Sutta Piṭaka
Bhūmijasutta
Bhūmijasutta
Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe.
With Bhūmija
So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
Atha kho āyasmā bhūmijo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena jayasenassa rājakumārassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Then Venerable Bhūmija robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Prince Jayasena, where he sat down on the seat spread out.
Atha kho jayaseno rājakumāro yenāyasmā bhūmijo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā bhūmijena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jayaseno rājakumāro āyasmantaṁ bhūmijaṁ etadavoca: “santi, bho bhūmija, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino: ‘āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāyā’ti. Idha bhoto bhūmijassa satthā kiṁvādī kimakkhāyī”ti?
Then Jayasena approached and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Bhūmija: “Worthy Bhūmija, there are some ascetics and brahmins who have this doctrine and view: ‘If you make a wish and lead the spiritual life, you can’t win the fruit. If you don’t make a wish and lead the spiritual life, you can’t win the fruit. If you both make a wish and don’t make a wish and lead the spiritual life, you can’t win the fruit. If you neither make a wish nor don’t make a wish and lead the spiritual life, you can’t win the fruit.’ What does the worthy Bhūmija’s Teacher say about this? How does he explain it?”
“Na kho metaṁ, rājakumāra, bhagavato sammukhā sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ vijjati yaṁ bhagavā evaṁ byākareyya: ‘āsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Āsañcepi karitvā yoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā yoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā yoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā yoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāyā’ti. Na kho me taṁ, rājakumāra, bhagavato sammukhā sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ vijjati yaṁ bhagavā evaṁ byākareyyā”ti.
“Prince, I haven’t heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha. But it’s possible that he might explain it like this: ‘If you lead the spiritual life irrationally, you can’t win the fruit, regardless of whether you make a wish, you don’t make a wish, you both do and do not make a wish, or you neither do nor don’t make a wish. But if you lead the spiritual life rationally, you can win the fruit, regardless of whether you make a wish, you don’t make a wish, you both do and do not make a wish, or you neither do nor don’t make a wish.’ I haven’t heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha. But it’s possible that he might explain it like that.”
“Sace kho bhoto bhūmijassa satthā evaṁvādī evamakkhāyī, addhā bhoto bhūmijassa satthā sabbesaṁyeva puthusamaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ muddhānaṁ maññe āhacca tiṭṭhatī”ti.
“If that’s what your teacher says, worthy Bhūmija, he clearly stands head and shoulders above all the various other ascetics and brahmins.”
Atha kho jayaseno rājakumāro āyasmantaṁ bhūmijaṁ sakeneva thālipākena parivisi.
Then Prince Jayasena served Venerable Bhūmija from his own dish.
Atha kho āyasmā bhūmijo pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkanto yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā bhūmijo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idhāhaṁ, bhante, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena jayasenassa rājakumārassa nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkamiṁ; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdiṁ. Atha kho, bhante, jayaseno rājakumāro yenāhaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mayā saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho, bhante, jayaseno rājakumāro maṁ etadavoca: ‘santi, bho bhūmija, eke samaṇabrāhmaṇā evaṁvādino evaṁdiṭṭhino— āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāyā’ti. ‘Idha bhoto bhūmijassa satthā kiṁvādī kimakkhāyī’ti? Evaṁ vutte, ahaṁ, bhante, jayasenaṁ rājakumāraṁ etadavocaṁ: ‘na kho me taṁ, rājakumāra, bhagavato sammukhā sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ vijjati yaṁ bhagavā evaṁ byākareyya— āsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā ayoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Āsañcepi karitvā yoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā yoniso brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāyāti. Na kho me taṁ, rājakumāra, bhagavato sammukhā sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ. Ṭhānañca kho etaṁ vijjati yaṁ bhagavā evaṁ byākareyyā’ti. ‘Sace bhoto bhūmijassa satthā evaṁvādī evamakkhāyī, addhā bhoto bhūmijassa satthā sabbesaṁyeva puthusamaṇabrāhmaṇānaṁ muddhānaṁ maññe āhacca tiṭṭhatī’ti. ‘Kaccāhaṁ, bhante, evaṁ puṭṭho evaṁ byākaramāno vuttavādī ceva bhagavato homi, na ca bhagavantaṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhāmi, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākaromi, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchatī’”ti?
Then after the meal, on his return from almsround, Bhūmija went to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him all that had happened, adding: “Answering this way, I trust that I repeated what the Buddha has said, and didn’t misrepresent him with an untruth. I trust my explanation was in line with the teaching, and that there are no legitimate grounds for rebuttal or criticism.”
“Taggha tvaṁ, bhūmija, evaṁ puṭṭho evaṁ byākaramāno vuttavādī ceva me hosi, na ca maṁ abhūtena abbhācikkhasi, dhammassa cānudhammaṁ byākarosi, na ca koci sahadhammiko vādānuvādo gārayhaṁ ṭhānaṁ āgacchati.
“Indeed, Bhūmija, in answering this way you repeated what I’ve said, and didn’t misrepresent me with an untruth. Your explanation was in line with the teaching, and there are no legitimate grounds for rebuttal or criticism.
Ye hi keci, bhūmija, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā micchādiṭṭhino micchāsaṅkappā micchāvācā micchākammantā micchāājīvā micchāvāyāmā micchāsatī micchāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
There are some ascetics and brahmins who have wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong immersion. If they lead the spiritual life, they can’t win the fruit, regardless of whether they make a wish, they don’t make a wish, they both do and do not make a wish, or they neither do nor don’t make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s an irrational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso telatthiko telagavesī telapariyesanaṁ caramāno vālikaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya. Āsañcepi karitvā vālikaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya, abhabbo telassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā vālikaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya, abhabbo telassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā vālikaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya, abhabbo telassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā vālikaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya, abhabbo telassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, telassa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā micchādiṭṭhino micchāsaṅkappā micchāvācā micchākammantā micchāājīvā micchāvāyāmā micchāsatī micchāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of oil. While wandering in search of oil, they tried heaping sand in a bucket, sprinkling it little by little with water, and pressing it out. But by doing this, they couldn’t extract any oil, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s an irrational way to extract oil. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have wrong view, wrong purpose, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong immersion. If they lead the spiritual life, they can’t win the fruit, regardless of whether or not they make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s an irrational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso khīratthiko khīragavesī khīrapariyesanaṁ caramāno gāviṁ taruṇavacchaṁ visāṇato āviñcheyya. Āsañcepi karitvā gāviṁ taruṇavacchaṁ visāṇato āviñcheyya, abhabbo khīrassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā gāviṁ taruṇavacchaṁ visāṇato āviñcheyya, abhabbo khīrassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, khīrassa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā micchādiṭṭhino …pe… micchāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of milk. While wandering in search of milk, they tried pulling the horn of a newly-calved cow. But by doing this, they couldn’t get any milk, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s an irrational way to get milk. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have wrong view … Because that’s an irrational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso navanītatthiko navanītagavesī navanītapariyesanaṁ caramāno udakaṁ kalase āsiñcitvā matthena āviñcheyya. Āsañcepi karitvā udakaṁ kalase āsiñcitvā matthena āviñcheyya, abhabbo navanītassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā udakaṁ kalase āsiñcitvā matthena āviñcheyya, abhabbo navanītassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, navanītassa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā micchādiṭṭhino …pe… micchāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of butter. While wandering in search of butter, they tried pouring water into a pot and churning it with a stick. But by doing this, they couldn’t produce any butter, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s an irrational way to produce butter. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have wrong view … Because that’s an irrational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso aggitthiko aggigavesī aggipariyesanaṁ caramāno allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimantheyya. Āsañcepi karitvā allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimantheyya, abhabbo aggissa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā allaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ sasnehaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimantheyya, abhabbo aggissa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, aggissa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā micchādiṭṭhino …pe… micchāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, abhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Ayoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of fire. While wandering in search of fire, they tried drilling a green, sappy log with a drill-stick. But by doing this, they couldn’t start a fire, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s an irrational way to start a fire. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have wrong view … Because that’s an irrational way to win the fruit.
Ye hi keci, bhūmija, samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā sammādiṭṭhino sammāsaṅkappā sammāvācā sammākammantā sammāājīvā sammāvāyāmā sammāsatī sammāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
There are some ascetics and brahmins who have right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion. If they lead the spiritual life, they can win the fruit, regardless of whether they make a wish, they don’t make a wish, they both do and do not make a wish, or they neither do nor do not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s a rational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso telatthiko telagavesī telapariyesanaṁ caramāno tilapiṭṭhaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya. Āsañcepi karitvā tilapiṭṭhaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya, bhabbo telassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā tilapiṭṭhaṁ doṇiyā ākiritvā udakena paripphosakaṁ paripphosakaṁ pīḷeyya, bhabbo telassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, telassa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā sammādiṭṭhino …pe… sammāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of oil. While wandering in search of oil, they tried heaping sesame flour in a bucket, sprinkling it little by little with water, and pressing it out. By doing this, they could extract oil, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s a rational way to extract oil. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have right view … Because that’s a rational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso khīratthiko khīragavesī khīrapariyesanaṁ caramāno gāviṁ taruṇavacchaṁ thanato āviñcheyya. Āsañcepi karitvā gāviṁ taruṇavacchaṁ thanato āviñcheyya, bhabbo khīrassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā gāviṁ taruṇavacchaṁ thanato āviñcheyya, bhabbo khīrassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, khīrassa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā sammādiṭṭhino …pe… sammāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā …pe… anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā …pe… nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of milk. While wandering in search of milk, they tried pulling the udder of a newly-calved cow. By doing this, they could get milk, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s a rational way to get milk. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have right view … Because that’s a rational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso navanītatthiko navanītagavesī navanītapariyesanaṁ caramāno dadhiṁ kalase āsiñcitvā matthena āviñcheyya. Āsañcepi karitvā dadhiṁ kalase āsiñcitvā matthena āviñcheyya, bhabbo navanītassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā … āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā … nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā dadhiṁ kalase āsiñcitvā matthena āviñcheyya, bhabbo navanītassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, navanītassa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā sammādiṭṭhino …pe… sammāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā … āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā … nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of butter. While wandering in search of butter, they tried pouring curds into a pot and churning them with a stick. By doing this, they could produce butter, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s a rational way to produce butter. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have right view … Because that’s a rational way to win the fruit.
Seyyathāpi, bhūmija, puriso aggitthiko aggigavesī aggipariyesanaṁ caramāno sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimantheyya; (…) āsañcepi karitvā … anāsañcepi karitvā … āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā … nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā sukkhaṁ kaṭṭhaṁ koḷāpaṁ uttarāraṇiṁ ādāya abhimantheyya, bhabbo aggissa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, aggissa adhigamāya. Evameva kho, bhūmija, ye hi keci samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā sammādiṭṭhino …pe… sammāsamādhino te āsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; āsañca anāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya; nevāsaṁ nānāsañcepi karitvā brahmacariyaṁ caranti, bhabbā phalassa adhigamāya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Yoni hesā, bhūmija, phalassa adhigamāya.
Suppose there was a person in need of fire. While wandering in search of fire, they tried drilling a dried up, withered log with a drill-stick. By doing this, they could start a fire, regardless of whether they made a wish, didn’t make a wish, both did and did not make a wish, or neither did nor did not make a wish. Why is that? Because that’s a rational way to start a fire. And so it is for any ascetics and brahmins who have right view … Because that’s a rational way to win the fruit.
Sace kho taṁ, bhūmija, jayasenassa rājakumārassa imā catasso upamā paṭibhāyeyyuṁ anacchariyaṁ te jayaseno rājakumāro pasīdeyya, pasanno ca te pasannākāraṁ kareyyā”ti. “Kuto pana maṁ, bhante, jayasenassa rājakumārassa imā catasso upamā paṭibhāyissanti anacchariyā pubbe assutapubbā, seyyathāpi bhagavantan”ti? Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā bhūmijo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.
Bhūmija, it would be no wonder if, had these four similes occurred to you, Prince Jayasena would have gained confidence in you and shown his confidence.” “But sir, how could these four similes have occurred to me as they did to the Buddha, since they were neither supernaturally inspired, nor learned before in the past?” That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Bhūmija approved what the Buddha said.