AN 3 The Book of the Threes – Tikanipāta > AN 3.126 Bharaṇḍu Kālāma

Numbered Discourses 3.126 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.126

13. Kusināra – 13. Kusināravagga

AN 3.126 Bharaṇḍu Kālāma – Bharaṇḍukālāmasutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was wandering in the land of the Kosalans when he arrived at Kapilavatthu.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā kosalesu cārikaṁ caramāno yena kapilavatthu tadavasari.

1.2

Mahānāma the Sakyan heard that he had arrived.

Assosi kho mahānāmo sakko: “bhagavā kira kapilavatthuṁ anuppatto”ti.

1.3

He went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. The Buddha said to him,

Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitaṁ kho mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

2.1

“Go into Kapilavatthu, Mahānāma, and check if there’s a suitable guest house where I can spend the night.”

“Gaccha, mahānāma, kapilavatthusmiṁ, tathārūpaṁ āvasathaṁ jāna yatthajja mayaṁ ekarattiṁ vihareyyāmā”ti.

2.2

“Yes, sir,” replied Mahānāma. He returned to Kapilavatthu and searched all over the city, but he couldn’t see a suitable guest house for the Buddha to spend the night.

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavato paṭissutvā kapilavatthuṁ pavisitvā kevalakappaṁ kapilavatthuṁ anvāhiṇḍanto nāddasa kapilavatthusmiṁ tathārūpaṁ āvasathaṁ yatthajja bhagavā ekarattiṁ vihareyya.

3.1

Then Mahānāma went up to the Buddha, and said to him,

Atha kho mahānāmo sakko yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Sir, there’s no suitable guest house in Kapilavatthu for you to spend the night.

“natthi, bhante, kapilavatthusmiṁ tathārūpo āvasatho yatthajja bhagavā ekarattiṁ vihareyya.

3.3

But there is this Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma, who used to be the Buddha’s spiritual companion.

Ayaṁ, bhante, bharaṇḍu kālāmo bhagavato purāṇasabrahmacārī.

3.4

Why don’t you spend the night at his hermitage?”

Tassajja bhagavā assame ekarattiṁ viharatū”ti.

3.5

“Go, Mahānāma, and set out a mat.”

“Gaccha, mahānāma, santharaṁ paññāpehī”ti.

3.6

“Yes, sir,” replied Mahānāma. He went to Bharaṇḍu’s hermitage, where he set out a mat, and got foot-washing water ready. Then he went back to the Buddha and said to him,

“Evaṁ, bhante”ti kho mahānāmo sakko bhagavato paṭissutvā yena bharaṇḍussa kālāmassa assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā santharaṁ paññāpetvā udakaṁ ṭhapetvā pādānaṁ dhovanāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.7

“The mat and foot-washing water are set out.

“santhato, bhante, santhāro, udakaṁ ṭhapitaṁ pādānaṁ dhovanāya.

3.8

Please, sir, go at your convenience.”

Yassadāni, bhante, bhagavā kālaṁ maññatī”ti.

4.1

Then the Buddha went to Bharaṇḍu’s hermitage, sat down on the seat spread out,

Atha kho bhagavā yena bharaṇḍussa kālāmassa assamo tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.

4.2

and washed his feet.

Nisajja kho bhagavā pāde pakkhālesi.

4.3

Then it occurred to Mahānāma,

Atha kho mahānāmassa sakkassa etadahosi:

4.4

“It’s too late to pay homage to the Buddha today.

“akālo kho ajja bhagavantaṁ payirupāsituṁ.

4.5

He’s tired.

Kilanto bhagavā.

4.6

Tomorrow I’ll pay homage to the Buddha.” He bowed to the Buddha and respectfully circled him, keeping him on his right, then he left.

Sve dānāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ payirupāsissāmī”ti bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

5.1

Then, when the night had passed, Mahānāma the Sakyan went up to the Buddha, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:

Atha kho mahānāmo sakko tassā rattiyā accayena yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ bhagavā etadavoca:

5.2

“Mahānāma, there are these three teachers found in the world.

“tayo khome, mahānāma, satthāro santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

5.3

What three?

Katame tayo?

5.4

One teacher advocates the complete understanding of sensual pleasures,

Idha, mahānāma, ekacco satthā kāmānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti;

5.5

but not of sights or feelings.

na rūpānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti, na vedanānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti.

5.6

One teacher advocates the complete understanding of sensual pleasures and sights,

Idha pana, mahānāma, ekacco satthā kāmānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti, rūpānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti;

5.7

but not of feelings.

na vedanānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti.

5.8

One teacher advocates the complete understanding of sensual pleasures, sights, and feelings.

Idha pana, mahānāma, ekacco satthā kāmānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti, rūpānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti, vedanānaṁ pariññaṁ paññāpeti.

5.9

These are the three teachers found in the world.

Ime kho, mahānāma, tayo satthāro santo saṁvijjamānā lokasmiṁ.

5.10

Do these three teachers have the same goal or different goals?”

Imesaṁ, mahānāma, tiṇṇaṁ satthārānaṁ ekā niṭṭhā udāhu puthu niṭṭhā”ti?

6.1

When he said this, Bharaṇḍu said to Mahānāma,

Evaṁ vutte, bharaṇḍu kālāmo mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca:

6.2

“Say they’re the same, Mahānāma!”

“ekāti, mahānāma, vadehī”ti.

6.3

The Buddha said,

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca:

6.4

“Say they’re different, Mahānāma!”

“nānāti, mahānāma, vadehī”ti.

6.5

For a second time, Bharaṇḍu said,

Dutiyampi kho bharaṇḍu kālāmo mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca:

6.6

“Say they’re the same, Mahānāma!”

“ekāti, mahānāma, vadehī”ti.

6.7

The Buddha said,

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca:

6.8

“Say they’re different, Mahānāma!”

“nānāti, mahānāma, vadehī”ti.

6.9

For a third time, Bharaṇḍu said,

Tatiyampi kho bharaṇḍu kālāmo mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca:

6.10

“Say they’re the same, Mahānāma!”

“ekāti, mahānāma, vadehī”ti.

6.11

The Buddha said,

Tatiyampi kho bhagavā mahānāmaṁ sakkaṁ etadavoca:

6.12

“Say they’re different, Mahānāma!”

“nānāti, mahānāma, vadehī”ti.

7.1

Then it occurred to Bharaṇḍu,

Atha kho bharaṇḍu kālāmassa etadahosi:

7.2

“The Buddha has rebuked me three times in front of this illustrious Mahānāma.

“mahesakkhassa vatamhi mahānāmassa sakkassa sammukhā samaṇena gotamena yāvatatiyaṁ apasādito.

7.3

Why don’t I leave Kapilavatthu?”

Yannūnāhaṁ kapilavatthumhā pakkameyyan”ti.

7.4

Then Bharaṇḍu the Kālāma left Kapilavatthu,

Atha kho bharaṇḍu kālāmo kapilavatthumhā pakkāmi.

7.5

never to return.

Yaṁ kapilavatthumhā pakkāmi tathā pakkantova ahosi na puna paccāgacchīti.

7.6

Catutthaṁ.