Dutiyadvebrāhmaṇasutta

Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.52

Numbered Discourses 3.52

6. Brāhmaṇavagga

6. Brahmins

Dutiyadvebrāhmaṇasutta

Two Brahmins (2nd)

Atha kho dve brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te brāhmaṇā bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then two old brahmins—elderly and senior, who were advanced in years and had reached the final stage of life, a hundred and twenty years old—went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“mayamassu, bho gotama, brāhmaṇā jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā;

“We brahmins, worthy Gotama, are old, elderly and senior, we’re advanced in years and have reached the final stage of life; we’re a hundred and twenty years old.

te camhā akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā.

And we haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have we made a shelter from fear.

Ovadatu no bhavaṁ gotamo, anusāsatu no bhavaṁ gotamo yaṁ amhākaṁ assa dīgharattaṁ hitāya sukhāyā”ti.

Advise us, worthy Gotama, instruct us! It will be for our lasting welfare and happiness.”

“Taggha tumhe, brāhmaṇā, jiṇṇā vuddhā mahallakā addhagatā vayoanuppattā vīsavassasatikā jātiyā;

“Indeed, brahmins, you’re old, elderly and senior.

te cattha akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā.

And you haven’t done what is good and skillful, nor have you made a shelter from fear.

Āditto kho ayaṁ, brāhmaṇā, loko jarāya byādhinā maraṇena.

This world is burning with old age, sickness, and death.

Evaṁ āditte kho, brāhmaṇā, loke jarāya byādhinā maraṇena, yo idha kāyena saṁyamo vācāya saṁyamo manasā saṁyamo, taṁ tassa petassa tāṇañca leṇañca dīpañca saraṇañca parāyaṇañcāti.

But restraint here by way of body, speech, and mind is the shelter, asylum, island, refuge, and final haven for the departed.

Ādittasmiṁ agārasmiṁ,

When your house is on fire,

yaṁ nīharati bhājanaṁ;

you rescue the pot

Taṁ tassa hoti atthāya,

that’s useful,

no ca yaṁ tattha ḍayhati.

not the one that’s burnt.

Evaṁ āditto kho loko,

And as the world is on fire

jarāya maraṇena ca;

with old age and death,

Nīharetheva dānena,

you should rescue by giving,

dinnaṁ hoti sunīhataṁ.

for what’s given is rescued.

Yodha kāyena saṁyamo,

The restraint practiced here—

Vācāya uda cetasā;

of body, speech, and mind—

Taṁ tassa petassa sukhāya hoti,

leads the departed to happiness,

Yaṁ jīvamāno pakaroti puññan”ti.

as the good deeds done while living.”

Dutiyaṁ.