AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.56 Falling Apart

Numbered Discourses 3.56 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.56

6. Brahmins – 6. Brāhmaṇavagga

AN 3.56 Falling Apart – Palokasutta

1.1

Then a well-to-do Brahmin went up to the Buddha, and seated to one side he said to him:

Atha kho aññataro brāhmaṇamahāsālo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami …pe… ekamantaṁ nisinno kho so brāhmaṇamahāsālo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.2

“Master Gotama, I have heard that brahmins of the past who were elderly and senior, the teachers of teachers, said:

“sutaṁ metaṁ, bho gotama, pubbakānaṁ brāhmaṇānaṁ vuddhānaṁ mahallakānaṁ ācariyapācariyānaṁ bhāsamānānaṁ:

1.3

‘In the old days this world was as crowded as hell, just full of people. The villages, towns and capital cities were no more than a chicken’s flight apart.’

‘pubbe sudaṁ ayaṁ loko avīci maññe phuṭo ahosi manussehi, kukkuṭasaṁpātikā gāmanigamarājadhāniyo’ti.

1.4

What is the cause, sir, what is the reason why these days human numbers have dwindled, a decline in population is evident, and whole villages, towns, cities, and countries have disappeared?”

Ko nu kho, bho gotama, hetu ko paccayo yenetarahi manussānaṁ khayo hoti, tanuttaṁ paññāyati, gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā hontī”ti?

2.1

“These days, brahmin, humans just love illicit desire. They’re overcome by immoral greed, and mired in wrong thoughts.

“Etarahi, brāhmaṇa, manussā adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā.

2.2

Taking up sharp knives, they murder each other. And so many people perish.

Te adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā tiṇhāni satthāni gahetvā aññamaññaṁ jīvitā voropenti, tena bahū manussā kālaṁ karonti.

2.3

This is the cause, this is the reason why these days human numbers have dwindled.

Ayampi kho, brāhmaṇa, hetu ayaṁ paccayo yenetarahi manussānaṁ khayo hoti, tanuttaṁ paññāyati, gāmāpi agāmā honti, nigamāpi anigamā honti, nagarāpi anagarā honti, janapadāpi ajanapadā honti.

3.1

Furthermore, because these days humans just love illicit desire …

Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, etarahi manussā adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā.

3.2

the heavens don’t provide enough rain,

Tesaṁ adhammarāgarattānaṁ visamalobhābhibhūtānaṁ micchādhammaparetānaṁ devo na sammādhāraṁ anuppavecchati.

3.3

so there’s famine, a bad harvest, with blighted crops that turn to straw.

Tena dubbhikkhaṁ hoti dussassaṁ setaṭṭhikaṁ salākāvuttaṁ.

3.4

And so many people perish.

Tena bahū manussā kālaṁ karonti.

3.5

This is the cause, this is the reason why these days human numbers have dwindled.

4.1

Furthermore, because these days humans just love illicit desire …

Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, etarahi manussā adhammarāgarattā visamalobhābhibhūtā micchādhammaparetā.

4.2

native spirits let vicious monsters loose. And so many people perish.

Tesaṁ adhammarāgarattānaṁ visamalobhābhibhūtānaṁ micchādhammaparetānaṁ yakkhā vāḷe amanusse ossajjanti, tena bahū manussā kālaṁ karonti.

4.3

This is the cause, this is the reason why these days human numbers have dwindled.”

5.1

“Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! …

“Abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

5.2

From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

5.3

Chaṭṭhaṁ.