance, their phonology and word classification, and the testaments as fifth. He knew them word-by-word, and their grammar. He was well versed in cosmology and the marks of a great man. He had been authorized as a master in his own tutor’s scriptural heritage of the three Vedas with the words: “What I know, you know. And what you know, I know.”

Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: “ayaṁ, tāta ambaṭṭha, samaṇo gotamo sakyaputto sakyakulā pabbajito kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno mahatā bhikkhusaṅghena saddhiṁ pañcamattehi bhikkhusatehi icchānaṅgalaṁ anuppatto icchānaṅgale viharati icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍe. Taṁ kho pana bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggato: ‘itipi so bhagavā, arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ, sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Sādhu kho pana tathārūpānaṁ arahataṁ dassanaṁ hotī’ti. Ehi tvaṁ, tāta ambaṭṭha, yena samaṇo gotamo tenupasaṅkama; upasaṅkamitvā samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ jānāhi, yadi vā taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ tathāsantaṁyeva saddo abbhuggato, yadi vā no tathā. Yadi vā so bhavaṁ gotamo tādiso, yadi vā na tādiso, tathā mayaṁ taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ vedissāmā”ti.

Then Pokkharasāti addressed Ambaṭṭha, “Dear Ambaṭṭha, the ascetic Gotama—a Sakyan, gone forth from a Sakyan family—has arrived at Icchānaṅgala and is staying in a forest nearby. He has this good reputation … It’s good to see such perfected ones. Please, dear Ambaṭṭha, go to the ascetic Gotama and find out whether or not he lives up to his reputation. Through you I shall learn about the worthy Gotama.”

“Yathā kathaṁ panāhaṁ, bho, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ jānissāmi: ‘yadi vā taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ tathāsantaṁyeva saddo abbhuggato, yadi vā no tathā. Yadi vā so bhavaṁ gotamo tādiso, yadi vā na tādiso’”ti? “Āgatāni kho, tāta ambaṭṭha, amhākaṁ mantesu dvattiṁsa mahāpurisalakkhaṇāni, yehi samannāgatassa mahāpurisassa dveyeva gatiyo bhavanti anaññā. Sace agāraṁ ajjhāvasati, rājā hoti cakkavattī dhammiko dhammarājā cāturanto vijitāvī janapadatthāvariyappatto sattaratanasamannāgato. Tassimāni satta ratanāni bhavanti. Seyyathidaṁ—cakkaratanaṁ, hatthiratanaṁ, assaratanaṁ, maṇiratanaṁ, itthiratanaṁ, gahapatiratanaṁ, pariṇāyakaratanameva sattamaṁ. Parosahassaṁ kho panassa puttā bhavanti sūrā vīraṅgarūpā parasenappamaddanā. So imaṁ pathaviṁ sāgarapariyantaṁ adaṇḍena asatthena dhammena abhivijiya ajjhāvasati. Sace kho pana agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajati, arahaṁ hoti sammāsambuddho loke vivaṭṭacchado. Ahaṁ kho pana, tāta ambaṭṭha, mantānaṁ dātā; tvaṁ mantānaṁ paṭiggahetā”ti.

“But sir, how shall I find out whether or not the ascetic Gotama lives up to his reputation?” “Dear Ambaṭṭha, the thirty-two marks of a great man have been handed down in our hymns. A great man who possesses these has only two possible destinies, no other. If he stays at home he becomes a king, a wheel-turning monarch, a just and principled king. His dominion extends to all four sides, he achieves stability in the country, and he possesses the seven treasures. He has the following seven treasures: the wheel, the elephant, the horse, the jewel, the woman, the householder, and the commander as the seventh treasure. He has over a thousand sons who are valiant and heroic, crushing the armies of his enemies. After conquering this land girt by sea, he reigns by principle, without rod or sword. But if he goes forth from the lay life to homelessness, he becomes a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha, who has cast off the world’s veil. But, dear Ambaṭṭha, I am the one who gives the hymns, and you are the one who receives them.”

“Evaṁ, bho”ti kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa paṭissutvā uṭṭhāyāsanā brāhmaṇaṁ pokkharasātiṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā vaḷavārathamāruyha sambahulehi māṇavakehi saddhiṁ yena icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍo tena pāyāsi. Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova ārāmaṁ pāvisi.

“Yes, worthy sir,” replied Ambaṭṭha. He got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled Pokkharasāti, keeping him on his right. He mounted a chariot drawn by mares and, together with several young students, set out for the forest near Icchānaṅgala. He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū abbhokāse caṅkamanti. Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū etadavoca: “kahaṁ nu kho, bho, etarahi so bhavaṁ gotamo viharati? Tañhi mayaṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya idhūpasaṅkantā”ti.

At that time several mendicants were walking mindfully in the open air. Then the student Ambaṭṭha went up to those mendicants and said, “Good fellows, where is the worthy Gotama at present? For we have come here to see him.”

Atha kho tesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi: “ayaṁ kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo abhiññātakolañño ceva abhiññātassa ca brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa antevāsī. Agaru kho pana bhagavato evarūpehi kulaputtehi saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo hotī”ti. Te ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavocuṁ: “eso, ambaṭṭha, vihāro saṁvutadvāro, tena appasaddo upasaṅkamitvā ataramāno āḷindaṁ pavisitvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭehi, vivarissati te bhagavā dvāran”ti.

Then those mendicants thought, “This Ambaṭṭha is from a well-known family, and he is the pupil of the well-known brahmin Pokkharasāti. The Buddha won’t mind having a discussion together with such gentlemen.” They said to Ambaṭṭha, “Ambaṭṭha, that’s his dwelling, with the door closed. Approach it quietly, without hurrying; go onto the porch, clear your throat, and knock on the door-panel. The Buddha will open the door.”

Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo yena so vihāro saṁvutadvāro, tena appasaddo upasaṅkamitvā ataramāno āḷindaṁ pavisitvā ukkāsitvā aggaḷaṁ ākoṭesi. Vivari bhagavā dvāraṁ. Pāvisi ambaṭṭho māṇavo. Māṇavakāpi pavisitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodiṁsu, sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ambaṭṭho pana māṇavo caṅkamantopi nisinnena bhagavatā kañci kañci kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāreti, ṭhitopi nisinnena bhagavatā kañci kañci kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāreti. Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: “evaṁ nu te, ambaṭṭha, brāhmaṇehi vuddhehi mahallakehi ācariyapācariyehi saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo hoti, yathayidaṁ caraṁ tiṭṭhaṁ nisinnena mayā kiñci kiñci kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretī”ti?

So he approached the Buddha’s dwelling, cleared his throat and knocked on the door-panel, and the Buddha opened the door. Ambaṭṭha and the young students entered the dwelling. The young students exchanged greetings with the Buddha, and when the greetings and polite conversation were over, sat down to one side. But while the Buddha was sitting, Ambaṭṭha spoke some polite words or other while walking around or standing. So the Buddha said to him, “Ambaṭṭha, is this how you hold a discussion with elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors: walking around or standing while I’m sitting, speaking some polite words or other?”

2.1. Paṭhamaibbhavāda

“No hidaṁ, bho gotama. Gacchanto vā hi, bho gotama, gacchantena brāhmaṇo brāhmaṇena saddhiṁ sallapitumarahati, ṭhito vā hi, bho gotama, ṭhitena brāhmaṇo brāhmaṇena saddhiṁ sallapitumarahati, nisinno vā hi, bho gotama, nisinnena brāhmaṇo brāhmaṇena saddhiṁ sallapitumarahati, sayāno vā hi, bho gotama, sayānena brāhmaṇo brāhmaṇena saddhiṁ sallapitumarahati. Ye ca kho te, bho gotama, muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kaṇhā bandhupādāpaccā, tehipi me saddhiṁ evaṁ kathāsallāpo hoti, yathariva bhotā gotamenā”ti.

2.1. The First Use of the Word “Primitives”

“No, worthy Gotama. For it is proper for one brahmin to converse with another while both are walking, standing, sitting, or lying down. But as to these shavelings, fake ascetics, primitives, black spawn from the feet of our kinsman, I converse with them as I do with the worthy Gotama.”

“Atthikavato kho pana te, ambaṭṭha, idhāgamanaṁ ahosi, yāyeva kho panatthāya āgaccheyyātha, tameva atthaṁ sādhukaṁ manasi kareyyātha. Avusitavāyeva kho pana, bho, ayaṁ ambaṭṭho māṇavo vusitamānī kimaññatra avusitattā”ti.

“But Ambaṭṭha, you must have come here for some purpose. You should focus on that. Though this Ambaṭṭha is unqualified, he thinks he’s qualified. What is that but lack of qualifications?”

Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhagavatā avusitavādena vuccamāno kupito anattamano bhagavantaṁyeva khuṁsento bhagavantaṁyeva vambhento bhagavantaṁyeva upavadamāno: “samaṇo ca me bho gotamo pāpito bhavissatī”ti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “caṇḍā, bho gotama, sakyajāti; pharusā, bho gotama, sakyajāti; lahusā, bho gotama, sakyajāti; bhassā, bho gotama, sakyajāti; ibbhā santā ibbhā samānā na brāhmaṇe sakkaronti, na brāhmaṇe garuṁ karonti, na brāhmaṇe mānenti, na brāhmaṇe pūjenti, na brāhmaṇe apacāyanti. Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, nacchannaṁ, tayidaṁ nappatirūpaṁ, yadime sakyā ibbhā santā ibbhā samānā na brāhmaṇe sakkaronti, na brāhmaṇe garuṁ karonti, na brāhmaṇe mānenti, na brāhmaṇe pūjenti, na brāhmaṇe apacāyantī”ti. Itiha ambaṭṭho māṇavo idaṁ paṭhamaṁ sakyesu ibbhavādaṁ nipātesi.

When he said this, Ambaṭṭha became angry and upset with the Buddha because of being described as unqualified. He even attacked and badmouthed the Buddha himself, saying, “The ascetic Gotama will be worsted!” He said to the Buddha, “Worthy Gotama, the Sakyans are rude, harsh, touchy, and argumentative. Primitive they are, and primitive they remain! They don’t honor, respect, revere, worship, or venerate brahmins. It is neither proper nor appropriate that the Sakyans—primitives that they are—don’t honor, respect, revere, worship, or venerate brahmins.” And that’s how Ambaṭṭha denigrated the Sakyans with the word “primitives” for the first time.

2.2. Dutiyaibbhavāda

“Kiṁ pana te, ambaṭṭha, sakyā aparaddhun”ti? “Ekamidāhaṁ, bho gotama, samayaṁ ācariyassa brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa kenacideva karaṇīyena kapilavatthuṁ agamāsiṁ. Yena sakyānaṁ sandhāgāraṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā sakyā ceva sakyakumārā ca sandhāgāre uccesu āsanesu nisinnā honti aññamaññaṁ aṅgulipatodakehi sañjagghantā saṅkīḷantā, aññadatthu mamaññeva maññe anujagghantā, na maṁ koci āsanenapi nimantesi. Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, nacchannaṁ, tayidaṁ nappatirūpaṁ, yadime sakyā ibbhā santā ibbhā samānā na brāhmaṇe sakkaronti, na brāhmaṇe garuṁ karonti, na brāhmaṇe mānenti, na brāhmaṇe pūjenti, na brāhmaṇe apacāyantī”ti. Itiha ambaṭṭho māṇavo idaṁ dutiyaṁ sakyesu ibbhavādaṁ nipātesi.

2.2. The Second Use of the Word “Primitives”

“But Ambaṭṭha, how have the Sakyans wronged you?” “This one time, worthy Gotama, I went to Kapilavatthu on some business for my tutor, the brahmin Pokkharasāti. I approached the Sakyans in their town hall. Now at that time several Sakyans and Sakyan princes were sitting on high seats, poking each other with their fingers, giggling and playing together. In fact, they even presumed to giggle at me, and didn’t invite me to a seat. It is neither proper nor appropriate that the Sakyans—primitives that they are—don’t honor, respect, revere, worship, or venerate brahmins.” And that’s how Ambaṭṭha denigrated the Sakyans with the word “primitives” for the second time.

2.3. Tatiyaibbhavāda

“Laṭukikāpi kho, ambaṭṭha, sakuṇikā sake kulāvake kāmalāpinī hoti. Sakaṁ kho panetaṁ, ambaṭṭha, sakyānaṁ yadidaṁ kapilavatthuṁ, nārahatāyasmā ambaṭṭho imāya appamattāya abhisajjitun”ti. “Cattārome, bho gotama, vaṇṇā— khattiyā brāhmaṇā vessā suddā. Imesañhi, bho gotama, catunnaṁ vaṇṇānaṁ tayo vaṇṇā— khattiyā ca vessā ca suddā ca— aññadatthu brāhmaṇasseva paricārakā sampajjanti. Tayidaṁ, bho gotama, nacchannaṁ, tayidaṁ nappatirūpaṁ, yadime sakyā ibbhā santā ibbhā samānā na brāhmaṇe sakkaronti, na brāhmaṇe garuṁ karonti, na brāhmaṇe mānenti, na brāhmaṇe pūjenti, na brāhmaṇe apacāyantī”ti. Itiha ambaṭṭho māṇavo idaṁ tatiyaṁ sakyesu ibbhavādaṁ nipātesi.

2.3. The Third Use of the Word “Primitives”

“Even a little quail, Ambaṭṭha, speaks as she likes in her own nest. Kapilavatthu is the Sakyans’ own place, Ambaṭṭha. It’s not worthy of the Venerable Ambaṭṭha to lose his temper over such a small thing.” “Worthy Gotama, there are these four classes: aristocrats, brahmins, peasants, and menials. Three of these classes— aristocrats, peasants, and menials— in fact succeed only when serving the brahmins. It is neither proper nor appropriate that the Sakyans—primitives that they are—don’t honor, respect, revere, worship, or venerate brahmins.” And that’s how Ambaṭṭha denigrated the Sakyans with the word “primitives” for the third time.

2.4. Dāsiputtavāda

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “atibāḷhaṁ kho ayaṁ ambaṭṭho māṇavo sakyesu ibbhavādena nimmādeti, yannūnāhaṁ gottaṁ puccheyyan”ti. Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: “kathaṁ gottosi, ambaṭṭhā”ti? “Kaṇhāyanohamasmi, bho gotamā”ti. “Porāṇaṁ kho pana te, ambaṭṭha, mātāpettikaṁ nāmagottaṁ anussarato ayyaputtā sakyā bhavanti; dāsiputto tvamasi sakyānaṁ. Sakyā kho pana, ambaṭṭha, rājānaṁ okkākaṁ pitāmahaṁ dahanti. Bhūtapubbaṁ, ambaṭṭha, rājā okkāko yā sā mahesī piyā manāpā, tassā puttassa rajjaṁ pariṇāmetukāmo jeṭṭhakumāre raṭṭhasmā pabbājesi— okkāmukhaṁ karakaṇḍaṁ hatthinikaṁ sinisūraṁ. Te raṭṭhasmā pabbājitā himavantapasse pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahāsākasaṇḍo, tattha vāsaṁ kappesuṁ. Te jātisambhedabhayā sakāhi bhaginīhi saddhiṁ saṁvāsaṁ kappesuṁ. Atha kho, ambaṭṭha, rājā okkāko amacce pārisajje āmantesi: ‘kahaṁ nu kho, bho, etarahi kumārā sammantī’ti? ‘Atthi, deva, himavantapasse pokkharaṇiyā tīre mahāsākasaṇḍo, tatthetarahi kumārā sammanti. Te jātisambhedabhayā sakāhi bhaginīhi saddhiṁ saṁvāsaṁ kappentī’ti. Atha kho, ambaṭṭha, rājā okkāko udānaṁ udānesi: ‘sakyā vata, bho, kumārā, paramasakyā vata, bho, kumārā’ti. Tadagge kho pana, ambaṭṭha, sakyā paññāyanti; so ca nesaṁ pubbapuriso.

2.4. The Word “Son of a Slavegirl” is Used

Then it occurred to the Buddha, “This Ambaṭṭha puts the Sakyans down way too much by calling them primitives. Why don’t I ask him about his own clan?” So the Buddha said to him, “What is your clan, Ambaṭṭha?” “I am a Kaṇhāyana, worthy Gotama.” “But, recollecting the ancient name and clan of your mother and father, the Sakyans were the children of the masters, while you’re descended from the son of a slavegirl of the Sakyans. But the Sakyans regard King Okkāka as their grandfather. Once upon a time, King Okkāka, wishing to divert the royal succession to the son of his most beloved queen, banished the elder princes from the realm— Okkāmukha, Karakaṇḍa, Hatthinika, and Sinisūra. They made their home beside a lotus pond on the slopes of the Himalayas, where there was a large grove of sakhua trees. For fear of breaking their line of birth, they slept with their own (saka) sisters. Then King Okkāka addressed his ministers and councillors, ‘Where, sirs, have the princes settled now?’ ‘Your Majesty, there is a lotus pond on the slopes of the Himalayas, by a large grove of sakhua trees. They’ve settled there. For fear of breaking their line of birth, they are sleeping with their own sisters.’ Then, Ambaṭṭha, King Okkāka expressed this heartfelt sentiment: ‘The princes are indeed Sakyans! The princes are indeed the best Sakyans!’ From that day on the Sakyans were recognized and he was their founder.

Rañño kho pana, ambaṭṭha, okkākassa disā nāma dāsī ahosi. Sā kaṇhaṁ nāma janesi. Jāto kaṇho pabyāhāsi: ‘dhovatha maṁ, amma, nahāpetha maṁ amma, imasmā maṁ asucismā parimocetha, atthāya vo bhavissāmī’ti. Yathā kho pana, ambaṭṭha, etarahi manussā pisāce disvā ‘pisācā’ti sañjānanti; evameva kho, ambaṭṭha, tena kho pana samayena manussā pisāce ‘kaṇhā’ti sañjānanti. Te evamāhaṁsu: ‘ayaṁ jāto pabyāhāsi, kaṇho jāto, pisāco jāto’ti. Tadagge kho pana, ambaṭṭha, kaṇhāyanā paññāyanti, so ca kaṇhāyanānaṁ pubbapuriso. Iti kho te, ambaṭṭha, porāṇaṁ mātāpettikaṁ nāmagottaṁ anussarato ayyaputtā sakyā bhavanti, dāsiputto tvamasi sakyānan”ti.

Now, King Okkāka had a slavegirl named Disā. She gave birth to a boy named Black. When he was born, Black Boy said: ‘Wash me, mum, bathe me! Get this filth off of me! I will be useful for you!’ Whereas these days when people see goblins they recognize them as goblins, in those days they recognized goblins as ‘blackboys’. They said: ‘He spoke as soon as he was born—a blackboy is born! A goblin is born!’ From that day on the Kaṇhāyanas were proclaimed, and he was their founder. That’s how, recollecting the ancient name and clan of your mother and father, the Sakyans were the children of the masters, while you’re descended from the son of a slavegirl of the Sakyans.”

Evaṁ vutte, te māṇavakā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “mā bhavaṁ gotamo ambaṭṭhaṁ atibāḷhaṁ dāsiputtavādena nimmādesi. Sujāto ca, bho gotama, ambaṭṭho māṇavo, kulaputto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, bahussuto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, kalyāṇavākkaraṇo ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, paṇḍito ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, pahoti ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhotā gotamena saddhiṁ asmiṁ vacane paṭimantetun”ti.

When he said this, those young students said to him, “Worthy Gotama, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. He’s well-born, a gentleman, learned, who enunciates well, and is astute. He is capable of debating with the worthy Gotama about this.”

Atha kho bhagavā te māṇavake etadavoca: “sace kho tumhākaṁ māṇavakānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘dujjāto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, akulaputto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, appassuto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, akalyāṇavākkaraṇo ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, duppañño ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, na ca pahoti ambaṭṭho māṇavo samaṇena gotamena saddhiṁ asmiṁ vacane paṭimantetun’ti, tiṭṭhatu ambaṭṭho māṇavo, tumhe mayā saddhiṁ mantavho asmiṁ vacane. Sace pana tumhākaṁ māṇavakānaṁ evaṁ hoti: ‘sujāto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, kulaputto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, bahussuto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, kalyāṇavākkaraṇo ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, paṇḍito ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, pahoti ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo samaṇena gotamena saddhiṁ asmiṁ vacane paṭimantetun’ti, tiṭṭhatha tumhe; ambaṭṭho māṇavo mayā saddhiṁ paṭimantetū”ti.

So the Buddha said to them, “Well, young students, if you think that Ambaṭṭha is ill-born, not a gentleman, unlearned, a poor speaker, witless, and not capable of debating with me about this, then leave him aside and you can debate with me. But if you think that he’s well-born, a gentleman, learned, who enunciates well, is astute, and is capable of debating with me about this, then you should stand aside and let him debate with me.”

“Sujāto ca, bho gotama, ambaṭṭho māṇavo, kulaputto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, bahussuto ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, kalyāṇavākkaraṇo ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, paṇḍito ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo, pahoti ca ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhotā gotamena saddhiṁ asmiṁ vacane paṭimantetuṁ, tuṇhī mayaṁ bhavissāma, ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhotā gotamena saddhiṁ asmiṁ vacane paṭimantetū”ti.

“He is capable of debating you. We will be silent, and let Ambaṭṭha debate with the worthy Gotama about this.”

Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: “ayaṁ kho pana te, ambaṭṭha, sahadhammiko pañho āgacchati, akāmā byākātabbo. Sace tvaṁ na byākarissasi, aññena vā aññaṁ paṭicarissasi, tuṇhī vā bhavissasi, pakkamissasi vā ettheva te sattadhā muddhā phalissati. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, kinti te sutaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ kutopabhutikā kaṇhāyanā, ko ca kaṇhāyanānaṁ pubbapuriso”ti? Evaṁ vutte, ambaṭṭho māṇavo tuṇhī ahosi. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: “taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, kinti te sutaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ kutopabhutikā kaṇhāyanā, ko ca kaṇhāyanānaṁ pubbapuriso”ti? Dutiyampi kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo tuṇhī ahosi. Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: “byākarohi dāni, ambaṭṭha, na dāni, te tuṇhībhāvassa kālo. Yo kho, ambaṭṭha, tathāgatena yāvatatiyakaṁ sahadhammikaṁ pañhaṁ puṭṭho na byākaroti, etthevassa sattadhā muddhā phalissatī”ti.

So the Buddha said to Ambaṭṭha, “Well, Ambaṭṭha, there’s a legitimate question that comes up. You won’t like it, but you ought to answer anyway. If you fail to answer—by dodging the issue, remaining silent, or leaving—your head will explode into seven pieces right here. What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?” When he said this, Ambaṭṭha kept silent. For a second time, the Buddha put the question, and for a second time Ambaṭṭha kept silent. So the Buddha said to him, “Answer now, Ambaṭṭha. Now is not the time for silence. If someone fails to answer a legitimate question when asked three times by the Buddha, their head explodes into seven pieces there and then.”

Tena kho pana samayena vajirapāṇī yakkho mahantaṁ ayokūṭaṁ ādāya ādittaṁ sampajjalitaṁ sajotibhūtaṁ ambaṭṭhassa māṇavassa upari vehāsaṁ ṭhito hoti: “sacāyaṁ ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhagavatā yāvatatiyakaṁ sahadhammikaṁ pañhaṁ puṭṭho na byākarissati, etthevassa sattadhā muddhaṁ phālessāmī”ti. Taṁ kho pana vajirapāṇiṁ yakkhaṁ bhagavā ceva passati ambaṭṭho ca māṇavo. Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhīto saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto bhagavantaṁyeva tāṇaṁ gavesī bhagavantaṁyeva leṇaṁ gavesī bhagavantaṁyeva saraṇaṁ gavesī upanisīditvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “kimetaṁ bhavaṁ gotamo āha? Punabhavaṁ gotamo bravitū”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, kinti te sutaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ kutopabhutikā kaṇhāyanā, ko ca kaṇhāyanānaṁ pubbapuriso”ti? “Evameva me, bho gotama, sutaṁ yatheva bhavaṁ gotamo āha. Tatopabhutikā kaṇhāyanā; so ca kaṇhāyanānaṁ pubbapuriso”ti.

Now at that time the spirit Vajirapāṇī, holding a massive iron spear, burning, blazing, and glowing, stood in the air above Ambaṭṭha, thinking, “If this Ambaṭṭha doesn’t answer when asked a third time, I’ll blow his head into seven pieces there and then!” And both the Buddha and Ambaṭṭha could see Vajirapāṇī. Ambaṭṭha was terrified, shocked, and awestruck. Looking to the Buddha for shelter, asylum, and refuge, he sat down close by the Buddha and said, “What did you say? Please repeat the question.” “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, what is the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and who is their founder?” “I have heard, worthy Gotama, that it is just as you say. That’s the origin of the Kaṇhāyanas, and that’s who their founder is.”

2.5. Ambaṭṭhavaṁsakathā

Evaṁ vutte, te māṇavakā unnādino uccāsaddamahāsaddā ahesuṁ: “dujjāto kira, bho, ambaṭṭho māṇavo; akulaputto kira, bho, ambaṭṭho māṇavo; dāsiputto kira, bho, ambaṭṭho māṇavo sakyānaṁ. Ayyaputtā kira, bho, ambaṭṭhassa māṇavassa sakyā bhavanti. Dhammavādiṁyeva kira mayaṁ samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ apasādetabbaṁ amaññimhā”ti.

2.5. The Discussion of Ambaṭṭha’s Heritage

When he said this, those young students made an uproar, “It turns out Ambaṭṭha is ill-born, not a gentleman, son of a Sakyan slavegirl, and that the Sakyans are sons of his masters! And it seems that the ascetic Gotama spoke only the truth, though we presumed to rebuke him!”

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “atibāḷhaṁ kho ime māṇavakā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ dāsiputtavādena nimmādenti, yannūnāhaṁ parimoceyyan”ti. Atha kho bhagavā te māṇavake etadavoca: “mā kho tumhe, māṇavakā, ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ atibāḷhaṁ dāsiputtavādena nimmādetha. Uḷāro so kaṇho isi ahosi. So dakkhiṇajanapadaṁ gantvā brahmamante adhīyitvā rājānaṁ okkākaṁ upasaṅkamitvā maddarūpiṁ dhītaraṁ yāci. Tassa rājā okkāko: ‘ko nevaṁ re ayaṁ mayhaṁ dāsiputto samāno maddarūpiṁ dhītaraṁ yācatī’ti, kupito anattamano khurappaṁ sannayhi. So taṁ khurappaṁ neva asakkhi muñcituṁ, no paṭisaṁharituṁ. Atha kho, māṇavakā, amaccā pārisajjā kaṇhaṁ isiṁ upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ: ‘sotthi, bhaddante, hotu rañño; sotthi, bhaddante, hotu rañño’ti. ‘Sotthi bhavissati rañño, api ca rājā yadi adho khurappaṁ muñcissati, yāvatā rañño vijitaṁ, ettāvatā pathavī undriyissatī’ti. ‘Sotthi, bhaddante, hotu rañño, sotthi janapadassā’ti. ‘Sotthi bhavissati rañño, sotthi janapadassa, api ca rājā yadi uddhaṁ khurappaṁ muñcissati, yāvatā rañño vijitaṁ, ettāvatā satta vassāni devo na vassissatī’ti. ‘Sotthi, bhaddante, hotu rañño sotthi janapadassa devo ca vassatū’ti. ‘Sotthi bhavissati rañño sotthi janapadassa devo ca vassissati, api ca rājā jeṭṭhakumāre khurappaṁ patiṭṭhāpetu, sotthi kumāro pallomo bhavissatī’ti. Atha kho, māṇavakā, amaccā okkākassa ārocesuṁ: ‘okkāko jeṭṭhakumāre khurappaṁ patiṭṭhāpetu. Sotthi kumāro pallomo bhavissatī’ti. Atha kho rājā okkāko jeṭṭhakumāre khurappaṁ patiṭṭhapesi, sotthi kumāro pallomo samabhavi. Atha kho tassa rājā okkāko bhīto saṁviggo lomahaṭṭhajāto brahmadaṇḍena tajjito maddarūpiṁ dhītaraṁ adāsi. Mā kho tumhe, māṇavakā, ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ atibāḷhaṁ dāsiputtavādena nimmādetha, uḷāro so kaṇho isi ahosī”ti.

Then it occurred to the Buddha, “These young students put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. Why don’t I get him out of this?” So the Buddha said to the young students, “Young students, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. That Black Boy was an eminent seer. He went to a southern country and memorized the Divine Spell. Then he approached King Okkāka and asked for the hand of his daughter Maddarūpī. The king said to him, ‘Who the hell is this son of a slavegirl to ask for the hand of my daughter!’ Angry and upset he fastened a razor-tipped arrow. But he wasn’t able to either shoot it or to relax it. Then the ministers and councillors approached the seer Black Boy and said: ‘Spare the king, sir, spare him!’ ‘The king will be safe. But if he shoots the arrow downwards, there will be an earthquake across the entire realm.’ ‘Spare the king, sir, and spare the country!’ ‘Both king and country will be safe. But if he shoots the arrow upwards, the heavens will not rain in the entire realm for seven years.’ ‘Spare the king, sir, spare the country, and let the heavens rain!’ ‘Both king and country will be safe, and the heavens rain will rain. And if the king shoots the crown prince with an arrow, he will be safe and unruffled.’ So the ministers said to Okkāka: ‘Okkāka must shoot the crown prince with an arrow. He will be safe and unruffled.’ So King Okkāka shot the crown prince with an arrow. And he was safe and unruffled. Then the king was terrified, shocked, and awestruck. Scared by the divine punishment, he gave the hand of his daughter Maddarūpī. Young students, please don’t put Ambaṭṭha down too much by calling him the son of a slavegirl. That Black Boy was an eminent seer.”

3. Khattiyaseṭṭhabhāva

Atha kho bhagavā ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ āmantesi: “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, idha khattiyakumāro brāhmaṇakaññāya saddhiṁ saṁvāsaṁ kappeyya, tesaṁ saṁvāsamanvāya putto jāyetha. Yo so khattiyakumārena brāhmaṇakaññāya putto uppanno, api nu so labhetha brāhmaṇesu āsanaṁ vā udakaṁ vā”ti? “Labhetha, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā bhojeyyuṁ saddhe vā thālipāke vā yaññe vā pāhune vā”ti? “Bhojeyyuṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā mante vāceyyuṁ vā no vā”ti? “Vāceyyuṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nussa itthīsu āvaṭaṁ vā assa anāvaṭaṁ vā”ti? “Anāvaṭaṁ hissa, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ khattiyā khattiyābhisekena abhisiñceyyun”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Taṁ kissa hetu”? “Mātito hi, bho gotama, anupapanno”ti.

3. The Supremacy of the Aristocrats

Then the Buddha addressed Ambaṭṭha, “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose an aristocrat boy was to sleep with a brahmin girl, and they had a son. Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?” “He would, worthy Gotama.” “And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?” “They would.” “And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?” “They would.” “And would he be kept from the women or not?” “He would not.” “And would the aristocrats anoint him as king?” “No, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because his maternity is unsuitable.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, idha brāhmaṇakumāro khattiyakaññāya saddhiṁ saṁvāsaṁ kappeyya, tesaṁ saṁvāsamanvāya putto jāyetha. Yo so brāhmaṇakumārena khattiyakaññāya putto uppanno, api nu so labhetha brāhmaṇesu āsanaṁ vā udakaṁ vā”ti? “Labhetha, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā bhojeyyuṁ saddhe vā thālipāke vā yaññe vā pāhune vā”ti? “Bhojeyyuṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā mante vāceyyuṁ vā no vā”ti? “Vāceyyuṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nussa itthīsu āvaṭaṁ vā assa anāvaṭaṁ vā”ti? “Anāvaṭaṁ hissa, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ khattiyā khattiyābhisekena abhisiñceyyun”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Taṁ kissa hetu”? “Pitito hi, bho gotama, anupapanno”ti.

“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose a brahmin boy was to sleep with an aristocrat girl, and they had a son. Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?” “He would, worthy Gotama.” “And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?” “They would.” “And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?” “They would.” “And would he be kept from the women or not?” “He would not.” “And would the aristocrats anoint him as king?” “No, worthy Gotama. Why is that? Because his paternity is unsuitable.”

“Iti kho, ambaṭṭha, itthiyā vā itthiṁ karitvā purisena vā purisaṁ karitvā khattiyāva seṭṭhā, hīnā brāhmaṇā. Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, idha brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇaṁ kismiñcideva pakaraṇe khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā bhassapuṭena vadhitvā raṭṭhā vā nagarā vā pabbājeyyuṁ. Api nu so labhetha brāhmaṇesu āsanaṁ vā udakaṁ vā”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā bhojeyyuṁ saddhe vā thālipāke vā yaññe vā pāhune vā”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā mante vāceyyuṁ vā no vā”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nussa itthīsu āvaṭaṁ vā assa anāvaṭaṁ vā”ti? “Āvaṭaṁ hissa, bho gotama”.

“And so, Ambaṭṭha, the aristocrats are superior and the brahmins inferior, whether comparing women with women or men with men. What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose the brahmins for some reason were to shave a brahmin’s head, inflict him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the nation or the city. Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “And would he be kept from the women or not?” “He would be.”

“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, idha khattiyā khattiyaṁ kismiñcideva pakaraṇe khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā bhassapuṭena vadhitvā raṭṭhā vā nagarā vā pabbājeyyuṁ. Api nu so labhetha brāhmaṇesu āsanaṁ vā udakaṁ vā”ti? “Labhetha, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā bhojeyyuṁ saddhe vā thālipāke vā yaññe vā pāhune vā”ti? “Bhojeyyuṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nu naṁ brāhmaṇā mante vāceyyuṁ vā no vā”ti? “Vāceyyuṁ, bho gotama”. “Api nussa itthīsu āvaṭaṁ vā assa anāvaṭaṁ vā”ti? “Anāvaṭaṁ hissa, bho gotama”. “Ettāvatā kho, ambaṭṭha, khattiyo paramanihīnataṁ patto hoti, yadeva naṁ khattiyā khuramuṇḍaṁ karitvā bhassapuṭena vadhitvā raṭṭhā vā nagarā vā pabbājenti. Iti kho, ambaṭṭha, yadā khattiyo paramanihīnataṁ patto hoti, tadāpi khattiyāva seṭṭhā, hīnā brāhmaṇā.

“What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose the aristocrats for some reason were to shave an aristocrat’s head, inflict him with a sack of ashes, and banish him from the nation or the city. Would he receive a seat and water from the brahmins?” “He would, worthy Gotama.” “And would the brahmins feed him at an offering of food for ancestors, an offering of a dish of milk-rice, a sacrifice, or a feast for guests?” “They would.” “And would the brahmins teach him the hymns or not?” “They would.” “And would he be kept from the women or not?” “He would not.” “At this point, Ambaṭṭha, that aristocrat has reached rock bottom, with head shaven, inflicted with a sack of ashes, and banished from city or nation. Yet still the aristocrats are superior and the brahmins inferior.

Brahmunā pesā, ambaṭṭha, sanaṅkumārena gāthā bhāsitā: ‘Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ, ye gottapaṭisārino; Vijjācaraṇasampanno, so seṭṭho devamānuse’ti. Sā kho panesā, ambaṭṭha, brahmunā sanaṅkumārena gāthā sugītā no duggītā, subhāsitā no dubbhāsitā, atthasaṁhitā no anatthasaṁhitā, anumatā mayā. Ahampi hi, ambaṭṭha, evaṁ vadāmi— Khattiyo seṭṭho janetasmiṁ, ye gottapaṭisārino; Vijjācaraṇasampanno, so seṭṭho devamānuse”ti.

The divinity Sanaṅkumāra also spoke this verse: ‘The aristocrat is best among people who take clan as the standard. But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct is first among gods and humans.’ That verse was well sung by the Divinity Sanaṅkumāra, not poorly sung; well spoken, not poorly spoken, beneficial, not harmful, and it was approved by me. For I also say this: The aristocrat is best among people who take clan as the standard. But one accomplished in knowledge and conduct is first among gods and humans.”

4. Vijjācaraṇakathā

“Katamaṁ pana taṁ, bho gotama, caraṇaṁ, katamā ca pana sā vijjā”ti? “Na kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya jātivādo vā vuccati, gottavādo vā vuccati, mānavādo vā vuccati: ‘arahasi vā maṁ tvaṁ, na vā maṁ tvaṁ arahasī’ti. Yattha kho, ambaṭṭha, āvāho vā hoti, vivāho vā hoti, āvāhavivāho vā hoti, etthetaṁ vuccati jātivādo vā itipi gottavādo vā itipi mānavādo vā itipi: ‘arahasi vā maṁ tvaṁ, na vā maṁ tvaṁ arahasī’ti. Ye hi keci, ambaṭṭha, jātivādavinibaddhā vā gottavādavinibaddhā vā mānavādavinibaddhā vā āvāhavivāhavinibaddhā vā, ārakā te anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya. Pahāya kho, ambaṭṭha, jātivādavinibaddhañca gottavādavinibaddhañca mānavādavinibaddhañca āvāhavivāhavinibaddhañca anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya sacchikiriyā hotī”ti.

4. Knowledge and Conduct

“But what, worthy Gotama, is that conduct, and what is that knowledge?” “Ambaṭṭha, in the supreme knowledge and conduct there is no discussion of genealogy or clan or pride— ‘You deserve me’ or ‘You don’t deserve me.’ Wherever there is giving and taking in marriage there is such discussion. Whoever is shackled to questions of genealogy or clan or pride, or to giving and taking in marriage, is far from the supreme knowledge and conduct. The realization of supreme knowledge and conduct occurs when you’ve given up such things.”

“Katamaṁ pana taṁ, bho gotama, caraṇaṁ, katamā ca sā vijjā”ti? “Idha, ambaṭṭha, tathāgato loke uppajjati arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā. So imaṁ lokaṁ sadevakaṁ samārakaṁ sabrahmakaṁ sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiṁ pajaṁ sadevamanussaṁ sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā pavedeti. So dhammaṁ deseti ādikalyāṇaṁ majjhekalyāṇaṁ pariyosānakalyāṇaṁ sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ pakāseti. Taṁ dhammaṁ suṇāti gahapati vā gahapatiputto vā aññatarasmiṁ vā kule paccājāto. So taṁ dhammaṁ sutvā tathāgate saddhaṁ paṭilabhati. So tena saddhāpaṭilābhena samannāgato iti paṭisañcikkhati …pe… So vivicceva kāmehi, vivicca akusalehi dhammehi, savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati …pe… idampissa hoti caraṇasmiṁ. Puna caparaṁ, ambaṭṭha, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati …pe… idampissa hoti caraṇasmiṁ. Puna caparaṁ, ambaṭṭha, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno, sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati …pe… idampissa hoti caraṇasmiṁ. Puna caparaṁ, ambaṭṭha, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā, pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati …pe… idampissa hoti caraṇasmiṁ. Idaṁ kho taṁ, ambaṭṭha, caraṇaṁ. So evaṁ samāhite citte parisuddhe pariyodāte anaṅgaṇe vigatūpakkilese mudubhūte kammaniye ṭhite āneñjappatte ñāṇadassanāya cittaṁ abhinīharati abhininnāmeti …pe… idampissa hoti vijjāya …pe… nāparaṁ itthattāyāti pajānāti, idampissa hoti vijjāya. Ayaṁ kho sā, ambaṭṭha, vijjā. Ayaṁ vuccati, ambaṭṭha, bhikkhu ‘vijjāsampanno’ itipi, ‘caraṇasampanno’ itipi, ‘vijjācaraṇasampanno’ itipi. Imāya ca, ambaṭṭha, vijjāsampadāya caraṇasampadāya ca aññā vijjāsampadā ca caraṇasampadā ca uttaritarā vā paṇītatarā vā natthi.

“But what, worthy Gotama, is that conduct, and what is that knowledge?” “Ambaṭṭha, it’s when a Realized One arises in the world, perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed. He has realized with his own insight this world—with its gods, Māras, and divinities, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, gods and humans—and he makes it known to others. He teaches Dhamma that’s good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased. And he reveals a spiritual practice that’s entirely full and pure. A householder hears that teaching, or a householder’s child, or someone reborn in a good family. They gain faith in the Realized One and reflect … Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption … This pertains to their conduct. Furthermore, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption … This pertains to their conduct. Furthermore, with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption … This pertains to their conduct. Furthermore, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth absorption … This pertains to their conduct. This is that conduct. When their mind has become immersed in samādhi like this—purified, bright, flawless, rid of corruptions, pliable, workable, steady, and imperturbable—they project it and extend it toward knowledge and vision. This pertains to their knowledge. … They understand: ‘There is nothing further for this place.’ This pertains to their knowledge. This is that knowledge. This mendicant is said to be ‘accomplished in knowledge’, and also ‘accomplished in conduct’, and also ‘accomplished in knowledge and conduct’. And, Ambaṭṭha, there is no accomplishment in knowledge and conduct that is better or finer than this.

5. Catuapāyamukha

Imāya kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya cattāri apāyamukhāni bhavanti. Katamāni cattāri? Idha, ambaṭṭha, ekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā imaññeva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno khārividhamādāya araññāyatanaṁ ajjhogāhati: ‘pavattaphalabhojano bhavissāmī’ti. So aññadatthu vijjācaraṇasampannasseva paricārako sampajjati. Imāya kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya idaṁ paṭhamaṁ apāyamukhaṁ bhavati. Puna caparaṁ, ambaṭṭha, idhekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā imañceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno pavattaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno kudālapiṭakaṁ ādāya araññavanaṁ ajjhogāhati: ‘kandamūlaphalabhojano bhavissāmī’ti. So aññadatthu vijjācaraṇasampannasseva paricārako sampajjati. Imāya kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya idaṁ dutiyaṁ apāyamukhaṁ bhavati. Puna caparaṁ, ambaṭṭha, idhekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā imañceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno pavattaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno kandamūlaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno gāmasāmantaṁ vā nigamasāmantaṁ vā agyāgāraṁ karitvā aggiṁ paricaranto acchati. So aññadatthu vijjācaraṇasampannasseva paricārako sampajjati. Imāya kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya idaṁ tatiyaṁ apāyamukhaṁ bhavati. Puna caparaṁ, ambaṭṭha, idhekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā imaṁ ceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno pavattaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno kandamūlaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno aggipāricariyañca anabhisambhuṇamāno cātumahāpathe catudvāraṁ agāraṁ karitvā acchati: ‘yo imāhi catūhi disāhi āgamissati samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā, tamahaṁ yathāsatti yathābalaṁ paṭipūjessāmī’ti. So aññadatthu vijjācaraṇasampannasseva paricārako sampajjati. Imāya kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya idaṁ catutthaṁ apāyamukhaṁ bhavati. Imāya kho, ambaṭṭha, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya imāni cattāri apāyamukhāni bhavanti.

5. Four Causes of Quitting

There are these four causes of quitting this supreme knowledge and conduct. What four? Firstly, take some ascetic or brahmin who, not managing to obtain this supreme knowledge and conduct, plunges into a wilderness region carrying their pack with a shoulder-pole, thinking they will get by eating fallen fruit. In fact they succeed only in serving someone accomplished in knowledge and conduct. This is the first cause of quitting this supreme knowledge and conduct. Furthermore, take some ascetic or brahmin who, not managing to obtain this supreme knowledge and conduct or to get by eating fallen fruit, plunges into a wilderness region carrying a spade and basket, thinking they will get by eating tubers and fruit. In fact they succeed only in serving someone accomplished in knowledge and conduct. This is the second cause of quitting this supreme knowledge and conduct. Furthermore, take some ascetic or brahmin who, not managing to obtain this supreme knowledge and conduct, or to get by eating fallen fruit, or to get by eating tubers and fruit, sets up a fire chamber in the neighborhood of a village or town and dwells there serving the sacred flame. In fact they succeed only in serving someone accomplished in knowledge and conduct. This is the third cause of quitting this supreme knowledge and conduct. Furthermore, take some ascetic or brahmin who, not managing to obtain this supreme knowledge and conduct, or to get by eating fallen fruit, or to get by eating tubers and fruit, or to serve the sacred flame, sets up a four-doored fire chamber at the crossroads and dwells there, thinking: ‘When an ascetic or brahmin comes from the four quarters, I will honor them as best I can.’ In fact they succeed only in serving someone accomplished in knowledge and conduct. This is the fourth cause of quitting this supreme knowledge and conduct. These are the four causes of quitting this supreme knowledge and conduct.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, api nu tvaṁ imāya anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya sandissasi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama. Kocāhaṁ, bho gotama, sācariyako, kā ca anuttarā vijjācaraṇasampadā? Ārakāhaṁ, bho gotama, anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya sācariyako”ti. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, api nu tvaṁ imañceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno khārividhamādāya araññavanamajjhogāhasi sācariyako: ‘pavattaphalabhojano bhavissāmī’”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, api nu tvaṁ imañceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno pavattaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno kudālapiṭakaṁ ādāya araññavanamajjhogāhasi sācariyako: ‘kandamūlaphalabhojano bhavissāmī’”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, api nu tvaṁ imañceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno pavattaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno kandamūlaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno gāmasāmantaṁ vā nigamasāmantaṁ vā agyāgāraṁ karitvā aggiṁ paricaranto acchasi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, api nu tvaṁ imañceva anuttaraṁ vijjācaraṇasampadaṁ anabhisambhuṇamāno pavattaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno kandamūlaphalabhojanatañca anabhisambhuṇamāno aggipāricariyañca anabhisambhuṇamāno cātumahāpathe catudvāraṁ agāraṁ karitvā acchasi sācariyako: ‘yo imāhi catūhi disāhi āgamissati samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā, taṁ mayaṁ yathāsatti yathābalaṁ paṭipūjessāmā’”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”.

What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Is this supreme knowledge and conduct seen in your own denomination?” “No, worthy Gotama. Who am I and my denomination compared with the supreme knowledge and conduct? We are far from that.” “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Since you’re not managing to obtain this supreme knowledge and conduct, have you with your denomination plunged into a wilderness region carrying your pack with a shoulder-pole, thinking you will get by eating fallen fruit?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Have you with your denomination … plunged into a wilderness region carrying a spade and basket, thinking you will get by eating tubers and fruit?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Have you with your denomination … set up a fire chamber in the neighborhood of a village or town and dwelt there serving the sacred flame?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Have you with your denomination … set up a four-doored fire chamber at the crossroads and dwelt there, thinking: ‘When an ascetic or brahmin comes from the four quarters, I will honor them as best I can’?” “No, worthy Gotama.”

“Iti kho, ambaṭṭha, imāya ceva tvaṁ anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya parihīno sācariyako. Ye cime anuttarāya vijjācaraṇasampadāya cattāri apāyamukhāni bhavanti, tato ca tvaṁ parihīno sācariyako. Bhāsitā kho pana te esā, ambaṭṭha, ācariyena brāhmaṇena pokkharasātinā vācā: ‘ke ca muṇḍakā samaṇakā ibbhā kaṇhā bandhupādāpaccā, kā ca tevijjānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ sākacchā’ti attanā āpāyikopi aparipūramāno. Passa, ambaṭṭha, yāva aparaddhañca te idaṁ ācariyassa brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa.

“So you with your denomination are not only inferior to the supreme knowledge and conduct, you are even inferior to the four causes of quitting the supreme knowledge and conduct. But you have been told this by your tutor, the brahmin Pokkharasāti: ‘Who are these shavelings, fake ascetics, primitives, black spawn from the feet of our kinsman compared with conversation with the brahmins of the three knowledges?’ Yet he himself has not even fulfilled one of the quittings! See, Ambaṭṭha, how your tutor Pokkharasāti has wronged you.

6. Pubbakaisibhāvānuyoga

Brāhmaṇo kho pana, ambaṭṭha, pokkharasāti rañño pasenadissa kosalassa dattikaṁ bhuñjati. Tassa rājā pasenadi kosalo sammukhībhāvampi na dadāti. Yadāpi tena manteti, tirodussantena manteti. Yassa kho pana, ambaṭṭha, dhammikaṁ payātaṁ bhikkhaṁ paṭiggaṇheyya, kathaṁ tassa rājā pasenadi kosalo sammukhībhāvampi na dadeyya. Passa, ambaṭṭha, yāva aparaddhañca te idaṁ ācariyassa brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa.

6. Being Like the Seers of the Past

Pokkharasāti lives off an endowment provided by King Pasenadi of Kosala. But the king won’t even grant him an audience face to face. When he consults, he does so behind a curtain. Why wouldn’t the king grant a face to face audience with someone who’d receive his legitimate presentation of food? See, Ambaṭṭha, how your tutor Pokkharasāti has wronged you.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, idha rājā pasenadi kosalo hatthigīvāya vā nisinno assapiṭṭhe vā nisinno rathūpatthare vā ṭhito uggehi vā rājaññehi vā kiñcideva mantanaṁ manteyya. So tamhā padesā apakkamma ekamantaṁ tiṭṭheyya. Atha āgaccheyya suddo vā suddadāso vā, tasmiṁ padese ṭhito tadeva mantanaṁ manteyya: ‘evampi rājā pasenadi kosalo āha, evampi rājā pasenadi kosalo āhā’ti. Api nu so rājabhaṇitaṁ vā bhaṇati rājamantanaṁ vā manteti? Ettāvatā so assa rājā vā rājamatto vā”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”.

What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? Suppose King Pasenadi was holding consultations with warrior-chiefs or chieftains while sitting on an elephant’s neck or on horseback, or while standing on the mat in a chariot. And suppose he’d get down from that place and stand aside. Then along would come a worker or their bondservant, who’d stand in the same place and continue the consultation: ‘This is what King Pasenadi says, and this too is what the king says.’ Though he spoke the king’s words and gave the king’s advice, does that qualify him to be the king or the king’s minister?” “No, worthy Gotama.”

“Evameva kho tvaṁ, ambaṭṭha, ye te ahesuṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti tadanubhāsanti bhāsitamanubhāsanti vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu: ‘tyāhaṁ mante adhiyāmi sācariyako’ti, tāvatā tvaṁ bhavissasi isi vā isitthāya vā paṭipannoti netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati.

“In the same way, Ambaṭṭha, the ancient seers of the brahmins were Aṭṭhaka, Vāmaka, Vāmadeva, Vessāmitta, Yamadaggi, Aṅgīrasa, Bhāradvāja, Vāseṭṭha, Kassapa, and Bhagu. They were the authors and propagators of the hymns. Their hymnal was sung and propagated and compiled in ancient times; and these days, brahmins continue to sing and chant it, chanting what was chanted and teaching what was taught. You might imagine that, since you’ve learned their hymns by heart in your own denomination, that makes you a seer or someone on the path to becoming a seer. But that is not possible.

Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, ambaṭṭha, kinti te sutaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ— ye te ahesuṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ pubbakā isayo mantānaṁ kattāro mantānaṁ pavattāro, yesamidaṁ etarahi brāhmaṇā porāṇaṁ mantapadaṁ gītaṁ pavuttaṁ samihitaṁ, tadanugāyanti tadanubhāsanti bhāsitamanubhāsanti vācitamanuvācenti, seyyathidaṁ—aṭṭhako vāmako vāmadevo vessāmitto yamataggi aṅgīraso bhāradvājo vāseṭṭho kassapo bhagu, evaṁ su te sunhātā suvilittā kappitakesamassū āmukkamaṇikuṇḍalābharaṇā odātavatthavasanā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitā samaṅgībhūtā paricārenti, seyyathāpi tvaṁ etarahi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”.

What do you think, Ambaṭṭha? According to what you have heard from elderly and senior brahmins, the tutors of tutors, did those ancient brahmin seers— nicely bathed and anointed, with hair and beard dressed, bedecked with jewels, earrings, and bracelets, dressed in white—amuse themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation, like you do today in your denomination?” “No, worthy Gotama.”

“ …pe… Evaṁ su te sālīnaṁ odanaṁ sucimaṁsūpasecanaṁ vicitakāḷakaṁ anekasūpaṁ anekabyañjanaṁ paribhuñjanti, seyyathāpi tvaṁ etarahi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “ …pe… Evaṁ su te veṭhakanatapassāhi nārīhi paricārenti, seyyathāpi tvaṁ etarahi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “ …pe… Evaṁ su te kuttavālehi vaḷavārathehi dīghāhi patodalaṭṭhīhi vāhane vitudentā vipariyāyanti, seyyathāpi tvaṁ etarahi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “ …pe… Evaṁ su te ukkiṇṇaparikhāsu okkhittapalighāsu nagarūpakārikāsu dīghāsivudhehi purisehi rakkhāpenti, seyyathāpi tvaṁ etarahi sācariyako”ti? “No hidaṁ, bho gotama”. “Iti kho, ambaṭṭha, neva tvaṁ isi na isitthāya paṭipanno sācariyako. Yassa kho pana, ambaṭṭha, mayi kaṅkhā vā vimati vā so maṁ pañhena, ahaṁ veyyākaraṇena sodhissāmī”ti.

“Did they eat boiled fine rice, garnished with clean meat, with the dark grains picked out, served with many soups and sauces, like you do today in your denomination?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “Did they amuse themselves with girls wearing thongs that show off their curves, like you do today in your denomination?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “Did they drive about in chariots drawn by mares with plaited manes, whipping and lashing them onward with long goads, like you do today in your denomination?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “Did they get men with long swords to guard them in fortresses with moats dug and barriers in place, like you do today in your denomination?” “No, worthy Gotama.” “So, Ambaṭṭha, in your own denomination you are neither a seer nor someone on the path to becoming a seer. Whoever has any doubt or uncertainty about me, let them ask me and I will clear up their doubts with my answer.”

7. Dvelakkhaṇādassana

Atha kho bhagavā vihārā nikkhamma caṅkamaṁ abbhuṭṭhāsi. Ambaṭṭhopi māṇavo vihārā nikkhamma caṅkamaṁ abbhuṭṭhāsi. Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhagavantaṁ caṅkamantaṁ anucaṅkamamāno bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni samannesi. Addasā kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya ca.

7. Seeing the Two Marks

Then the Buddha left his dwelling and proceeded to begin walking mindfully, and Ambaṭṭha did likewise. Then while walking beside the Buddha, Ambaṭṭha scrutinized his body for the thirty-two marks of a great man. He saw all of them except two, which he had doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.

Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “passati kho me ayaṁ ambaṭṭho māṇavo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya cā”ti. Atha kho bhagavā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi. Yathā addasa ambaṭṭho māṇavo bhagavato kosohitaṁ vatthaguyhaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā jivhaṁ ninnāmetvā ubhopi kaṇṇasotāni anumasi paṭimasi, ubhopi nāsikasotāni anumasi paṭimasi, kevalampi nalāṭamaṇḍalaṁ jivhāya chādesi. Atha kho ambaṭṭhassa māṇavassa etadahosi: “samannāgato kho samaṇo gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi paripuṇṇehi, no aparipuṇṇehī”ti. Bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “handa ca dāni mayaṁ, bho gotama, gacchāma, bahukiccā mayaṁ bahukaraṇīyā”ti. “Yassadāni tvaṁ, ambaṭṭha, kālaṁ maññasī”ti. Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo vaḷavārathamāruyha pakkāmi.

Then it occurred to the Buddha, “This student Ambaṭṭha sees all the marks except two, which he has doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.” Then the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Ambaṭṭha would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin. And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue. Then Ambaṭṭha thought, “The ascetic Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.” He said to the Buddha, “Well, now, sir, I must go. I have many duties, and much to do.” “Please, Ambaṭṭha, go at your convenience.” Then Ambaṭṭha mounted his chariot drawn by mares and left.

Tena kho pana samayena brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti ukkaṭṭhāya nikkhamitvā mahatā brāhmaṇagaṇena saddhiṁ sake ārāme nisinno hoti ambaṭṭhaṁyeva māṇavaṁ paṭimānento. Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo yena sako ārāmo tena pāyāsi.

Now at that time the brahmin Pokkharasāti had come out from Ukkaṭṭhā together with a large group of brahmins and was sitting in his own park just waiting for Ambaṭṭha. Then Ambaṭṭha entered the park.

Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi, yānena gantvā yānā paccorohitvā pattikova yena brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā brāhmaṇaṁ pokkharasātiṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti etadavoca: “kacci, tāta ambaṭṭha, addasa taṁ bhavantaṁ gotaman”ti? “Addasāma kho mayaṁ, bho, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotaman”ti. “Kacci, tāta ambaṭṭha, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ tathā santaṁyeva saddo abbhuggato no aññathā; kacci pana so bhavaṁ gotamo tādiso no aññādiso”ti? “Tathā santaṁyeva, bho, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saddo abbhuggato no aññathā, tādisova so bhavaṁ gotamo no aññādiso. Samannāgato ca so bhavaṁ gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi paripuṇṇehi no aparipuṇṇehī”ti. “Ahu pana te, tāta ambaṭṭha, samaṇena gotamena saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti? “Ahu kho me, bho, samaṇena gotamena saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti. “Yathā kathaṁ pana te, tāta ambaṭṭha, ahu samaṇena gotamena saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti? Atha kho ambaṭṭho māṇavo yāvatako ahosi bhagavatā saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo, taṁ sabbaṁ brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa ārocesi.

He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and approached the brahmin Pokkharasāti on foot. He bowed and sat down to one side, and Pokkharasāti said to him: “I hope, dear Ambaṭṭha, you saw the worthy Gotama?” “I saw him, sir.” “Well, does he live up to his reputation or not?” “He does, sir. The worthy Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.” “And did you have some discussion with him?” “I did.” “And what kind of discussion did you have with him?” Then Ambaṭṭha informed Pokkharasāti of all they had discussed.

Evaṁ vutte, brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ etadavoca: “aho vata re amhākaṁ, paṇḍitaka, aho vata re amhākaṁ, bahussutaka, aho vata re amhākaṁ, tevijjaka, evarūpena kira, bho, puriso atthacarakena kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyya. Yadeva kho tvaṁ, ambaṭṭha, taṁ bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ evaṁ āsajja āsajja avacāsi, atha kho so bhavaṁ gotamo amhepi evaṁ upaneyya upaneyya avaca. Aho vata re amhākaṁ, paṇḍitaka, aho vata re amhākaṁ, bahussutaka, aho vata re amhākaṁ, tevijjaka, evarūpena kira, bho, puriso atthacarakena kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā apāyaṁ duggatiṁ vinipātaṁ nirayaṁ upapajjeyyā”ti, kupito anattamano ambaṭṭhaṁ māṇavaṁ padasāyeva pavattesi. Icchati ca tāvadeva bhagavantaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ.

Then Pokkharasāti said to Ambaṭṭha, “Oh, our bloody fake scholar, our fake learned man, who pretends to be proficient in the three Vedas! A man who behaves like this ought, when their body breaks up, after death, to be reborn in a place of loss, a bad place, the underworld, hell. It’s only because you repeatedly attacked the worthy Gotama like that that he kept bringing up charges against us!” Angry and upset, he kicked Ambaṭṭha over, and wanted to go and see the Buddha right away.

8. Pokkharasātibuddhūpasaṅkamana

Atha kho te brāhmaṇā brāhmaṇaṁ pokkharasātiṁ etadavocuṁ: “ativikālo kho, bho, ajja samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamituṁ. Svedāni bhavaṁ pokkharasāti samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ dassanāya upasaṅkamissatī”ti. Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti sake nivesane paṇītaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyādāpetvā yāne āropetvā ukkāsu dhāriyamānāsu ukkaṭṭhāya niyyāsi, yena icchānaṅgalavanasaṇḍo tena pāyāsi.

8. Pokkharasāti Visits the Buddha

Then those brahmins said to Pokkharasāti, “It’s much too late to visit the ascetic Gotama today. You can visit him tomorrow.” So Pokkharasāti had delicious fresh and cooked foods prepared in his own home. Then he mounted a carriage and, with attendants carrying torches, set out from Ukkaṭṭhā for the forest near Icchānaṅgala.

Yāvatikā yānassa bhūmi yānena gantvā, yānā paccorohitvā pattikova yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami. upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi, sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “āgamā nu khvidha, bho gotama, amhākaṁ antevāsī ambaṭṭho māṇavo”ti? “Āgamā kho te, brāhmaṇa, antevāsī ambaṭṭho māṇavo”ti. “Ahu pana te, bho gotama, ambaṭṭhena māṇavena saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti? “Ahu kho me, brāhmaṇa, ambaṭṭhena māṇavena saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti. “Yathākathaṁ pana te, bho gotama, ahu ambaṭṭhena māṇavena saddhiṁ kocideva kathāsallāpo”ti? Atha kho bhagavā yāvatako ahosi ambaṭṭhena māṇavena saddhiṁ kathāsallāpo, taṁ sabbaṁ brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa ārocesi. Evaṁ vutte, brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “bālo, bho gotama, ambaṭṭho māṇavo, khamatu bhavaṁ gotamo ambaṭṭhassa māṇavassā”ti. “Sukhī hotu, brāhmaṇa, ambaṭṭho māṇavo”ti.

He went by carriage as far as the terrain allowed, then descended and entered the monastery on foot. He went up to the Buddha and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha, “Master Gotama, has my resident pupil, the student Ambaṭṭha, come here?” “Yes he has, brahmin.” “And did you have some discussion with him?” “I did.” “And what kind of discussion did you have with him?” Then the Buddha informed Pokkharasāti of all they had discussed. Then Pokkharasāti said to the Buddha, “Ambaṭṭha is a fool, worthy Gotama. Please forgive him.” “May the student Ambaṭṭha be happy, brahmin.”

Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni samannesi. Addasā kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavato kāye dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya ca. Atha kho bhagavato etadahosi: “passati kho me ayaṁ brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇāni yebhuyyena ṭhapetvā dve. Dvīsu mahāpurisalakkhaṇesu kaṅkhati vicikicchati nādhimuccati na sampasīdati— kosohite ca vatthaguyhe pahūtajivhatāya cā”ti. Atha kho bhagavā tathārūpaṁ iddhābhisaṅkhāraṁ abhisaṅkhāsi yathā addasa brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavato kosohitaṁ vatthaguyhaṁ. Atha kho bhagavā jivhaṁ ninnāmetvā ubhopi kaṇṇasotāni anumasi paṭimasi, ubhopi nāsikasotāni anumasi paṭimasi, kevalampi nalāṭamaṇḍalaṁ jivhāya chādesi.

Then Pokkharasāti scrutinized the Buddha’s body for the thirty-two marks of a great man. He saw all of them except two, which he had doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue. Then it occurred to the Buddha, “Pokkharasāti sees all the marks except two, which he has doubts about: whether the private parts are sheathed in a foreskin, and the largeness of the tongue.” Then the Buddha used his psychic power to will that Pokkharasāti would see his private parts sheathed in a foreskin. And he stuck out his tongue and stroked back and forth on his ear holes and nostrils, and covered his entire forehead with his tongue.

Atha kho brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa etadahosi: “samannāgato kho samaṇo gotamo dvattiṁsamahāpurisalakkhaṇehi paripuṇṇehi no aparipuṇṇehī”ti. Bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “adhivāsetu me bhavaṁ gotamo ajjatanāya bhattaṁ saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghenā”ti. Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

Pokkharasāti thought, “The ascetic Gotama possesses the thirty-two marks completely, lacking none.” He said to the Buddha, “Would the worthy Gotama together with the mendicant Saṅgha please accept today’s meal from me?” The Buddha consented with silence.

Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavato adhivāsanaṁ viditvā bhagavato kālaṁ ārocesi: “kālo, bho gotama, niṭṭhitaṁ bhattan”ti. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya saddhiṁ bhikkhusaṅghena yena brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavantaṁ paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi, māṇavakāpi bhikkhusaṅghaṁ. Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti bhagavantaṁ bhuttāviṁ onītapattapāṇiṁ aññataraṁ nīcaṁ āsanaṁ gahetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.

Then, knowing that the Buddha had consented, Pokkharasāti announced the time to him, “It’s time, worthy Gotama, the meal is ready.” Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Pokkharasāti together with the mendicant Saṅgha, where he sat down on the seat spread out. Then Pokkharasāti served and satisfied the Buddha with his own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods, while his young students served the Saṅgha. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, Pokkharasāti took a low seat and sat to one side.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnassa kho brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa bhagavā anupubbiṁ kathaṁ kathesi, seyyathidaṁ— dānakathaṁ sīlakathaṁ saggakathaṁ; kāmānaṁ ādīnavaṁ okāraṁ saṅkilesaṁ, nekkhamme ānisaṁsaṁ pakāsesi. Yadā bhagavā aññāsi brāhmaṇaṁ pokkharasātiṁ kallacittaṁ muducittaṁ vinīvaraṇacittaṁ udaggacittaṁ pasannacittaṁ, atha yā buddhānaṁ sāmukkaṁsikā dhammadesanā, taṁ pakāsesi— dukkhaṁ samudayaṁ nirodhaṁ maggaṁ. Seyyathāpi nāma suddhaṁ vatthaṁ apagatakāḷakaṁ sammadeva rajanaṁ paṭiggaṇheyya; evameva brāhmaṇassa pokkharasātissa tasmiññeva āsane virajaṁ vītamalaṁ dhammacakkhuṁ udapādi: “yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ sabbaṁ taṁ nirodhadhamman”ti.

Then the Buddha taught him step by step, with a talk on giving, ethical conduct, and heaven. He revealed the drawbacks of sensual pleasures, so sordid and corrupt, and the benefit of renunciation. And when the Buddha knew that Pokkharasāti’s mind was ready, pliable, rid of hindrances, elated, and confident he revealed the special teaching of the Buddhas: suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path. Just as a clean cloth rid of stains would properly absorb dye, in that very seat the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in the brahmin Pokkharasāti: “Everything that is liable to arise is liable to cease.”

9. Pokkharasātiupāsakattapaṭivedanā

Atha kho brāhmaṇo pokkharasāti diṭṭhadhammo pattadhammo viditadhammo pariyogāḷhadhammo tiṇṇavicikiccho vigatakathaṅkatho vesārajjappatto aparappaccayo satthusāsane bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama. Seyyathāpi, bho gotama, nikkujjitaṁ vā ukkujjeyya, paṭicchannaṁ vā vivareyya, mūḷhassa vā maggaṁ ācikkheyya, andhakāre vā telapajjotaṁ dhāreyya: ‘cakkhumanto rūpāni dakkhantī’ti; evamevaṁ bhotā gotamena anekapariyāyena dhammo pakāsito. Esāhaṁ, bho gotama, saputto sabhariyo sapariso sāmacco bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi dhammañca bhikkhusaṅghañca. Upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gataṁ. Yathā ca bhavaṁ gotamo ukkaṭṭhāya aññāni upāsakakulāni upasaṅkamati, evameva bhavaṁ gotamo pokkharasātikulaṁ upasaṅkamatu. Tattha ye te māṇavakā vā māṇavikā vā bhavantaṁ gotamaṁ abhivādessanti vā paccuṭṭhissanti vā āsanaṁ vā udakaṁ vā dassanti cittaṁ vā pasādessanti, tesaṁ taṁ bhavissati dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti. “Kalyāṇaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇā”ti.

9. Pokkharasāti Declares Himself a Lay Follower

Then Pokkharasāti saw, attained, understood, and fathomed the Dhamma. He went beyond doubt, got rid of indecision, and became self-assured and independent of others regarding the Teacher’s instructions. He said to the Buddha, “Excellent, worthy Gotama! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what’s there, just so has the worthy Gotama made the Teaching clear in many ways. Together with my children, wives, retinue, and ministers, I go for refuge to the worthy Gotama, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha. From this day forth, may the worthy Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life. Just as the worthy Gotama visits other devoted families in Ukkaṭṭhā, may he visit mine. The brahmin boys and girls there will bow to you, rise in your presence, give you a seat and water, and gain confidence in their hearts. That will be for their lasting welfare and happiness.” “That’s nice of you to say, householder.”