AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.64 With Sarabha

Numbered Discourses 3.64 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.64

7. The Great Chapter – 7. Mahāvagga

AN 3.64 With Sarabha – Sarabhasutta

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Vulture’s Peak Mountain.

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā rājagahe viharati gijjhakūṭe pabbate.

1.3

Now at that time a wanderer called Sarabha had recently left this teaching and training.

Tena kho pana samayena sarabho nāma paribbājako acirapakkanto hoti imasmā dhammavinayā.

1.4

He was telling a crowd in Rājagaha,

So rājagahe parisati evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:

1.5

“I learned the teaching of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan,

“aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.

1.6

then I left their teaching and training.”

Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto”ti.

1.7

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

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya rājagahaṁ piṇḍāya pavisiṁsu.

1.8

They heard what Sarabha was saying.

Assosuṁ kho te bhikkhū sarabhassa paribbājakassa rājagahe parisati evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsamānassa:

1.9

“aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.

1.10

Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto”ti.

2.1

Then, after the meal, when they returned from almsround, they went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him,

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

2.2

“The wanderer called Sarabha has recently left this teaching and training.

“sarabho nāma, bhante, paribbājako acirapakkanto imasmā dhammavinayā.

2.3

He was telling a crowd in Rājagaha:

So rājagahe parisati evaṁ vācaṁ bhāsati:

2.4

‘I learned the teaching of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan,

‘aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.

2.5

then I left their teaching and training.’

Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto’ti.

2.6

Sir, please go to the wanderers’ monastery on the banks of the Sappinī river to see Sarabha the wanderer out of compassion.”

Sādhu, bhante, bhagavā yena sippinikātīraṁ paribbājakārāmo yena sarabho paribbājako tenupasaṅkamatu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

2.7

The Buddha consented in silence.

Adhivāsesi bhagavā tuṇhībhāvena.

3.1

Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to the wanderers’ monastery on the banks of the Sappinī river to visit Sarabha the wanderer. He sat on the seat spread out, and said to the wanderer Sarabha,

Atha kho bhagavā sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena sippinikātīraṁ paribbājakārāmo yena sarabho paribbājako tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. Nisajja kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Is it really true, Sarabha, that you’ve been saying:

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, sarabha, evaṁ vadesi:

3.3

‘I learned the teaching of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan,

‘aññāto mayā samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo.

3.4

then I left their teaching and training.’”

Aññāya ca panāhaṁ samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammaṁ evāhaṁ tasmā dhammavinayā apakkanto’”ti?

3.5

When he said this, Sarabha kept silent.

Evaṁ vutte, sarabho paribbājako tuṇhī ahosi.

4.1

For a second time, the Buddha said to Sarabha,

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:

4.2

“Tell me, Sarabha, what exactly have you learned of the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan?

“vadehi, sarabha, kinti te aññāto samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo?

4.3

If you’ve not learned it fully, I’ll fill you in.

Sace te aparipūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ paripūressāmi.

4.4

But if you have learned it fully, I’ll agree.”

Sace pana te paripūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ anumodissāmī”ti.

4.5

For a second time, Sarabha kept silent.

Dutiyampi kho sarabho paribbājako tuṇhī ahosi.

5.1

For a third time, the Buddha said to Sarabha,

Tatiyampi kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavoca:

5.2

“Sarabha, the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan are clear to me. What exactly have you learned of the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan?

“yo kho, sarabha, paññāyati samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo vadehi, sarabha, kinti te aññāto samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo?

5.3

If you’ve not learned it fully, I’ll fill you in.

Sace te aparipūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ paripūressāmi.

5.4

But if you have learned it fully, I’ll agree.”

Sace pana te paripūraṁ bhavissati, ahaṁ anumodissāmī”ti.

5.5

For a third time, Sarabha kept silent.

Tatiyampi kho sarabho paribbājako tuṇhī ahosi.

6.1

Then those wanderers said to Sarabha,

Atha kho te paribbājakā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ etadavocuṁ:

6.2

“The ascetic Gotama has offered to tell you anything you ask for.

“yadeva kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, samaṇaṁ gotamaṁ yāceyyāsi tadeva te samaṇo gotamo pavāreti.

6.3

Speak, reverend Sarabha, what exactly have you learned of the teachings of the ascetics who follow the Sakyan?

Vadehāvuso sarabha, kinti te aññāto samaṇānaṁ sakyaputtikānaṁ dhammo?

6.4

If you’ve not learned it fully, he’ll fill you in.

Sace te aparipūraṁ bhavissati, samaṇo gotamo paripūressati.

6.5

But if you have learned it fully, he’ll agree.”

Sace pana te paripūraṁ bhavissati, samaṇo gotamo anumodissatī”ti.

6.6

When this was said, Sarabha sat silent, embarrassed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say.

Evaṁ vutte, sarabho paribbājako tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdi.

7.1

Knowing this, the Buddha said to the wanderers:

Atha kho bhagavā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ tuṇhībhūtaṁ maṅkubhūtaṁ pattakkhandhaṁ adhomukhaṁ pajjhāyantaṁ appaṭibhānaṁ viditvā te paribbājake etadavoca:

8.1

“Wanderers, someone might say to me:

“Yo kho maṁ, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

8.2

‘You claim to be a fully awakened Buddha, but regarding these things you’re not fully awakened.’ Then I’d carefully pursue, press, and grill them on that point.

‘sammāsambuddhassa te paṭijānato ime dhammā anabhisambuddhā’ti, tamahaṁ tattha sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjeyyaṁ samanugāheyyaṁ samanubhāseyyaṁ.

8.3

When grilled by me, they would, without a doubt, fall into one of these three categories. They’d dodge the issue, distracting the discussion with irrelevant points. They’d display annoyance, hate, and bitterness. Or they’d sit silent, embarrassed, shoulders drooping, downcast, depressed, with nothing to say, like Sarabha.

So vata mayā sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjiyamāno samanugāhiyamāno samanubhāsiyamāno aṭṭhānametaṁ anavakāso yaṁ so tiṇṇaṁ ṭhānānaṁ nāññataraṁ ṭhānaṁ nigaccheyya, aññena vā aññaṁ paṭicarissati, bahiddhā kathaṁ apanāmessati, kopañca dosañca appaccayañca pātukarissati, tuṇhībhūto maṅkubhūto pattakkhandho adhomukho pajjhāyanto appaṭibhāno nisīdissati, seyyathāpi sarabho paribbājako.

9.1

Wanderers, someone might say to me:

Yo kho maṁ, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

9.2

‘You claim to have ended all defilements, but you still have these defilements.’ Then I’d carefully pursue, press, and grill them on that point.

‘khīṇāsavassa te paṭijānato ime āsavā aparikkhīṇā’ti, tamahaṁ tattha sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjeyyaṁ samanugāheyyaṁ samanubhāseyyaṁ.

9.3

10.1

Wanderers, someone might say to me:

Yo kho maṁ, paribbājakā, evaṁ vadeyya:

10.2

‘Your teaching does not lead someone who practices it to the goal of the complete ending of suffering.’ Then I’d carefully pursue, press, and grill them on that point.

‘yassa kho pana te atthāya dhammo desito, so na niyyāti takkarassa sammā dukkhakkhayāyā’ti, tamahaṁ tattha sādhukaṁ samanuyuñjeyyaṁ samanugāheyyaṁ samanubhāseyyaṁ.

10.3

10.4

Then the Buddha, having roared his lion’s roar three times in the wanderers’ monastery on the bank of the Sappinī river, rose into the sky and flew away.

Atha kho bhagavā sippinikātīre paribbājakārāme tikkhattuṁ sīhanādaṁ naditvā vehāsaṁ pakkāmi.

11.1

Soon after the Buddha left, those wanderers gave Sarabha a comprehensive tongue-lashing:

Atha kho te paribbājakā acirapakkantassa bhagavato sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ samantato vācāyasannitodakena sañjambharimakaṁsu:

11.2

“Reverend Sarabha, you’re just like an old jackal in the formidable wilderness who thinks, ‘I’ll roar a lion’s roar!’ but they still only manage to squeal and yelp like a jackal.

“seyyathāpi, āvuso sarabha, brahāraññe jarasiṅgālo ‘sīhanādaṁ nadissāmī’ti siṅgālakaṁyeva nadati, bheraṇḍakaṁyeva nadati;

11.3

In the same way, when the ascetic Gotama wasn’t here you said ‘I’ll roar a lion’s roar!’ but you only managed to squeal and yelp like a jackal.

evamevaṁ kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, aññatreva samaṇena gotamena ‘sīhanādaṁ nadissāmī’ti siṅgālakaṁyeva nadasi bheraṇḍakaṁyeva nadasi.

11.4

You’re just like a golden oriole who thinks, ‘I’ll cry like a cuckoo!’ but they still only manage to cry like a golden oriole.

Seyyathāpi, āvuso sarabha, ambukasañcarī ‘purisakaravitaṁ ravissāmī’ti ambukasañcariravitaṁyeva ravati;

11.5

In the same way, when the ascetic Gotama wasn’t here you said ‘I’ll cry like a cuckoo!’ but you still only managed to cry like a golden oriole.

evamevaṁ kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, aññatreva samaṇena gotamena ‘purisakaravitaṁ ravissāmī’ti, ambukasañcariravitaṁyeva ravasi.

11.6

You’re just like a bull that thinks to bellow only when the cowstall is empty.

Seyyathāpi, āvuso sarabha, usabho suññāya gosālāya gambhīraṁ naditabbaṁ maññati;

11.7

In the same way, you only thought to bellow when the ascetic Gotama wasn’t here.”

evamevaṁ kho tvaṁ, āvuso sarabha, aññatreva samaṇena gotamena gambhīraṁ naditabbaṁ maññasī”ti.

11.8

That’s how those wanderers gave Sarabha a comprehensive tongue-lashing.

Atha kho te paribbājakā sarabhaṁ paribbājakaṁ samantato vācāyasannitodakena sañjambharimakaṁsūti.

11.9

Catutthaṁ.