AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.52 Two Brahmins (2nd)

Numbered Discourses 3.52 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.52

6. Brahmins – 6. Brāhmaṇavagga

AN 3.52 Two Brahmins (2nd) – Dutiyadvebrāhmaṇasutta

1.1

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

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:

1.2

“We brahmins, Master 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.

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

1.3

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

te camhā akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā.

1.4

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

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

2.1

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

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

2.2

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

te cattha akatakalyāṇā akatakusalā akatabhīruttāṇā.

2.3

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

Āditto kho ayaṁ, brāhmaṇā, loko jarāya byādhinā maraṇena.

2.4

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

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

3.1

When your house is on fire,

Ādittasmiṁ agārasmiṁ,

3.2

you rescue the pot

yaṁ nīharati bhājanaṁ;

3.3

that’s useful,

Taṁ tassa hoti atthāya,

3.4

not the one that’s burnt.

no ca yaṁ tattha ḍayhati.

4.1

And as the world is on fire

Evaṁ āditto kho loko,

4.2

with old age and death,

jarāya maraṇena ca;

4.3

you should rescue by giving,

Nīharetheva dānena,

4.4

for what’s given is rescued.

dinnaṁ hoti sunīhataṁ.

5.1

The restraint practiced here—

Yodha kāyena saṁyamo,

5.2

of body, speech, and mind—

Vācāya uda cetasā;

5.3

leads the departed to happiness,

Taṁ tassa petassa sukhāya hoti,

5.4

as the good deeds done while living.”

Yaṁ jīvamāno pakaroti puññan”ti.

5.5

Dutiyaṁ.