Yaññasutta

Saṁyutta Nikāya 3.9

Linked Discourses 3.9

1. Paṭhamavagga

1. Shackles

Yaññasutta

Sacrifice

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

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.

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.

Yepissa te honti dāsāti vā pessāti vā kammakarāti vā, tepi daṇḍatajjitā bhayatajjitā assumukhā rudamānā parikammāni karonti.

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.

Then several mendicants robed up in the morning and, taking their bowls and robes, entered Sāvatthī for alms.

Sāvatthiyaṁ piṇḍāya caritvā pacchābhattaṁ piṇḍapātapaṭikkantā yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

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.

“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.

Atha kho bhagavā etamatthaṁ viditvā tāyaṁ velāyaṁ imā gāthāyo abhāsi:

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

“Assamedhaṁ purisamedhaṁ,

“Horse sacrifice, human sacrifice,

sammāpāsaṁ vājapeyyaṁ;

the ‘casting of the yoke-pin’,
the ‘royal soma drinking’,

Niraggaḷaṁ mahārambhā,

and the ‘unimpeded’—

na te honti mahapphalā.

these grand, violent sacrifices yield no great fruit.

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca,

The great sages of right comportment

vividhā yattha haññare;

don’t attend sacrifices

Na taṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ,

where goats, sheep, and cattle

upayanti mahesino.

and various creatures are killed.

Ye ca yaññā nirārambhā,

But the great sages of right comportment

yajanti anukulaṁ sadā;

do attend those sacrifices

Ajeḷakā ca gāvo ca,

that are non-violent and propitious,

vividhā nettha haññare;

where goats, sheep, and cattle,

Etaṁ sammaggatā yaññaṁ,

and various creatures are not killed.

upayanti mahesino.

Etaṁ yajetha medhāvī,

An intelligent person should sacrifice like this,

eso yañño mahapphalo;

for this sacrifice is very fruitful.

Etañhi yajamānassa,

For a sponsor of sacrifices like this,

seyyo hoti na pāpiyo;

things get better, not worse.

Yañño ca vipulo hoti,

Such a sacrifice is truly abundant,

pasīdanti ca devatā”ti.

and even the deities are pleased.”