SN 3.9

Yaññasutta

Sāvatthinidānaṁ. Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito hoti, pañca ca usabhasatāni pañca ca vacchatarasatāni pañca ca vacchatarisatāni pañca ca ajasatāni pañca ca urabbhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya. Yepissa te honti dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karonti.

Sacrifice

At Sāvatthī. Now at that time a grand sacrifice had been set up for King Pasenadi of Kosala. Bulls, bullocks, heifers, goats and rams—five hundred of each—had been led to the pillar for the sacrifice. His bondservants, servants, and workers did their jobs under threat of punishment and danger, weeping with tearful faces.

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu. Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ: “idha, bhante, rañño pasenadissa kosalassa mahāyañño paccupaṭṭhito hoti, pañca ca usabhasatāni pañca ca vacchatarasatāni pañca ca vacchatarisatāni pañca ca ajasatāni pañca ca urabbhasatāni thūṇūpanītāni honti yaññatthāya. Yepissa te honti dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karontī”ti.

Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms. Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and told him what was happening.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

Then, understanding this matter, on that occasion the Buddha recited these verses:

“Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ, sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ; Niraggaḷaṁ mahārambhā, na te honti mahapphalā.

“Horse sacrifice, human sacrifice, the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’, the ‘royal soma drinking’, and the ‘unimpeded’— these grand, violent sacrifices yield no great fruit.

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca, vividhā yattha haññare; Na taṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ, upayanti mahesino.

The great sages of right comportment don’t attend sacrifices where goats, sheep, and cattle and various creatures are killed.

Ye ca yaññā nirārambhā, yajanti anukulaṁ sadā; Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca, vividhā nettha haññare; Etaṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ, upayanti mahesino.

But the great sages of right comportment do attend those sacrifices that are non-violent and propitious, where goats, sheep, and cattle, and various creatures are not killed.

Etaṁ yajetha medhāvī, eso yañño mahapphalo; Etañhi yajamānassa, seyyo hoti na pāpiyo; Yañño ca vipulo hoti, pasīdanti ca devatā”ti.

An intelligent person should sacrifice like this, for this sacrifice is very fruitful. For a sponsor of sacrifices like this, things get better, not worse. Such a sacrifice is truly abundant, and even the deities are pleased.”